A Middle Movie In my opinion

Rating: 4/10 (29 July 2006)

I saw this movie a couple of weeks ago and was unimpressed. I thought the first Pirates movie was fun and a good movie to spend a few hours watching. This movie (the 2nd movie in a trilogy) tries to capitalize on the success of the first. The movie is fast moving and full of outrageous hijinks. However, in my opinion this movie is not as good as the first one for several reasons. First, the movie begins with a scene which shows birds plucking out the eyes of pirates. I believe it is inappropriate to show this type of shot in a movie that is catered to young children. While I know this movie is labeled PG-13, the fact is that this movie is directed at children from the age to 8-18 and on. From personal experience I know that this shot negatively impacted the children I saw the movie with, after seeing this unnecessarily violent scene they starting crying etc. Second, the movie has lost the magic of the first, the movie speeds along born aloft by unnecessary violence and huge plot holes. Third, the character of Elizabeth Swann takes a drastic turn for the worst in this film. Rather than the independent, strong willed heroine of the first movie, she is now a shrewish witch who runs around throwing her hands up and screaming at Jack and Will.
I really wanted to like this movie and was looking forward to seeing it. However, after about twenty minutes I was ready to walk out.
I want to say that the third movie will be better and this second film only suffers from Middle Movie syndrome. However, after watching this film I have to admit I fear that the third movie will be even worse and the Pirates trilogy is another creation born of greed and lust for merchandise sales.