more wild adventure

Rating: 9/10 (6 July 2006)

On the day of Elizabeth's and Will's wedding, the weather forebodes another mood. Both are arrested by Cutler Beckett, for accessories in the escape of Captian Jack Sparrow. Striking a deal with Beckett, Will is set to find Sparrow and awarded a full pardon on the return with a possession held by Jack; though Jack has his own Problems. Sent a message by Bootstrap Bill, Jack has been given the black spot, marked for Davy Jones on a debt Jack has to repay.
When the idea of a sequel comes around, it's actually quite exciting. When you love a movie, you can't help but want another film to spend time with the characters. Though the down side of a second installment to a film is the terrible, often terminal disease Sequalitise. Every thing is done bigger and "better", with more action that suffocates, while you watch your beloved characters shrivel away into mediocrity. Thankfully Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest survives this fatal blow.
Writers of the first POTC; Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, have once again stuck gold, delivering one engulfing adventure. Digging deeper into pirate mythology, this goes beyond the simple realms of pirates searching for treasure; treasure that isn't silver and gold. Characters are developed further, with more dimensions and further layers to reveal, while introducing new characters that are deeply developed.
Much to many sequels, the action over runs and ultimately ruins the film. The action is quite sparing, in the sense that the action scenes are spread out and organically evolve from the story and characters, not the story playing second fiddle to the action. The characters are the real driving force of the film, with Sparrow's hyperbolic idiosyncrasies leading the front. Direction from Gore Verbinski makes the action so interesting, with intricate and engaging shots, adding a fast ferocity with a unrelenting grip.
With the original cast reprising their roles, Johnny Depp steals and takes over every scene. He is so charismatic and brings so much wit with simple gestures. Never much an Orlando Bloom fan, he has actually matured second time round, dropping the love lorn stares and angst. Keira Knightley isn't that strong as the rest of the cast. Bill Nighy is so unrecognisable as Davy Jones, yet perfectly cast for the role.
With the inevitable opening for the third installment, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest carries the same wild adventure as the first.