The best fun I've had all year!

Rating: 9/10 (7 July 2006)

I saw the film last night and have to say I had so much fun. The original Pirates film didn't seem to click with me when I first watched it and I couldn't quite understand the hype around it - however, the more I watched it the more I liked it and I ended up being quite excited about the sequels coming out. Last night as I sat in the cinema, I surrendered myself completely to the film and was completely blown away by how wonderful it was! Here, finally, is a film that has IMAGINATION to back up the special effects. So many movies lately have been about "hot" actors and "special effects" with very un-imaginative story-lines, very little plot, and bad acting. This film is the complete opposite. Though the actors are in fact considered by many to be "hot" (Depp, Knightly, Bloom etc) it isn't the focus point of the film - for example, you watch Kiera Knightly and think "Wow, she's really stunning" but you don't really care because you are more interested in what she is doing as a character! The story is Beautifully convoluted, outrageous and over-the-top it is totally refreshing. The many and various twists, and changes in loyalties and objectives by the assortment of characters is so old-fashioned that it just might be avant-guarde and therefore it is genius! At no point in the film can you predict what each character is going to do so everything that does happen takes you completely by surprise. The fighting too is taken to a whole new level - set in almost impossible locations and yet the wonderful imagination of the writers (and most probably a collaboration between the production designers and stunt choreographers) manages to produce breathtaking and hilarious fight scenes that you totally believe! The film is also LOADED with special effects, and yet they are totally justified (which is a point that the big studios seem not to understand these days.) There is a reason for each CG shot, and each special effect that you forget you are watching special effects. But that is also because they are done SO well! you buy into everything you see - nothing makes you think "boy, that looked fake". The acting is fairly solid, even from Orlando Bloom who I have never really thought of as a good actor. He is probably the weakest actor in this film but he is much better than in previous work of his. Bill Nighy is one of the most outstanding members of the cast - he plays the new character of Davey Jones and he does it marvelously, albeit he is mostly obscured by tentacles. Naomie Harris, who plays another of the new characters (Tia Dalma) is excellent - so much so that I wanted to see more scenes with her in it. Kiera is solid, as she always is. It isn't her best work but then its not a film that requires her best work - she does exactly what is needed for the film and therefore is totally competent in the role! As for JONNY DEPP...he is talented. Even though he is such a legend, even though he is my idol, I completely forgot I was watching JONNY DEPP...I believed him from start to finish and my admiration for his talent grew even more. His performance was even better than I could have imagined, and if this doesn't get him that illusive Oscar, I don't know what will! (the academy will probably be politically correct and give it to him for the third movie!) Having said all of that, I now want to go and watch it again. Its not Shakespeare (as the saying goes) but for this day and age in movies, it just as well might be! The only reason why I didn't give this 10/10 was because it ended...if I had it my way it would be a never ending movie! Oh, and P.S.: Gore Verbinski, you are a legend mate!