Less personality and more focused adventuring makes for a tighter popcorn swashbuckler

Rating: 6/10 (3 December 2006)

When version number two of the expected Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy came out it was near universally met by critics with dumbed-down groans, the usual lamenting done for a sequel that sells itself short on the personality and originality that thrived in the first place, and puts instead in it's place the over-bloated, inauthentic substitute for personality through mindless action sequencing, peppered with the franchise mentality of sameness, repetition, and reiteration. Not surprisingly, these critical warnings issued by our film protectors were amply ignored by the film-going public, making Dead Man's Chest the surprise top grossing movie of last season. For once I must admit the general public seemed to have gotten it right. Pirates II may not be as authentic, personal, or charming as it's predecessor, but in my experience it was a more fluid, well plotted, entertaining excursion out to sea. Whereas part one seemed to lack direction in it's script, gleefully bouncing around from one local to the next without doing much to justify the transition, Dead Man's Chest seems way more the traditional adventure these pirates were meant to have. I also have heard complaints in Johnny Depp's declining authenticity in the lead role of the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow, and must also scratch my head. While the lines that were written for him may have been layered on a little too thick, Depp almost seems to be more subdued in the role now, which helped take the focus off of his every drunken stumble and peculiar facial expression that the first concentrated on heavily, to a fault of the plot. Here, Sparrow and company seem to have a more clear cut purpose which helps viewers engage in the adventure all the more. While we are still dealing with essentially the same misadventures at sea (continuing right where the original ended), the arc here feels more like the big budget, high seas extravaganza the franchise wants to be. Of course the over-utilized Orlando Bloom does not help make things any easier on us, especially when asked to accept Mr. Bloom as the heroic savior certain scenes wish to implement, of which the boyish actor simply does not have the gravity to convey. Despite less focus being on the actual characters, helping to fill out the script are the budding moral conflicts arising in these main protagonists , giving the fun affair an extra shade of dimension not present in the original's straight-forward presentations. All in all, if you liked the original you should most likely enjoy the sequel. Where many have disappointingly pointed out the lack of personality and indulgence of set action pieces that Dead Man's Chest sinks to in place of authentic and rousing pirate personalities prominently portrayed in Curse of the Black Pearl, I would argue that POTC:DMC knew what it was even more then it's predecessor, and for that created a more cohesive, engaging adventure that does well to set up anticipation for it's forthcoming last round.