"If you've enjoyed the past two Pirates films, you'll be satisfied with "At World's End." It offers unabashed fun, cheap laughs and high seas adventure that can't be matched. It's only fault? It's no "Return of the Jedi," no matter how hard it tries to be."
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," the latest and possibly last installment of Disney's mega-hit franchise, strictly adheres to the basic principle of all sequels: more of the same.
"At World's End" is nothing more, nothing less, than a continuation of "Dead Man's Chest," supplying the finale its predecessor withheld.
The film opens with a chain gang of pirates and their accused associates being herded to the gallows, with a narrator citing an all-too-modern-sounding list of suspended rights. It's a tragically beautiful and strangely dark move for Disney's rum-drunk franchise.
From here, the plot moves into motion with an homage to the infiltration of Jabba the Hutt's palace that opened "Return of the Jedi."
Elizabeth (Keira Knightley) and Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) seek audience with Singapore's pirate lord, Sao Feng (Chow Yun Fat), in his dank, dungeon-like lair.
Meanwhile, the crew of the Black Pearl make their way through a hidden entrance incase the plan doesn't work. And don't worry, heartthrob Orlando Bloom returns as Will Turner (a not-so-hairy replacement for Chewbacca in this scene), who was captured trying to sneak in earlier.
After the film's first rousing action sequence, our heroes escape with their prize, Sao Feng's charts to Davy Jones' locker. Now Barbossa and his crew must rescue Jack Sparrow so the attack on the Death Star can commence.
Wait, wrong movie - but there is an evil empire to overcome, the East India Trading Company. Lord Cutler Beckett (Tom Hollander) and Admiral Norrington (Jack Davenport) are out to rid the seas of Pirates and claim the seas for themselves.
The Call of the Brethren is issued and the nine pirate lords from all corners of the map must meet and discuss the future (if there is one) for their life on the seas.
We realize Sparrow is one of the nine lords, thus the true reason for his rescue is revealed. After several hallucinatory episodes with multiple Jack Sparrow clones (a dream come true for any female between 8 and 88), Tia Dalma (Naomie Harris) and the crew retrieve Jack.
After reuniting with Sparrow and surviving numerous run-ins with the Flying Dutchman, the Black Pearl must make its way to Shipwreck Cove to persuade the rest of pirate society to fight against the East India Trading Company.
The last hour is a full-blown swashbuckling overload, reaching critical mass in an epic sword duel between Sparrow and Davy Jones (Bill Nighy). It's reminiscent of the duel between Obi-Wan and Darth Maul in Episode 1, but not as mind blowing - it gets the job done, though.
Kudos to Industrial Light and Magic for pushing the envelope in special effects yet again, they've simply outdone themselves here. The film is full of beautiful locations and sweeping sceneries.
Bill Nighy as Davy Jones steals the show yet again and some of the most-exquisite scenes in the film, including one where he wipes away a single tear from his face with the help of a tentacle.
If you've enjoyed the past two Pirates films, you'll love "At World's End." It offers unabashed fun, cheap laughs and high seas adventure that can't be matched. It's no "Return of the Jedi," no matter how hard it tries to be.
Oh, and don't forget to stay after the credits for a special scene (or, actually - don't bother)
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action/adventure violence and some frightening images.
"It is a bit confusing as audience members need a score card to keep track of everyone and what they did in the past. The one character who steals every one of his scenes however is - the monkey!" ByFrancine Brokaw
"Vastly superior to last year's lousy Dead Man's Chest, Pirates 3 is thematically one of the darkest films to be released under the Disney banner." ByJulian Roman
"Despite its shortcomings and oft-bulky storyline, the third 'Pirates of the Caribbean' is an enjoyable and satisfying ride from beginning to World's End." ByTimothy M. Bruderek
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