Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of adventure violence, including frightening images.
Walt Disney Pictures is setting sail once again hoping for box office booty.
Directed by Gore Verbinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" hopes to duplicate the success of the first movie in the series, "The Curse of the Black Pearl."
Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley reprise their roles in this sequel.
As the film begins, Bloom's Will Turner and Knightley's Elizabeth Swann are in trouble for helping the pirate Jack Sparrow (Depp) escape. Meanwhile, Sparrow has his own troubles.
Legendary sea captain Davy Jones wants to collect on an old debt Sparrow owes him.
But Captain Jack tries to talk his way out of the deal by offering Jones an alternative. His friend and savior, Will Turner.
Eventually, the movie gets around to its central focus, the search for the "dead man's chest." It supposedly contains the still beating heart of Jones and with it the captain and his crew can be controlled.
But everyone on the hunt is there for a differerent reason. Sparrow wants to save his own skin. Turner wants to save his cursed father. And Elizabeth wants to save her beloved Will.
Even with great special effects, a rousing story and beautiful scenery...this movie's success rides on the shoulders of Johnny Depp. His performance as Captain Jack Sparrow in the first movie was so original and creative he was nominated for an Oscar.
Once again, Depp is fantastic as the pirate who only looks out for himself. I love the fact they they haven't made him a more heroic or noble character. He's still deceitful and conniving. And he's great.
Bloom and Knightley once again deliver plenty of spark as the unlucky lovers, while Bill Nighy joins the cast as Davy Jones. His character is computer generated, but the voicework is perfect and the special effects make him look as real as the human cast.
There are plenty of obstacles along the way as our heroes hunt for the chest. Hungry cannibals, evil British officers and the mythical sea creature the Kraken all stand in their way.
The journey is exhilarating, the pictures are incredible and the script is funny and well-written. It's a worthy sequel to "The Curse of the Black Pearl," and I can't wait for the next installment.
On my rating scale, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" hits a Home Run.
And stick around for a short scene after the credits. You'll leave the theater with a smile on your face.
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