Like the first one, just a little better.

Rating: 7/10 (9 July 2006)

What's not to like here? Depp is back and does his Keith Richards/Pirate combo schtick very nicely, Orlando Bloom and Keira K are fine in their roles, the Kraken is a WOW of an effect, Davy Jones is even better than Gollum, and you have to like his sharky/snaily/seaweed etc henchmen too. Great stuff.
What doesn't work so well? Okay, the last hour or so is slowish and the movie is about half an hour too long if that. It's also Clearly a set-up for the third one.
*SPOILERS* I thought the appearance of Geoffrey Rush from the first was great, at the end, and I also thought the Kraken closeup, if you will, at the end, was terrific. All teeth and tentacles. You could only imagine things like that back in the day, Harryhausen included.
Check this one out if you liked the first one, the fencing, stunts, cannibal island segment and the like all work rather well. I enjoyed it a lot and so will you.
***1/2 outta ****. Aahhhhhhhhrrrr. Avast. Ahrr.