Pirates of the Caribbean - At World's End (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) Reviews

• Dead Men Tell New Tales

  
  By A18G7GG53G2X8A on 2007-05-25
  The very end of "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" was more like the end of a play's first act, after which the audience had to endure a nine month intermission. The second act--"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"--begins practically where the last film left off, in which Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) made an unexpected return after Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) was swallowed by the kraken. Not surprisingly, such a surprise ending got me all revved up for yet another round of swashbuckling fun, and I spent the year on pins and needles. If only this new film lived up to my expectations: while it is very entertaining, and while it is still worth recommending for sheer escapism, I'd be lying if I said that it matches the quality of the first two films.
  
  Part of the problem is that everything about this film is simply too big. The number of new characters alone is quite distracting, especially since they all make important contributions to the story. The subplots are piled on top of each other, resulting in a film that's needlessly complicated and overly energized. I'd be hard pressed to give a decent synopsis, because in all honestly, I'm not sure I caught on to everything. From what I can gather, it seems that the instigator of this new story is Tia Dalma (Naomi Harris), the mysterious voodoo woman responsible for Barbossa's resurrection (which, in my opinion, was explained far too casually). Apparently, he's one of the nine pirate lords, and the time has come for them to join forces against the elusive (but undeniably evil) East India Trading Company, now under the control of the dastardly Lord Cutler Beckett (Tom Hollander).
  
  But one of the lords--our beloved Captain Sparrow--remains lost, body and soul, in Davy Jones' Locker, meaning that Barbossa and regulars Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightly) and Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) have to sail to the ends of the earth to find him. I mean this literally; they eventually spill over a waterfall that would put Niagara Falls to shame. But it seems this is the only way to reach the Locker, which is like a pirate's version of purgatory. We actually get to see this otherworldly realm during one of the film's most baffling scenes; Sparrow is in a surrealistic desert landscape, commanding the Black Pearl crewed by hallucinogenic clones of himself. This scene was constructed with an unwelcome mixture of comedy and pure weirdness, and I simply didn't understand the purpose of it. Was there really no other way to represent purgatory?
  
  By the time Barbossa and the others come to the rescue, Witty Jack has become Funny Jack, which completely works against his character as established in the first film. He was introduced as a flamboyant conniver, undeniably charming and full of biting wit. However, despite a well-developed sense of humor, he was never reduced to pure comedy relief. I can't say the same in terms of "At World's End"; Jack Sparrow has become the main source of the film's humor, ready with slews of one-liners, a seemingly incurable urge to argue, and snappy retorts. I distinctly remember an unnecessary moment with his Good/Bad conscience, classically represented by miniature clones atop his shoulders. Why I remember this, I don't know; it added absolutely nothing to the story, save for a couple of humorous lines.
  
  And then there are the hordes of subplots, all of which prove that every character has at least three hidden agendas. For one thing, the relationship between Will and Elizabeth is suffering: Elizabeth is forced to come clean about her role in Jack's demise; Will is still obsessed with rescuing his father (Stellan Skarsgard) from an eternity of servitude on the Flying Dutchman. Jack and Will fight for the severed, still-beating heart of Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) because, in one way or another, they'll both benefit from it being stabbed. Davy Jones, now under the control of Beckett, is both frightened and excited at the prospect of reuniting with Calypso, the sea goddess who broke his heart (literally) before taking on human form (whose form, I dare not say). Captain Sao Feng (Chow Yun-Fat)--one of the nine pirate lords--takes special interest in both Jack and Elizabeth. Tia Dalma's significance increases dramatically, albeit not in a way that's easily understood; by the time her true nature is revealed, one can't help but wonder what the point was.
  
