Surpassed Expectations

Rating: 9/10 (8 July 2006)

This movie amazed me. I knew I was going to enjoy it. I knew I was going to laugh and grin. I knew this and had confidence in the film because of Johnny Depp. He made the first movie, he was the reason I watched (and continue to watch) it over and over again. I fell in love with Jack Sparrow and doubt I'll ever fall out of his spell. But with this movie came a couple of major surprises: I wasn't only laughing and grinning, I was at the edge of my seat and anxious for the next scene. And it is more than Johnny Depp that I will return to the theaters again as often as I (financially) can allow.
Orlando Bloom can act! His character is better rounded, there's more to his story, and his scenes without Depp stood out beautifully. I think he learned a lot in the past couple years. Miss Knightly also did a nice job and came out as more of the rogue Englishwoman I wanted and imagined her to be. The majority of familiar faces (and favorites!) from the first movie show up throughout the course of the film as well, wonderfully enough! And it works, which is really the amazing part. This movie drew on the good points of the first but didn't nag anything to death. Don't worry about the previews where things seem to cheesy--sure, they may be walking that edge of hilarity, but they are well balanced by other serious plot lines and the more anxiety-packed moments.
I can honestly say this is the best sequel I've ever seen (excluding the original Star Wars films) especially considering that the first movie was probably written independently. This compliments the first movie so well, in fact, that I think I liked it more than the first. Nothing can ever be on the same level as an original, it's true, but this movie went above and beyond by drawing me in on all fronts this time around. I'll watch the first movie again and again for Jack, but its sequels will be the more satisfying for me.