Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)

Rating:

Exhibiting the most impressive opening turnout thus far (despite the PG-13 rating in the US), Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest proves to be more entertaining than the prequel yet lacks zest. Indeed it’s funny. To people who don’t want to think, that is. Capt. Jack Sparrow’s character, which drew on an Oscar nomination for Johnny Depp in the first installment, is rather hideous than adorable. Keira Knightley, Oscar nominee for pulling off an impressive acting in Pride and Prejudice, this time shows off more of her cleavage than her acting prowess. Orlando Bloom is confused if he’s doing comedy or drama. Everyone seems to be just toying with their roles—oh well, it’s comedy after all—except for Billy Nighy who takes on Davy Jones (well, thanks to CGI) and Naomie Harris as the Voodoo Priestess.

The movie picks up exactly where the first installment left off. Initially a bit incomprehensible (which is good), the script later deteriorates as obviously the creativity of the writers saturates. The movie’s late parts resort to slapstick scenes stretching the movie to 2 hours and a half ending with a cliffhanger—their way of telling you are necessitated to watch the final installment but you have to wait for a year. Some scenes are just replications of the first one. And oh, Mackenzie Crook’s character (Ragetti) with an eyeball that literally pops out, truly that’s funny. But I’ve already seen that in Hercules (The Fates).

Noteworthy are the special effects, the best since LOTR. You see Davy Jones acting even though you don’t see Bill Nighy’s face at all. Jones’ crew, a bunch of pirates sworn to lifelong servitude, appear rather interesting than scary—that’s a good thing. The giant octopus called the “Kraken” isn’t that impressive though. Anaconda is more scary and believable.

Just a few including Jerry Bruckheimer was seeing a movie based on a Disneyland attraction/ride can turn out HUGE. Now we have this sequel which is even bigger—at least in the box office. And there’s one more they’re helming to be shown next year. Are you watching the third installment? I am, just for the heck of it.

© 2006 Jonathan Susvilla