  Ultimately, it becomes an exhausting process of trying to figure out who's doing what to whom and why. Jack alone changes allegiances more times than I can remember, and each time, he proposes yet another intricate plan that everyone knows is only for his benefit. But that's too limiting; overall, "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" is an overstuffed film, sure to disappoint--but not entirely let down--both new audiences and diehard fans of the first two films. Still, I'm giving it four stars because it delivers in some very key areas: the special effects are incredible; the basic story between Jack, Will, and Elizabeth is engaging; the action scenes are plentiful and frenetic; Hans Zimmer's score is robust and energetic. And yes, we even get what we've been promised from the very beginning: a special appearance by Keith Richards.
  
  

• My Favorite of the Three

  
  By A1TW9ZGRDQQZ2Y on 2007-05-27
  Sure the story is a bit confusing at times, but that just makes me want to see it again. Johnny Depp lacked a little something in Dead Man's Chest, but he is back in true form here. Orlando Bloom has gotten better in the acting department and it was great to see Geoffrey Rush back as Barbossa. I really thought Keira Knightley pulled off the tough chick thing here and that surprised me. The CGI is incredible and the music will have you moving in your seat. Don't listen to the critics and just have a good time with characters we all love.
  
  

• Nearing A Sudden Stop

  
  By A2RKI7RPP5CJMG on 2007-06-28
  "A short drop and a sudden stop," of course, refers to a hanging. "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" shows that the "Pirates" dynasty is coming to an end. I struggled with writing this review for three weeks because part of me wanted to love this film and another part of me is just growing tired of all the constant twists, turns, backstabbings, and double-crosses. This time around, Captain Jack Sparrow has wound up in Davey Jones' Locker through a series of events from "Dead Man's Chest." His old friends (or enemies, depending on how you see it) have decided to retrieve him for their own individual reasons. Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann, Captain Barbossa, and even the voodoo queen from "Chest" combine forces with the crew of the now lost Black Pearl and Chinese pirates in order to get Jack back. To tell you their individual motives would take forever, so just know that "World's End" is a lot like "Dead Man's Chest" in that nobody can trust anybody else and everybody is out to get everybody else....but on a larger scale.
  
  Johnny Depp is in top form as Sparrow once again, although an extended trip through the Locker gets rather boring. Geoffrey Rush who, in my opinion, is the most piratical of the bunch and the most fun to watch, spends a lot of time squabbling with Sparrow over who's the real captain. Keira Knightley gets a larger, yet uninspiring role this time around as Elizabeth Swann gets more involved in pirate affairs. Orlando Bloom's portrayal of Will Turner has become somewhat sinister when compared to the other films, and I honestly came away from the film disliking the character a bit. Gibbs, Pintel, the monkey, and the rest of the gang are also back, and are more than adequate for their slightly expanded roles. Gibbs is especially fun to watch on the screen. Norrington and the nasty gang from East India Tea Company are also on board. Chow Yun Fat appears as a new character, the honorable pirate captain, Feng. He does well with the limited screen time he's given, but with so many other characters aboard this flick and so many plotlines, I felt that he got lost in the chaos.
  
  With all of that said, there was still quite a bit to enjoy. The special effects were pretty good. The only bad spot involves Calypso and, for spoiling the plot's sake, I won't go into any detail about the matter. Plenty of action can be found on land and sea (and even in the afterworld). There's still a lot of humor in this film, but it takes itself way too seriously to be fully enjoyed as a comedy.
  
  In summary I'd have to say that if you enjoyed the first two films, you're sure to like this one. It does get bogged down by multiple plotlines and suffers from a long running time, but so did the second film. I give it three-and-a-half stars, but round up due to the wonderful first film.
  
  

• IT IS IN 1080p PEOPLE

  
  By A1TW9ZGRDQQZ2Y on 2007-12-05
  Some idiot put 1080i on the box, but it plays in 1080p on my HDTV. I read a website saying that it is a misprint. Just google Pirates of the Caribbean 3 blu-ray misprint. I was mad when I read the box, but now I know somebody just screwed up. Hope this helps.
  
