Scattershot story elevated by Depp

Rating: 6/10 (28 December 2010)

It is hard to understand what producers/writers were thinking with some of the developments in the latest entry in this series. Although the story does not seem as "busy" as the last film, the action is still all over the map and truly hit or miss. The charm and fun of the original is nearly missing this time around. Characters are dispatched with nary a thought - including some underage characters - that casts a pall over the entire production. It takes a good while for the heroes - now led by the revived Barbossa - to travel to the netherworld to rescue Captain Jack Sparrow from "hell" and return to challenge nemesis Davy Jones (an unrecognizable Bill Nighy in impressive squid make-up) and snide government stooge Tom Hollander for a final battle. Despite showing up late, Depp carries the film relentlessly forwards by still making Captain Jack a character that one simply MUST watch. Geoffrey Rush's return as Barbossa is more than welcome and provides a nice counterbalance to Depp. Supporting cast members are not served nearly as well as in the previous films with Jonathan Pryce, Jack Davenport, Naomie Harris, etc., getting particular short shrift. Keira Knighley's role gets magnified to outrageous proportions with each successive film - she has fairly usurped much of what could have been Orlando Bloom's role. It isn't that she is bad, but that Elizabeth Swann never seems to have the "heart" that Will Turner brought as a central character. If Knightley is overused, then conversely Bloom should sue - because his role has become so inconsequential and ill-conceived. The film really loses something by shifting so much focus away from him. Bloom is sorely misused here. The final moments can complimentary be described as chaotic - definitely for fans of sound and fury over content and charm. While it is great to imagine that the antagonistic relationship between Sparrow and Barbossa will continue, virtually no one will be pleased with how writers have chosen to conclude the fate of Will Turner or his relationship with Elizabeth Swann. And what is with these film's penchant for having characters uncharacteristically betray each other at the drop of a hat? It does nothing but distance them from the audience.