And The Rum is Back!

Rating: 10/10 (13 July 2006)

I should probably put this out on the table right away: I'm possibly the biggest fan of Pirates of the Caribbean ever. Biggest fan as in: I know all the words by heart and I remember 99% of all the tidbits I've ever picked up. And it shows. End of story. Okay, now that I've got that out of the way, let me get on to reviewing POTC: Dead Man's Chest. I've read several newspaper reviews and most of them say the same thing, that although the critics enjoyed the movie, they found it to be rather rambling and they were irked by the ending (or lack there of). I can see the truth in what they say, but that doesn't mean I necessarily agree with it. Dead Man's Chest rocks. It's 150 minutes of pulse racing, jaw dropping, swashbuckling fun. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways:
+ Everyone has returned for a second time around on the ride. And I can guarantee you that this wouldn't work without the original cast and crew. Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio create another wonderful script for our enjoyment, full of the same enjoyable banter that we had the first time around. Many of the funnier lines are jokes that you will probably only get if you've seen The Curse of The Black Pearl, but that's not a problem in the slightest. {Jack's lines: "Elizabeth! Hide the rum." and "I'm still rooting for you mate"; Elizabeth fainting to get attention; as well as the constant correction that it's CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow.} Gore Verbinski and Jerry Bruckheimer return as director and producer respectfully; so the style is much the same, only a few shades darker. Hans Zimmer's score completely blows me away. It's not all brand new, which helps to link The Curse of the Black Pearl to Dead Man's Chest. The pulse racing music from the sword fights is redone, so that it's the same, but different. There are several scores using the organ, which adds this wonderful spine tingling atmosphere to the movie. A round of applause to whoever designed Davy Jones and his crew. And you thought that undead skeleton pirates were cool. If Dead Man's Chest is not nominated for Best Make-up at the Oscar's, it is a crime. + Captain Jack's back my friends. Johnny Depp delivers once again as the flamboyant, perpetually drunk captain of The Black Pearl. Some people may consider him to be TOO over the top, but I didn't see it that way at all. I doubt if he'll win a second Oscar nomination, but he's wonderful anyways. Orlando Bloom's Will Turner is much more self assured, and far less pathetic this time around. 99% pirate, we're almost there Will. Of our 3 main characters, Elizabeth is the one who's changed the most. She's learned to handle a sword, and she's much more independent. But man is she making the rounds! I have to say that by the end of Dead Man's Chest, I hate her  in the best way possible. Major snaps to Keira Knightley for her brilliant job. Not only does she deliver the most hilarious monologue in the movie, she's also an amazing swords-woman. Another brilliant return is Jack Davenport as the dethroned James Norrington. We encounter Norrington about half way through the movie, and he's no longer the prim sophisticated Commodore. Now he's a drunk, pot head, half out of his mind who's only wish is to regain what he's lost. Even going so far as to sign onto The Black Pearl. Kevin R. McNally's back as Mr. Gibbs and we love him. The gruffest, sweetest pirate around, he's wonderful. But the best performances would probably have to go to two new comers. Stellan Skarsgard and Bill Nighy. Skarsgard delivers as Bootstrap Bill Turner, one of the few crewmen of "The Flying Dutchman" who haven't lost their humanity. His performance as Will's father is touching and if you're sentimental like me, parts of it are down right heart breaking. But Bill Nighy steals the show as Davy Jones. He just looks astounding! His range is amazing. He jumps from a cruel captain to a broken hearted romantic in a second. I don't know if he's applicable for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar, but I really hope he's nominated. + Just like its predecessor, the sword fights in Dead Man's Chest are spine tingling. If you thought that a sword fight in and out of the moonlight was cool, check out this three way sword fight  part of which takes place on a detached water wheel. It gave me chills.
I understand why some people may not be completely enthralled by this movie. Like all movies, it is flawed. But they don't detract from the finished project in the slightest. But here they are anyway:

The movie does ramble and I suppose that it is rather long. The entire thing on the cannibal island  though entertaining  does nothing for the plot. All the same, it's entertaining, and I wouldn't take it out. - The entire crew of "The Black Pearl" is back, with the one exception of Anamaria. Her character is just  gone. She's never mentioned, so it leaves me wanting to know what happened.

And you've probably heard it by now, but I'll repeat it: Dead Man's Chest doesn't really end. It is the cliffhanger to end all cliffhangers. Bah humbug. There's the huge shocker, and then the credits roll. So your sitting there, thinking, "What? It's over? No way. They can't do this! No! I want to see it now!" But alas, we will have to wait until Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End opens. Still the more I think about it, the happier I am about it. It's a ploy to get you to see the third movie, but who cares! It works, while still rocking the house. 10/10