"Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean series is quickly making its name as the premiere action/adventure flick. Say hello to the Indiana Jones of a new generation."
We extort, we pilfer, we filch and sack
Drink up me hearties, yo ho!
Maraud and embezzle and even high-jack
Drink up me hearties yo ho!
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me!
With a story deeper than Davy Jones' locker, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, is a cinematic treasure filled with barnacled bad guys, buccaneers and privateers and of course, the swaying swagger of Captain Jack Sparrow.
The mythology within Dead Man's Chest is epic - the insidious Davy Jones, played terrifically by Bill Nighy, is one of the screen's best villains since Darth Vader. As captain of The Flying Dutchman, Jones is out to collect on an unsettled debt held by none other than the slovenly Cap'n Jack.
The introduction of new characters like voodoo temptress Tia Dalma (Naomie Harris, 28 Days Later), the East Indian Trading Company's Cutler Beckett and Boostrap Bill Turner (the excellent Stellan Skarsgård) give Verbenski's pirate universe a sprawling growth, while the return of old favorites like Gibbs, Pentil and Ragetti remind us of why we love this series so much.
At a whopping 150 minutes of total running time, Dead Man's Chest is packed from opening to close with swashbuckling adventure - seeming to outdo its predecessor on nearly every level. The locations are extravagant and tantalizing to the eye, while the development of characters like Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightly) leave us clinging to the romantic ideal of hope. There is also a deeper exploration of Depp's pirate prince. Jack Sparrow, while obnoxiously erotic at times (you won't hear any female movie fans complaining), shows a courageous side in Dead Man's Chest - a glimpse at the man he truly is, perhaps.
The special effects are astounding - from the barnacled sea urchins that form Davy Jones' crew to the colossal tentacles of the Kracken, you will truly believe you are immersed in a world full of mythological sea creatures and cursed pirates - a life that's certainly for me.
The film ends with the biggest cliffhanger since 1980's The Empire Strikes Back, making wenches and swabs alike bloodthirsty for the third installment.
Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean series is quickly making its name as the premiere action/adventure flick. Say hello to the Indiana Jones of a new generation.
Comments & Responses
More Theatrical Reviews
"Yo, ho, yo, ho, the pirate life is definitely for me!! Bigger and badder than the original! Great special effects, great action! Johnny Depp is excellent in his return as Captain Jack Sparrow! An absoute must-see!" BySteven Chupnick
Top Stories
117 Comments