  

• The Limerick at World's End

  
  By A37PV5GMP2ILJC on 2007-06-04
  There once was a pirate named Jack
  Who was constantly under attack
  The last movie's shocker
  Sent him to the Locker
  The trick now is getting him back
  
  Though hardly a tried and true friend
  Barbossa leads them to World's End
  It wasn't a squall
  But a huge waterfall
  That sent the group clean round the bend
  
  Jack's having some deep consultations
  With all of his hallucinations
  The stones that he grabs
  Turn out to be crabs
  That live there in vast populations
  
  The Pearl now has too many bosses
  As over the waves the ship tosses
  At the time of the flash
  They upturn with a splash
  Leaving Davy Jones counting his losses
  
  The viewer will not be dismayed
  To learn that they've all been betrayed
  Cross AND double cross
  Is how it comes across
  As each player has their own crusade
  
  Lord Beckett commands Davy Jones
  Who is bound by the heart that he owns
  They get into port
  For the Brethren Court
  Driving fear into the pirates' bones
  
  In an effort to keep things afloat
  The pirate lords call for a vote
  Jack fiddles the thing
  And soon there's a king
  Though the king feels more like a scapegoat
  
  Calypso has longed to be free
  Once trapped by the pirates' decree
  She summons a storm
  The ocean to transform
  While howling just like a banshee
  
  There's lots more to this soggy tale
  With its battle scenes of massive scale
  Tales of father and son
  And of loves lost and won
  But I won't bore you now with detail
  
  New characters give it a boost
  Though Keith Richards' role seems quite reduced
  Added to that
  There's now Chow Yun-Fat
  But it's dreadfully over-produced
  
  For almost three hours or more
  This movie you'll have to endure
  Though perfect in places
  It's full of dull spaces
  Though I wouldn't say that it's a bore
  
  Rated: 3.5 stars
  
  
  
  Amanda Richards, June 3, 2007
  
  
  
  Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
  
  
• PS3 playback issues
  By AHO0VXEJGIT63 on 2007-12-06
  Be aware of PS3 playback. PS3 would play the previews but would go to black screen when attempting to entering top menu. I have a 1080P Samsung hooked up with HDMI cable. Called Sony support twice, said it was due to incompatible resolution settings. Had to reset display setting on the PS3:
  With PS3 powered off and switch on back off (no red LED),
  Hold down touch sense power button down, flip switch on in back.
  Keep holding for two beeps.
  Answer yes, yes & yes.
  Also had to to go into settings, BD/DVD Settings, BD 1080p 24Hz Output (HDMI): OFF
  Now I will watch the movie.
  Edit: Good Movie
  2nd edit: If your HDTV is not compatible with 24Hz refresh rate and you are using a PS3 with HDMI connection you need set the 24hz setting as described above on the PS3 to off. If you attempt to play the movie without setting the 24Hz to off first, you will get a black screen and will have to power down the PS3 and possibly reset the output setting on the PS3 as described above.
  
  
  
• Very dissapointing
  By AO65T0JON8R80 on 2007-10-31
  I awaited the opening of this movie with great anticipation, and was extremely dissapointed when I saw it. Whatever happened to Disney giving movies a happy ending? This was anything but. Way, way too much was going on in the story, and there were far too many extraineous characters that served no purpose. The four main characters, (Will, Elizabeth,Norton and Sparrow) were at each other's throats. If fact Jack Sparrow, my personal favorite character, did not seem to have a part written for him at all. The best scenes were given to the risen Barbossa or to Elizabeth. Jack seemed to spend the movie running frantically back and forth across the screen without anything to really do. The quirky behaviour which had been amusing and endearing in the first movie came across as bumbling and ineffectual in this one. I was sure that this movie would show us the instant that the Flying Dutchman's heart (his love and humanity) is taken back into his body; turning him from the monster he was into the man he had once been. I was waiting for the reunion of lovers; both the Sea Goddess and the Flying Dutchman, and Will and Elizabeth. Neither happened. And is anybody but me disturbed by the fact that it is Will's own father that cuts his heart out, and condems him to an eternal curse? At the end of this movie, everybody we care about is dead, cursed or abandoned and alone. This was a fantasy pirate movie, how about some fantasy story telling? This story was just depressing.
  
