This one is a MAZE!

Rating: 3/10 (26 May 2007)

Before I say anything else, everyone here is very likable, even those people who seem to have walked in from central casting as props or decoration. The main players are back, each competing with each other for time and attention, probably a bit more selfish, this time out. Johnny Depp plays or appears confused as to how much money he seems to be making in this "sequel". There are some very impressive special effects, way too many of them this time out, and though I would like to enjoy each and everyone of them, I think I would probably not want to sit through this very lengthy and not very exciting film.
First of all, the resolution of the cliffhanger is dealt with shabbily, as we see our friends on their way to Jack's rescue. Unfortunately, along the way, with a get a bit of existentialism, double talk, and plenty of confusing story lines that become more and more tangled along the way, as those never ending conversations are interrupted over and over by some semi exciting special effects.
Once in a while, there is hint of what made the first film so enjoyable, as Deep's Jack is back with a flash of his personality. Fleshing out the other characters appear to have been problematic for the "writers" of this entry as they give each character a chance to explore part of their personalities we have never seen before. There is no subtlety here, no opportunity to show how good of an actor anyone can be. Knightley suddenly changes into a "leader", Bloom shows his dark side, Rush, well, continues to mystify us, and the other characters continue to be window dressing.
Moral of the story: More money means more revelations, more time, more noise, more of almost everything, except a good story. D-