Confusing plot ... but still lavish

Rating: Null/10 (15 June 2008)

This movie has problems, but because "something is always happening" and almost every segment is visually stunning, it's one of the rare times that I can say the movie is both a mess and kind of amazing.
This movie is the third in the series of "Pirates" movies and it's the type of sequel that relies heavily on information gained from the previous movies. In this final installment, there are two tasks that the "sort of" good guys must tackle: rescue the pirate Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) from "Davy Jones Locker" and fight the powerful British East India Trading Company (who are controlling the seas and forcing the Pirates out).
I wish I had understood the above basic elements of the plot while actually watching the movie. It was really hard to understand what was going on and "why". I saw the previous two movies, but couldn't remember all the intricacies of what happened - nor remember the names of so many people and things that were referenced in this movie.
However, like a ride at Disneyland, you can have a good time even if you don't quite get the background context. While much of the plot was confusing, the numerous little sub-plots were a little easier to understand - and a lot of fun to watch. There was never a still moment in the movie and many of the scenes were visually spectacular.
If you're a big fan of the previous movies with a strong memory - you'll definitely get more out of it than the rest of us. For everyone else, don't try too hard to understand the "big picture" -- just sit back and enjoy the ride.