Just as good as the first.

Rating: 8/10 (4 August 2006)

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest picks up 3 years after the first film. Will and Elizabeth's wedding is halted when they are both arrested for aiding Jack Sparrow in his hunt for the Black Pearl. Will is offered a pardon if he can find Jack Sparrow and retrieve his magical compass. He finds Jack running in fear of Davy Jones, whom he owes his soul. Jack and Will are joined by Elizabeth, who has escaped capture, to find the heart of Davy Jones and destroy it. Dead Man's Chest is far more action packed than the original film, but it is a darker, more serious film.
Everything that was good about the first movie is good in this film. Once again, Johnny Depp is hysterical as Captain Jack Sparrow. Orlando Bloom does very well returning as Will Turner. The dialogue is just as witty and cool as before. Some parents might not like that this film is darker than the first. Some scenes might even be considered frightening. The character of Davy Jones and his crew aboard the Flying Dutchman are amazing. The CGI in this movie is quite possibly the best special effects I've seen in a movie recently. One of the only problems I had with the movie was the character of Elizabeth Swann. She has changed from the first film. Keira Knightley's performance was just as good, but her character is strongly downplayed. She doesn't have a lot to do with the movie. I personally enjoyed this movie just as much as the first film, but some people may not like the fact that this movie ends in a complete cliffhanger, due to the fact that this was filmed at the same time as the third film. Nothing is resolved at the end, because it's all going to end in the third film.
The acting is just as good as the first time around. As for new characters, Bill Nighy is amazing as Davy Jones, even though his face is completely covered by CGI effects. Stellan Skarsgard is great as Will Turner's ghostly father, Bootstrap Bill.
Overall, this is an awesome sequel, and the third film promises to be even more amazing.
8/10