Just keeps getting better and better every time I watch it...

Rating: 8/10 (14 July 2006)

Okay, so on first viewing...you can see some of the film's flaws: it's a tad overlong, there's such an abundance of stuff happening on screen, you may well get a headache/sore eyes afterwards (like I did), and there is some unnecessary dialogue/some jokes fall a bit flat. These are only minor quibbles, of course.
I'll admit that I'm probably one of the few who wasn't blown away by the first POTC film like everybody else seemed to be. While I thought it was quite good, I didn't think it reached the level of greatness that everyone else seemed to believe it did. Dead Man's Chest, essentially, offers more of the same - only it's amped up to a whole new level. But that's not necessarily a bad thing - if done right. This film hardly ever lets up. There's *always* something going on to hold your interest (the only parts I found slow/boring mostly involving Will Turner and his father, Bootstrap Bill). Everything else, though, demands your attention.
After seeing this film the first time, I thought it was another example of quantity over quality. It seemed to me the writers simply took what worked in the first film, then just thought "More, more, MORE!". Admittedly, this movie doesn't go for subtlety. However, after repeated viewings (and seeing the disappointing third film), I have a new appreciation for this middle instalment. For one thing, the film looks amazing (you gotta love that first killer shot we see of rain falling on teacups, followed by a mournful looking Elizabeth).
Johnny Depp, as Captain Jack Sparrow, makes an entrance in this movie that's just as memorable as his entrance in the first film. Any scene he's in is automatically made better by having him in it. Depp owns this role, and you can't help but love him in it. He's carved out a classic movie character that will forever be remembered. His interaction with the different characters in this movie - Will, Davy Jones, Elizabeth (*especially* Elizabeth) really let you see different sides to him.
I was extremely pleased to see that Keira Knightley's Elizabeth Swann got a chance to shine in this movie. Not only did Knightley get a chance to show off her comedic side (she made me laugh on more than one occasion), as well as her dramatic side, but she also proved to be pretty handy (and believable) when handling a sword. The way she plays off Depp's Sparrow makes for lots of great scenes between the two (the ending in particular). She definitely overshadowed her fiancée, Will Turner. While Orlando Bloom took part in two of movie's most memorable scenes, and also got to show he could do comedy really well, I felt his dramatic scenes with his father were a bit hollow. Bill Nighy's Davy Jones, meanwhile, was a great new character/a very intriguing villain to both watch and listen to (his voice is so memorable). Every time he was on screen, you couldn't help but watch that tentacled beard of his. Nighy manages to make his villain very different to Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush in the first movie), but equally as interesting. And speaking of new interesting characters, I thought Tia Dalma (Naomie Harris) was a very engaging character. Although she was essentially in the movie to provide exposition, she managed to make it not be *boring* to listen to, which I appreciated.
Characters returning from the first movie include a very different kind of Norrington (a lot more scruffier/dirtier this time round), with Jack Davenport getting to explore more depth to his character, newly-mortal Pintel and Ragetti (who are more of an annoyance than entertainment, in my opinion), Gibbs (who got an increased role) and Elizabeth's father (who was reduced to only a couple of scenes). I'm happy to say that the CGI for both the Kraken and Davy Jones is top-notch. No dodgy CGI here. The part of the film where Jack Sparrow confronts the Kraken is - in a word - EPIC. It's a visual that will stay with you. As is the three-person sword fight (that eventually leads to dueling on a big wheel). Elizabeth trading swords with Pintel and Ragetti back and forth, as they fight Jones's seamen (don't go there), is great as well. She gets to be a competent fighter in this film (though, I did love that one instance where she let out the most girlish scream ever while being chased). It's such a visual feast for the eyes, mine were red by the end. I should also mention the music used in this film is awesome. It's so very fitting, and just makes every scene that much better (especially the use of organ when the Kraken attacks). The rollicking POTC theme is one that definitely gets you in the right mood for the film, and Davy Jones's 'theme' is equally good.
My only wish is that they had made it so we could think the story ended *here*, if we wanted to, in this movie (rather than being forced to watch the much more inferior third film for the wrap-up to the story). Unfortunately, given the cliff-hanger ending to this one, it requires you watch the third one if you want any sort of closure. I'll freely admit I was a little too harsh with this film when I first saw/reviewed it, but now I find it to be the most entertaining of the three POTC films. It's just so much FUN. Try not to focus on the flaws/take it too seriously, just sit back and enjoy the ride. It's certainly got plenty of swash and buckle.