Review for

"Pirates" - More Fun than a Bottle of Rum
by Homer Yen
(c) 2006

This film is proof that the summer audience is ready for a goofy good time. It doesn't really matter that the novelty of Capt Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) has worn off somewhat. It doesn't really matter that earnest Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) still seems a bit too delicate to be hanging around pirates. And it doesn't really matter that prim Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) has not matured enough to be an adventurer. In fact, the film's cohesion is frequently more of a shipwreck than being ship-shape. "Dead Man's Chest", now that I think of it, is also missing a dead man.

Still, I'm grinning because this second installment of "Pirates of the Caribbean" is sure to please the pirate-loving landlubber in all of us. Going back to the Caribbean with the trio of Depp/Bloom/Knightley is like returning to Las Vegas and again watching the Blue Man Group. You may have seen the material before, but you're always glad that you're there watching them again.

Yet, a lot is going on in "Dead Man's Chest". But let's hit the most important points. Back in the confines of civilization, both Will and Elizabeth have been arrested and sentenced to death unless they can return to the authorities Capt. Sparrow's mystical compass. Of course, all who seek him know these familiar words: "this will be remembered as the day when you almost caught Jack Sparrow."

In finding him, they become involved in all sorts of adventure. This includes Will meeting his lost father and Capt Sparrow on a quest to find Davy Jones's locker. There is more...lots more. In fact, it gets to be too much. Part of my reservation with the first "Pirates" was that it felt long, contained lots of subplots, and felt like two movies in one. This one has that same overdrawn feeling. The filmmakers did decide to divide this into two parts. Yet, "Dead Man's Chest" runs for 180 minutes even though all of the plot lines will be wrapped up in the final installment, due out next summer.

There are enough joys in this film. The spirit of the action is less like Indiana Jones and more a Disneyworld ride. I was expecting my theatre seat to start gyrating back and forth. We can never get too much of Depp. Like the first film, the main attraction is his eccentric performance that is charismatic, unpredictable, and self-serving. He's a charmer but also a cad. And the special effects are grand whether it's the ship-against-ship battle at sea; the undersea leviathan, or the tentacled villain (Bill Nighy) in all his imposing, slimy glory. Meanwhile, it's a nice feeling to see the entire principal cast from the first film re-united. This even includes the goofy baddie who kept chasing after his fake eye. It's the same feeling you get when you see an old friend after a few years have gone by.

Alas, as with most films with an intended cliffhanger (e.g. Back to the Future 2, Matrix Reloaded, The Empire Strikes Back, or Kill Bill vol. 1), there will be that inevitable feeling of incompleteness. But it gives us fast-paced confection up until the end of this installment. Mixing in a few engaging (but somewhat long) subplots; beautiful settings and costumes; and a reliable comedic turn by Depp, this pirate film (even though I liked the first one better) still finds gold.

Grade:        B

S:        1 out of 3
L:        0 out of 3
V:        2 out of 3

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