A comfortably entertaining performance

Rating: 7/10 (17 July 2006)

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Directed by: Gore Verbinski Date of Release: 2006 Starring: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley
Well, it's been three years, and finally the next POTC instalment has hit UK cinemas. You may remember my review of "The Curse of the Black Pearl" whereby I had mixed feelings at the start, then grew to love it and give it the ultimate blessing by adding it to my elite DVD collection (read "economic" - erm...small).
I started getting the same mixed feelings as this one started, this could have been something to do with the countless, riotous teenage girls running around the cinema in their little hooker outfits, clutching their Nokia's and texting their mates sitting two rows behind. Then five minutes later running and giggling to another part of the cinema, the last place being directly in front of Sarah and I - a few strong words and they disappeared, leaving us to enjoy the film.
I think it was my inability to relax for the first 30 minutes, after which I settled into viewing mode, abolished all criticism from my mind and enjoyed a thoroughly entertaining reintroduction to the old faces.
Johnny Depp continues to amuse with his drunken drool and carefree attitude, while Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightly appear to be acting in a completely different film all together, while Depp eases into his eccentric character, Bloom and Knightly look like they are better off playing Romeo and Juliet at London's Palladium.
The over-dramatic portrayals are very soon forgotten though, as we see some great favourites grace the waters from the previous film. Pintel and Ragetti (Lee Arenberg & Mackenzie Crook) play a much appreciated, larger part in this story and add their usual hilarious antics. We also see the return of Norrington (Jack Davenport) as a washed up drunk, after losing his honourable standing as Elizabeth's intended in the previous instalment.
What really makes the film are the new characters. With new consequences, predicaments and locations, we meet people like Tia Dalma (The black witch), Bootstrap Bill and a tribe of hungry cannibals. But without doubt, by the far the best treat has to be Davy Jones, his crew and his ship, the Flying Dutchman. Bill Nighy, unrecognisable, portrays the idiom in octopus/man form who, along with his frighteningly fantastic crew have spent too long at the bottom of the sea and are barely recognisable as humans, more so as aquatic beasts. The ship itself is a sight to behold, like an organic mass of seaweed and barnacles, the whole effect makes for excellent viewing.
I do have to mention the scene on the white, sandy beach where Elizabeth is trying to break up the testosterone induced sword fight -a pointless and embarrassing viewing experience. Certainly one for the cutting room floor in my opinion.
Perhaps the story line itself could have been improved upon, but as a Walt Disney, 12A film I didn't expect this to be up to much and it is more than made up for by action, fantasy and hilarity.
The film ends on a cliff hanger, ready for the next instalment, next year, where I am sure we will be served up more of the same, comfortably entertaining performance. Oh, and Keith Richards, apparently!