indescribably spectacular

Rating: 7/10 (7 July 2006)

'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest' is not only a worthy sequel to 'The Curse of the Black Pearl', but stands alone in the strides it has made to outdo its predecessor, which is easily done. From the incredibly amazing action sequences, to superb performances from Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, and Bill Nighy, to an unpredictable climax, 'Pirates' 2 is a spectacular piece of film-making from Gore Verbinski.
The plot is simple enough. Jack Sparrow (Depp) must repay a debt to the legendary captain of the Flying Dutchman, Davy Jones (Nighy): his soul. Eventually, Jack barters with Jones so that Jack can be spared if he provides 100 souls as his replacement. Meanwhile, back on Port Royal, Elizabeth Swann (Oscar nominee Keira Knightley) and Will Turner (Bloom) have been arrested for their actions in the first film (aiding the escape of a pirate). Will negotiates a deal with the new ruler of Port Royal, which is to retrieve Jack Sparrow's mysterious compass, in exchange for his and Elizabeth's freedom. And it appears Mr. Norrington has vanished without a trace since resigning his post months earlier...
This movie is full of twists and turns, which do not stop until Gore Verbinski's name appears on the screen. I could tell you them, but that would be nothing short of torture. What stands out most to me is the fantastic writing and direction, because without this, everything short of Johnny Depp's performance are impossible. The action scenes are utterly fantastic, and in terms of 'wow factor', they compare with last year's best visual effects film, King Kong. Incredible sword fights are ripe here, much moreso than in 'Pirates' 1.
The acting is nothing short of phenomenal. Johnny Depp is in prime Oscar form, and to say another nomination (or possibly a win) for playing Captain Jack is not only possible, but probable. The way he can make this character his own is unbelievable, but every movement, every line...it all seems like Depp has it premade in his brain. I don't think I've ever seen someone play a character like Jack this well. I actually enjoyed Orlando Bloom's Will Turner this time around, because he didn't mess around. He gets straight to the point, no hesitation. Good acting on Bloom's part. Keira Knightley doesn't have as much screen time as before, but still flourishes with what she's given. She does lose a little bit of fanfare for her 'actions' later in the film, but her performance is well done, and I know this because I couldn't picture anyone else in the role but the young Oscar nominee. I absolutely loved Bill Nighy as the film's villain, Davy Jones. He has this certain presence about him that is in effect BEFORE he appears for the first time. You keep wondering when this fearsome villain will appear, so I will not tell you when he does, for that would ruin the suspense of his appearance. He does an excellent job, despite having little to no face to work with. Another performance I thought was very well done was Stellan Skarsgaard as Boostrap Bill Turner, aka Will's dad. 'Wait, wasn't he dead?' His mysterious survival is explained very early on in the film, and it makes a lot of sense. Skarsgaard does a great job of making the audience feel for him, feel his pain. He and Bloom only share a handful of scenes together, but you can definitely feel the chemistry as father and son between them. All the performances are great, even the creepy one, Naomie Harris (28 Days Later...) as Tia Dalma.
Gore Verbinski has constructed an epic masterpiece that is good for everyone above age 9, because there are some scary jumpy moments that made me shudder. The humor you've come to expect is right there, complete with plenty of rum jokes...'why is the rum always gone?'. 'Dead Man's Chest' is one of the best films of recent memory, and surpasses 'The Curse of the Black Pearl' in every aspect comparable. You must see this film, because it's one you'll never forget.
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST 10/10 --spy