Back for the Better

Rating: 10/10 (9 July 2006)

It's been three years of waiting and now Captain Jack Sparrow and his crew are back for more swashbuckling and adventure in the most highly anticipated sequel of the summer. This time, Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, and Keira Knightley re-team with director Gore Verbinski to create a wild and crazy extension of the first film which includes more intense fight scenes, special effects, and (of course) a dabble of rum and romance.
In the film, Sparrow is the target of the slimy, squirmy Davey Jones; Sparrow owes him his soul and the only way to avoid serving a lifetime on Jones' ship is to find the chest that contains his heart. And what other way could this all be accomplished without the help of his friends Elizabeth Swann and Will Turner? Familiar faces and fresh ones as well round out the roster, including a run-in with a tribe of cannibals.
As expected, Johnny Depp performs above and beyond as Captain Jack. His comedic performance, as well as his serious one, set the tone for the film and keeps the audience rolling with laughter. Orlando Bloom still seems a bit stiff in his character, but it's definitely an improvement from the first film. And Keira Knightley blows her role out of the water, especially in her scenes with Depp. Finally, Bill Nighy's performance as the stunningly CGI-ed Davey Jones was incredible considering the fact that he was almost unrecognizable.
If anything, this sequel proves that Pirates can do no wrong. With a comedic darkness and a wonderfully tricky ending that only Disney could get away with, it's lucky that a third film lingers on the horizon for summer 2007. Until then, die-hard fans can settle for seeing the film multiple times this July. Take it from me- I saw it twice in the first 24 hours it was released. Yar matey!