An exciting adventure from start to finish

Rating: 9/10 (9 July 2006)

I may be a 14 year old girl going to see a movie about Johnny Depp, but that is most certainly not the only reason this movie was absolutely amazing to me. The first Pirates was my favorite movie since I saw it, and when I heard there was a sequel, I must admit I was a bit nervous about what they could possibly do without Geoffrey Rush's ingenious character of Captain Barbossa. I was definitely impressed with how they managed to carry on a story that even compared to the first.
The effects in this film were wild. I am still trying to figure out how in God's name they created Davey Jones and crew. All of the stunts are also impressive. Although it is difficult to come close to the Sparrow/Barbossa sword fight in the cave in the first film, the three-way fight between Depp, Davenport and Bloom certainly comes close.
Of course Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow entertains all with his witty one-liners and way about him in which you can never tell whether he is drunk or a genius. He also has a sex-appeal that has ladies in theaters swooning over him. He is without-a-doubt what makes a hit out of these movies. Although he does more than sit back and look pretty in this movie I am still far from impressed with Orlando Bloom and his character. It seems as if Bloom tries getting by on his good looks a lot and doesn't get deep into the character. Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann is much more entertaining than last time. Although she was absolutely gorgeous from start to finish in the first Pirates, her character is much more interesting in this film. Even though I believe she is one of the worst sword fighters in the movie, I do like the direction her character is headed in, and i can do nothing but wish her luck with the three men pursuing her. Jack Davenport does much more in the film as well. Although he is becoming more of a villain and he played a great commodore in the first film, he plays this role well too. Bill Nighy plays a superb Davy Jones. It would be easy to sit back and let the special effects and costume play this role, but Nighy creates an intimidating, clever villain. Lee Arenberg and Mackenzie Crook are a hilarious addition to this crew. I was surprised by their return, but also very happy seeing as i liked their characters even when they were the "bad guys". They are a perfect duo and, although they are with a new crew, they didn't manage to lose their pirate, get what they want attitudes that they have. Stellan Skarsgård plays an excellent Bootstrap Bill. His costume is amazing, and he doesn't hide behind it. Tom Hollander aggravated all with his Cutler Beckett. Not that he played it badly. That is how you should feel about the man he is. He is meant to play the man that gets in the way of the "good guys". Tia Dalma was played by Naomi Harris. She played the creepy, voo-doo, medicine woman she was supposed to be. Although sometimes the accent made her seem a bit over the top, I liked the character.
SPOILER!!!!!
One last character I have mentioned earlier , but should mention again is Geoffrey Rush's Captain Barbossa. He is without a doubt my second favorite character in these movies. I was a bit disappointed when I saw him die in the first movie. This may seem a bit long for him having one line in the movie, but now I have such high hopes for the second movie. Rush delivers every single line so perfectly, and I find myself getting goosebumps when he delivers his lines or winds up in a sword fight. The surprise of Barbossa showing up followed by the final line at the end was incredible and one of the greatest, yet most frustrating endings I have seen in a long time.
You need to see this movie in theaters to get the effect and experience of the fantastic movie this is. If you are as great a fan as I am, you will be frustrated by the end, dying as you wait another year for the third film to come out and conclude things, and smiling at the magic the movie created.