  
• Lost, Hopelessly Lost
  By A1W661TC1P6VQI on 2007-05-29
  There is a daring scene early on in "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" that has lingered with me for the past few hours. Elizabeth Swann, William Turner, and the recently resurrected Captain Barbossa are sailing the dangerous waters of World's End. They do not know where they are going, but they happen upon the entrance to death a couple hours after being lost. Barbosa laughs with triumph, though Elizabeth doesn't quite get how they managed to find the entrance without the map. Barbossa proudly explains "Of course not, sometimes you have to get lost to find something. Otherwise everyone would be able to find it." I find this quote very daring in the sense that it should not be used in this movie, as it drew much scorn and a frustrated grunt from me, as it had been a long time since I'd seen a movie this confusing, this jumbled, and this convoluted in a long, LONG time!
  
  Truth be told, I think I had an easier time following the storylines in "Syriana" and "Ocean's Twelve." But I'm getting ahead of myself, so keep that quote in the back of your mind while you continue to read, we'll be getting back to it later on. So as you all know, the movie "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" has been one of the most anticipated movies to come out this year. Last years "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" disappointed people in two areas: The first area being that it ended on a cliffhanger that left everything unresolved, the second area in the sense that what we did get wasn't really that good. But hey, ce la vi right? We all knew that these two films would really be one film split into two, so everything was cool. All we had to do was wait for "Pirates of the Caribbean: World's End" to come out, wrap up all those loose ends, and give us one hell of a ride.
  
  Well, we get lose ends wrapped up all right, but the hell of a ride we get certainly wasn't the kind I was expecting. The story for "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" is...scattered. Barbossa gets to show us his extraordinary navigating skills, Elizabeth and Will get into "we're not quite speaking with each other" phase based on the kiss from the previous film, and Jack Sparrow is in la la land dealing with a split personality disorder he's seemed to develop over the past couple of days. Oh, and there's the fact that Will's dad seems to be going through a amnestic stage where he forgets who he is and who will is, and Chow Yun-Fat makes his introduction in this movie as Captain Sao Fang, a pirate who starts off a domino effect of backstabbing that results in other characters back stabbing one another.
  
  In fact, there's a scene where no less then five characters backstab someone only to have that person backstab them back, and then have a third party member backstab that person as a result. After the second backstabbing which resulted in a third or forth betrayal for this franchise, I decided that life was too short to have to keep track of pirate politics (though lo and behold, I get a rigged pirate election later on in the movie. Yippee). But the story, I keep forgetting to describe the story. Though, thinking about it in retrospect, I don't know if I could honesty figure out what the story was. I understood that the movie was opening with friends and enemies trying to resurrect Jack (therefore proving once and for all that this series could go on forever if the studios want it to). Barbossa was revived through a spell, but the witch doctor informs us that Jack was swallowed "body and soul," so a more personal resurrection needs to take place.
  
  So why do some of Jack's enemies decide to help with the rescue mission. Because Jack is some sort of "Ninth Captain" who holds an item of some sort that is needed by the eight other captains, ro cast a powerful spell, or something like that. Look, all I know is that several minor characters kept saying "what" during this whole explanation, so if the movie cast can't figure out what's going on, then neither can I. Oh, and Davy Jones, the squid villain from the previous film is back, just as equally confused. Englishmen board his ship with his heart in a chest. Davy wants the heart off the ship, but during the climatic battle near the end of the film, Davy fights Jack relentlessly to keep Jack from getting it. I'm sure there's a reason for this, but everything leading up to the climax is so murky and confusing, that I found I didn't quite care to know the reason.
  
