"Pirates" Returns-Sexier, Scarier, and more Action-Packed

Rating: 8/10 (8 July 2006)

The same salty swashbuckling fun is back for part two of the (presumably) three part Pirates of the Caribbean Saga, in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. Your favorite characters return and continue to entertain with their high-seas highjinks, which include: trying to escape from never-ending perils, continually switching sides and tricking each other mercilessly, as well as engaging in swordplay and romance- all done as Captain Jack spouts jokes and jibes, as usual. Though this second film is undeniably charming, it lacks the humorous edge of the first. While there are amusing lines and moments, they do not seem to be as meticulously scripted and are not quite as seamlessly worked into the plot as were the jokes in the first Pirates film. Also, almost everything that viewers counted on as fact of at the end of the first film is challenged and becomes quite convoluted by the end the second installment. Dead Man's Chest also bumps up the aspect of sensuality and tension between several characters, and the film ends with a cliffhanger on several levels. All of these aspects will likely delight some characters and disillusion others. Finally, while "The Curse of the Black Pearl" allowed several large blocks of time for character development, the action sequences of "Dead Man's Chest" are continuous and intense, and the lulls are few and far between. In short, if you loved the first, you'll at least enjoy the second, perhaps you'll even find Dead Man's Chest to be the better of the two. However, that final opinion must be left to you, the individual viewer. Savvy?