Movie Fan Zone

Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World’s End is one tough movie to crack. Also, it is hard to decide whether the positives outweigh the negatives, whether I truly enjoyed the flick or was bothered too much. In fact, this is one film that is best described as mixed.

After last year’s Dead Man’s Chest, it is pretty clear that what the film’s plot is get Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) back, eliminate Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) from the seas and obliterate as many Brits as possible. Then, you should also remember a few other sub-plots: Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) also needs to save his father (Stellan Skarsgard) while also trying to marry Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley). Swann, for her part, is quite guilty of leading Capatain Jack to his doom and wants that to be hidden forever. And have we even mentioned Capatin Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) returning from the dead?

The film starts in a rather dark an unusual way: pirates being hanged. Did we even mention that there is a young boy getting that exact treatment? Enough with kids receiving VIP treatment from Disney! Next up, Barbossa and Swann get to meet one of the chief pirates of the world, Sao Feng (Chow Yun-Fat) of Singapore. They try to coerce him to help battle Davy Jones as well as rescue Capt. Jack. Before an agreement can be reached, the Brits attack the pirates, in honor of the laws of Lord Beckett (Tom Hollander). And that’s the time they go on to retrieve Captain Jack. Whew!

I won’t tell you the rest of the story because not only does it get longer, it becomes more and more complicated. Double crosses abound in this flick, causing viewers to get confused. Also, the characterizations really took time. Plus, this is a Jerry Bruckheimer production! You are supposed to watch the big action sequences!

The film is a grandiose epic, that’s for sure. Everything is an evidence to how much the film tries to top the first two flicks and it kinda works. However, there is not one that really makes you hold your breath, unlike last year’s swordfight in a giant wheel. The closest thing to that was Sparrow and Jones on top of a mast.

What was noticeable too was it also has the same problems people had with Spider-Man 3. Too much of everything. Too many characters, too many sub-plots and unnecessary additions. The biggest problem were the new pirates, those who came from other parts of the world and Sao Feng. The pirate from Singapore was not fleshed out entirely and was merely a plot device. The others, who were supposed to be leaders, were nothing more but set decorations.

Another problem was, once again, Will Turner. Bloom had another underwritten role, which only came to life in the film’s climax and ending. Most of the time though, he was an annoying figure and was part of the most ludicrous twist yet, involving Jones and the Brits.

What I loved about this film? A lot, actually. Let me start by saying I never thought they would do a perfect job to Elizabeth Swann’s character. She was the heart of the film. She was the biggest heroine here and Knightley delivered. The twist involving her becoming the Pirate “King” worked for me. She was front and center in the flick and it paid off.

Next, Davy Jones. Nighy nails this role with help from the special effects. The scene where we get a glimpse on how he used to look like? Fantastic. A classic moment in eye candy history. Also, we at least get to know him even more, the pain he has been enduring all these years.

Geoffrey Rush became an integral part of the story and he does a helluva job. He is funny when it called for him to be comedic and he was to be taken seriously on other times. He is simply thrilling to watch.

As for Depp, well, he was more or less the same. Good thing, his interaction with Keith Richards was a hoot! It won’t give you goosebumps. Rather, it is a slight tap that would make you giggle.

I must say I still enjoyed a great deal of At World’s End. Yes, it is far from being perfect. Still, it is a worthy film to see in a summer that seemed to disappoint. Director Gore Verbinski seems to be running short of tricks but still manages to entertain.

Â

Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World’s End, Dead Man’s Chest, Gore Verbinski, Jerry Bruckheimer, Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom, Chow Yun-Fat, Bill Nighy, Tom Hollander, Stellan Skarsgard, Keith Richards, Spider-Man 3

[images from: chieftain.com filmthreat.com canada.com]