Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

Starring: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Stellan Skarsgard, Bill Nighy

Directed by: Gore Verbinski

RS: 3of 4 Stars Average User Rating: 3of 4 Stars

2006 Buena Vista Action

In his Oscar nominated performance as Captain Jack Sparrow, Johnny Depp swanned through the first Pirates of the Caribbean (2003) with enough wicked zest to make you forget the film was a bloated crock. The flab extends to the overlong (two hours and thirty minutes) sequel, but mostly in the dawdling setup. A pirate could braid his beard in the time it takes for producer Jerry Bruckheimer's floating franchise to cut loose from the shoals of plot incoherence and put a wind in its sails. But once it does, nothing can stop it. The second Pirates does more than improve on the original, it pumps out the bilge and offers a fresh start. Returning director Gore Verinski and screenwriters Terry Rossio and Ted Elliott have wisely taken a cue from Depp and learned how to play fast and loose with the material. Lively is an odd word for something called Dead Man's Chest, but lively it is. You won't find hotter action, wilder thrills or loopier laughs this summer.

Where did they go right? Start with Depp who could have hit paydirt just by repeating himself as Capt. Jack, the skeeviest pirate on the high seas. How easy it would be to let the dreads, the mascara and the gold teeth do the acting for him. Instead, Depp builds on the role, investing his pirate prince with quick wit, erotic mischief and a sneaky sense of decency. Keith Richards, who will play Jack's father in the third chapter of the series, is only one of Depp's inspirations for a character that keeps springing surprises. Depp's Capt. Jack is a classic comic creation and also the most subversive hero ever in a Disney movie -- a debauched, bi-sexual narcissist with a devilish glint that suggests he'll never tell where he's stashed his drug kit. You can't take your eyes off him.

Issue a ration of rum to the other actors who have managed to scrape the barnacles off their performances. Keira Knightley as Elizabeth and Orlando Bloom as Will, her intended, are finally asked to do more than stand around and look pretty and oh so pleased with themselves. Will meets up with his father Bootstrap Bill (the excellent Stellan Skarsgard) and Elizabeth finds her own inner pirate when she dresses up as a lad to stow away on ship. "I'm looking for the man I love," she tells Jack, whose retort --"I'm flattered, sir" -- has a teasing kinkiness. When hottie fortune teller Tia Dalma (Naomie Harris) comes on to Jack and Will with a question -- "Do you want to know me?" -- Jack shuts down her lascivious smirk with a quick, "They'll be no knowing here."

And there isn't. Dead Man's Chest has blockbuster fish to fry, which means nonstop action, including a cannibal cookout (Jack is garlanded with a necklace of severed toes), narrow escapes, cliff dangling, duels on a giant wheel, a fight for a harvested human heart and every trick the filmmakers could raid from Spielberg's Indiana Jones trilogy. Homage or ripoff? You be the judge. The important thing is that it works. And what works most devilishly is Davy Jones (Bill Nighy), the squid-faced captain of the Flying Dutchman who bargains for the souls of those he captures. Davy and his crew of the undead have lived underwater so long they look like something out of an aquarium. I don't have a clue how the computer wizards accomplished the visual miracles -- just wait till you see the Kraken, a giant sea monster who sucks entire ships down into Davy's locker -- but Nighy's performance as the buccaneer Jack calls "fish face" brims over with mirth and menace. With slimy tentacles wiggling around his head, Nighy blows away every other villain this summer. Not since Disney killed Bambi's mother (Nemo's too) has the studio Walt built upped the jolt ante so high on PG-13 entertainment. Kids may wet their pants, but so what? It's the triumphant rogue in Depp that keeps this pirate ship afloat and actually makes the third voyage (coming next summer) a trip worth booking.

PETER TRAVERS

(Posted: Jun 28, 2006)

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Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

Review 1 of 29

1of 4 Stars

i only watched the movie to see Davy Jones' tentacled bearded face! I saw only 1/3 of the movie the rest soundly asleep! Woke up confused but glad to know from everyone's review that I didn't miss anything anyway. My friend asked me if I would care to watch the DVD when it comes out I answered NOPE! He was more confused than I was since he didnt get to see the 1st two installments! Rate this one B for Borinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng!

Jun 14, 2007 23:36:06

Review 2 of 29

4of 4 Stars

This movie blew me away! Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Jack Davenport, Bill Nighy, etc. are absolutely unforgetable! The special effects are incredible!
Finally, a movie worth watching over and over again!

Jan 30, 2007 06:39:31

Review 3 of 29

4of 4 Stars

REVIEW: FUNNY+Keeping you hannging+hot actors+great
actors= great movie 4 stars(makes uwanna see it again)

Nov 12, 2006 11:35:11

Review 4 of 29

3of 4 Stars

I walked into the theater knowing I was in for another adventerous trip.What I did not expect was the zig-zags and turns the movie took on it's way to perfection.Using the same elements and characters as Pirates 1,POTC 2 is basically the most crowd-pleasing film of the summer.Producer Jerry Bruckheimer takes it to the next level in the most adventurous sequel ever seen with human eyes. Not only does it have thrills and pre-loaded action(always ready to be launched and re-fueled),there's tickling and sometimes side-splitting laughs.Mainly,all these laughs come from the one and only Captain Jack Sparrow,played by Johnny Depp,otherwise known as the life of the Pirates movies. I am going to end this review by saying I disliked the ending very much.But knowing about Pirates 3 in store(coming out in theaters May 25,2007 of what I've heard),I will be honored to whip-out another seven bucks.

Aug 22, 2006 09:55:27

Review 5 of 29

4of 4 Stars

This movie is exelent although some parts might be a littel to intense for otheri. I personelly love the twist at the end>

Aug 14, 2006 16:23:48

Review 6 of 29

2of 4 Stars

I loved this movie especially when it was called the black pearl!!! Come on man,i've seen more plot in a monkey shit fight at the zoo.
When is hollywood gonna get it,this is movie over hyped they act like Ghandi's in this bitch. Wait for dvd.

Aug 3, 2006 07:49:41

Review 7 of 29

2of 4 Stars

Jhonny Depp this, Jhonny Depp that, that's the only thing people can talk about while reviewing this film. I mean, of course he's a good actor, but it's only because of Depp, people love this movie. In my opinion, Pirates of the Caribbean 2 is nothing but a slapstick Hollywoodized adventure ride that becomes overrated in the end. Besides the bombarding action, their's no story involved, or for that matter, a reason why we have to watch this greasy movie. Yeah, sure, the first one was good, but now director Gore Verbinski is just making too long, too overrated, and too much of the same crap.

Jul 29, 2006 15:45:56

Review 8 of 29

3of 4 Stars

Pirates II was very entertaining. Johnny Depp has made this movie what it is. He always gives every character he plays that special something. I think it's great that he agreed to do all three movies. Pirates II is packed with humor and action. The only disappointment was that the movie ended. I am looking forward to the next movie, too bad I have to wait so long. Love Ya Rolling Stone and Johnny Depp!!!!!!!!! M1ST1

Jul 27, 2006 10:30:19

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