Darker story delivers a superior adventure...

Rating: 9/10 (12 July 2006)

In reading the reviews written by the "professional" critics prior to my initial viewing of this work, I entered the theater with greatly lessened expectations. I must say that I owe those naysayers a vote of thanks, as I was so anticipating this work, that it had no way of fulfilling my hopes. Thanks to their dire condemnations and overly enthusiastic tongue-clicking, I had a marvelous and unexpectedly thrilling movie-going experience.
The best most well-done element of this movie? The WHOLE movie! I'm serious. There wasn't a moment of wasted film, there wasn't even one time when I was wondering what time it was, and there wasn't a single performance which was found lacking in any way. This was a 3 hour film which felt like it was over too soon. And, if you've been one of the millions of fans who have kept up with this work through its production, then you also know the original cast is back, including the nefarious Barbossa (NOT a spoiler, he's listed in the credits), in addition to an entire cast of new characters, thrilling action, mahogany storyline, superior sound, and stellar awards-quality effects.
The Verbinski/Bruckheimer marriage seems to be a good one; a profitable one, but more importantly, a creative one. The story incorporates each and every element of a successful well-loved classic. There is romance, action, adventure, horror, fantasy, monsters, pirates, chases, betrayals, escapes, treacheries and deceits, honesty, and love. All set before breathtaking vistas, and finished with completely realistic, top quality effects.
With the benefit of virtually no time taken to redevelop the principal characters, the story kicks in from the beginning, and the character development is devoted to the new cast of characters. What a twisted darkling lot they are!
Make sure you stay for the bonus scene after end credits!
I was most impressed with this work, and rate it slightly above the original for its story and a slightly superior adventure experience, at an 8.9/10 from...
the Fiend :.