NOT as good as the first one.

Rating: 6/10 (22 July 2006)

This movie lacks most of the witty dialogue (and on the rare occasions when the dialogue is witty, its almost exactly the same as) the first one. Jack's roundabout speeches go on for too long, most of the body language that made them so funny before is missing and when subtle bits ("This doesn't lead you to your greatest desire!""Yes it does, you're sitting on it") are actually to be found, there's no time to appreciate them before the film cuts away to another plot angle, of which there are many.
The acting is quite good in most cases, but again, Jack lacks some of the attributes that made him so hilarious in the first one. The addition of Norrington seemed a bit contrived, but he proves to be a useful and well-done foil. Some of the crew have been given too much screen time (midget), and the natives seem more like bored MTV-era teenagers than bloodthirsty savages. Knightley does a good job for most of the movie, but seems locked into a confused saddened stare on occasion. Somewhat like the theatre audience who are having trouble following two separate stories that bounce around. Stellan Skarsgaard does an excellent job as Bootstrap Bill Turner, with his tired and suffering character having the perfect voice to match it. Nighy as Jones does a good job, but reminds me too much of his character from Underworld (the head twitch and the clicking sound). Bloom's acting is right up to par with the first entry, but he hasn't really got too much to say. And his main line from the trailer ("We can't leave without Jack.....All right lets go") has been modified and loses some of its punch.
The fight scenes and the graphics are excellent, even if the rolling wheel went on for slightly too long and the rotating camera, although highly entertaining, made me dizzy while watching.
In general, this movie tried too hard to set up the story lines for the coming third movie, and left me under the impression that I'd only really seen the first half of a movie. The prime example is the last minute re-addition of Barbossa (Geofrrey Rush) to the cast.
All in all, the movie is entertaining and funny, and is a necessity to see before the third installment, which I'm sure will be right back up to par with the first one.