What can be said except for "awesome"?

Rating: 10/10 (8 July 2006)

As a prologue, I'll say that the showing of Pirates of the Caribbean 2 that I attended helped remind me why I love going to the theatre while others wait for the DVD. My enjoyment of a movie is heightened when seeing it with a good audience watching as well, and that was one of the best audience experiences I've ever had. You could just feel everyone's enjoyment of the film.
In other words: awesome.
While it's fun to see Jack and Elizabeth flirt it up a bit, I can't see it going anywhere. Will's too nice a guy to not get the girl in a Hollywood motion picture, even one with a subversive streak.
I don't want to start off a wave of Lucas-bashing, but watching the Pirates franchise just shows what he forgot when making the prequel trilogy. Expertly-blending cutting edge effects with real flesh, blood, and scenery, and an expert mix of action, drama, and comedy. The effects don't overwhelm the story, and the story is centered on three actors perfectly cast as the leads (whatever I think of Bloom's talent, he's good as Will, your standard bland, upstanding guy) I think, unless something really stunning appears, this film has the best FX Oscar locked up.
I also love that in writing the sequels the production team didn't lose sight of all the little minor characters from the first film: we had Mr. Gibbs (an especially good supporting character), Cotton and his parrot, the dwarf guy, a cameo by the two old girlfriends of Jack at Tortuga, Governor Swann, and Norrington (who gets an especially fitting character arc).
And, of course, Pintel and Ragetti, the R2D2 and C3PO of this franchise.
I was also amused to see Tom Hollander and Keira Knightley get a few scenes together, reunited from their roles as another Lizzie and Mr. Collins; there really are only about twenty working British actors.
The end, with the return of our good friend, had the whole audience cheering.
My favourite scene has to be the showdown on the island, with about six different parties fighting for control of the chest; the whole thing is just one joke building on another, with some the finest scoring around (the Pirates main theme is an instant classic), and a bunch of stuff right out of Super Mario Brothers.
10/10, just because, after six straight days of working 7/8 hours, I needed such a jolt of fun. Bring on number three!