The third installment of the popular series based on the Disney theme park ride, At World's End ties up all the loose end left by Dead Man's Chest but leaves the door open just a crack for a potential fourth flick. Will there be further adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow? Johnny Depp has said he's willing to play the role indefinitely and box office returns--while not record-breaking as its predecessor--are strong. Most movies don't make in their entire run what Pirates III has managed to rack up in its first weekend.
The "finale" is darker, deeper and more complex than the first two films. Hidden agendas, secret alliances and shifting allegiances all weave together to form an intriguing tale. Will Jack Sparrow be rescued from Davy Jone's locker? Well, that's not in doubt since Depp features prominently in the marketing and trailers. Will Elizabeth and Will finally be united? Again, another no brainer. But while some of the outcomes are a foregone conclusion, the zig-zaggy plot takes us on quite a ride nonetheless.
All the favorite are back--Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), Elizabeth Swan (Keira Knightley), Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), Tia Dalma (Naomie Harris), Davy Jones (Bill Nighy), Bootstrap Bill (Stellan Skarsgard)--as well as Norrington, Beckett, Gibbs, Ragetti and Pintel, Cotton and his parrot, the wenches and that cheeky monkey. In addition a number of new characters are introduced notably Chow Yun-Fat as the pirate Sao Feng and a cameo by Keith Richards as Jack's Dad.
All in all the movie would have benefited by some judicious editing--at a whopping 168 minutes it becomes more of a test of endurance than a thrill ride. Also some of the fight scenes are shot and edited in such a way that it's confusing to follow. At times the spectacle becomes an overwhelming sensory overload. But in the end, it's still a must-see. The plot is complicated but interesting, the dialogue sharp and witty, the acting top-notch, the special effects are stunning and the action sequences enthralling.
Kudos to Oscar-nominated writers (Shrek) Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio for the intricate and intriguing plot and plumbing the psychological depths of their characters. I've had the most enjoyable opportunity to meet Ted and Terry and I have to say that it would be difficult to find two nicer people in Hollywood. In addition to writing kick-ass scripts for blockbuster movies, they both devote a lot of time to mentoring aspiring screenwriters. Between their Wordplay website and the Artful Writer (Ted's web venture with writer Craig Mazin), they have selflessly shared their knowledge and experience.
If I had to grade the Pirates movies, it would be B plus for Curse of the Black Pearl, A minus for Dead Man's Chest and a solid B for At World's End. Whether At World's End is truly "the end" of the Pirates saga remains to be seen, but as it stands it's a worthy addition to the Pirate "canon."
Comments