Good Ride

Rating: 7/10 (8 July 2006)

The first movie was so fresh (for this century anyway) that there was no chance that any sequel was going to measure up. Dean Man's Chest came as close as I could expect. Johnny Depp's performance was astonishing in the first movie because all of the other characters lived in the real world. Jack Sparrow is less effective when everyone takes for granted that there are ghost ships sailed by Octopus looking half dead sea creatures. Bill Nighy was wasted under an avalanche of special effects. I didn't buy that Elizabeth would ever have any real connection to Jack. Her undying love for our hero is what makes the story old fashioned Hollywood fun. Jack would have to stop swaying for me to believe that Elizabeth would be conflicted about her feelings for him. What would be the fun of that? I love watching Orlando Bloom play a sword fighting hero though the action was too cartoon like. The swords might as well have been made of rubber. I never felt anyone was going to get hurt. Nothing hurt these people. This movie is a nice ride and worth the price of admission. However the first movie was such an unexpected pleasure that part of me wishes that they had just left it alone.