Jack is Back

Rating: 8/10 (2 September 2006)

After the wedding of Will Turner and Elizabeth Swan is interrupted and the with the pair facing the gallows for helping a pirate escape Will goes in search of Jack Sparrow to retrieve his mysterious compass to gain a pardon. But when Jack tricks Will onto the Flying Dutchman to pay his debt to Davy Jones it's left to Elizabeth and the disgraced Norrington to help Jack find the heart of the Flying Dutchman's captain. But when the chest is found and opened Jones summons the deadly Kraken to destroy those who oppose him.
The unexpected success of the first movie Curse of the Black Pearl has turned Pirates of the Caribbean and Jack Sparrow into a global franchise that a sequel became inevitable. But where so many sequels have been poor and lack luster in the past Dead Man's Chest breaks with tradition. Director Gore Verbinski once again teams up with Hollywood heavyweight producer Jerry Bruckheimer with the swashbuckling, high action formula remaining the same they've produced a fast paced, exciting film that rivals but never surpasses its predecessor. Orlando Bloom has most of the screen time and holds his own against the completely CGI created villain Davy Jones, and Kiera Knightley's Elizabeth Swan leaves behind the damsel in distress persona of movie one to fight against Jones's crew. But naturally it's Johnny Depp who once again steal the show as the eccentric Captain Jack Sparrow, a part he was born to play and a character he has turned into one of the biggest cinema icons of the last few years. This movie is great fun and will once again capture the imagination of cinema goers of all ages. Its stellar cast, great action sequences and CGI effects make it easy to forgive the rehashing of movie one jokes. With the reintroduction of a familiar face the end is perfectly poised for the third instalment expected in May. Jack is well and truly back.