  Let's get back to the quote shall we? The irony of the quote is that it comes early on in the movie, before I could even begin to tell you what was going on and why. Near the end of the movie I didn't see the story much clearer. One person told me that this movie will most likely make sense after multiple viewings, but I confess that I don't have the patience to see this again. For the first two hours this film throws in death, resurrection, mutiny, betrayal, gaining power, losing power, politics, magic, a (unwilling) sacrifice, crabs, the way over-hyped Keith Richards cameo, and a Keira Knightly who fights in battle and doesn't even smudge her make-up or fashion sense. This is just too much. It doesn't make sense. Truth be told, there were moments in the movie where I wondered if the actors were just making things up as they went along, giving the impression that this was a much more expensive "Who's Line Is It Anyways?"
  
  The irony of the quote comes in that in retrospect, it seems like the producers knew what they were making, and was giving the audience a fair warning. I will admit that the final battle that takes place during the third hour of the movie is excellent on so many levels. The sword fight between Jack and Davy Jones in particular will be studied in film classes for years to come as a great example of pacing, tension, and excitement. Like the rest of the movie this battle is bloated to epic proportions, but at least it's entertaining. It still doesn't make sense, but it's at least it's entertaining. But I don't like watching movies that seem to wander aimlessly, searching for meaning where there should be none. "Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl" worked mainly because, above all else, it was a fun little movie. It had some of the same problems this movie has, but it was played for fun most of the time.
  
  This time the producers took themselves too seriously. They try to make an epic movie and fail so...well, epically. In that sense, maybe they did succeed in making an epic movie. It's not the epic movie I wanted, and it's certainly not going to be the kind of epic movie many other people want either. This movie has sucked almost all the fun and excitement out of the franchise for some mystical mumbo jumbo storyline that doesn't even make sense half of the time. The movie is a dead zone of special effects and powerful acting that amounts to nothing when everything is said and done. Call me crazy, call me a grump, call me whatever you want to, just don't call me for a "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Never-Ending Quest For Another $1 Billion In Ticket Sales." The final irony is that the first movie made pirates cool for me and this final movie made them obsolete once more. Darn, won't the ironies ever end with this movie?
  
  Note: In this movie, the monkey Jack gets shot out of a canon. I don't know WHY he gets shot out of a canon, he just does at one point! Do with that information as you please.
  
  Rating: * and a half stars
  
  
• great fun
  By A3GQKB1KF0CRPE on 2007-12-13
  I was surprised after reading the mixed reactions to this moving, that I really enjoyed it. It's different that the first two, but when you watch all three back-to-back, you see each movie has it's own style, his pace and should be appreacted individually and jointly. This movie is darker than the second, which might account for different views on how good it was. There was much more serious action. Some great battle segments. It's stonger emotionally, less the slapstick of 2, though still retaining the silly fun of the series. The writing was sharp, nothing wasted. With each viewing, I appreciate it more. The deft handling of such a large cast was so well done, with a lot of the supporting characters having such good scenes, including the undead monkey. There was more plots, twist and turns.
  
  Well worth the ticket. Long live Capt'n Jack. Maybe we see more Pirates adventures!
  
  
• "The thing is, it's not about eternal life, it's about whether you can live with yourself."
  By AGKPTMTR3UX1R on 2007-05-27
  PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END will make shiploads of bucks. This last installment of the PIRATES trilogy ends on a satisfyingly postscriptive note. We'll probably see the irrepressible Captain Jack Sparrow again.
  
  In essence, the story concerns the unlawful but (more or less) ethical Pirate Brethren's last stand against the (more or less) lawful but unethical East India Company, and how the Nine Pirate Lords (including Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow) unite to fight for freedom. There are subplots about Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann's (Keira Knightley) love affair, subplots about Davey Jones's star-crossed relationship with the sea goddess Calypso, subplots about what Captain Jack is planning and scheming in the midst of everyone else's planning and scheming, and so on and so on and so on.
  
  AT WORLD'S END never loses its laugh-at-itself attitude, and it's fun to be swept along in the currents and eddies of the story, sometimes to chuckle, sometimes to laugh out loud, and overall to smile in enjoyment. Everyone is putting on a show, and as shows go, this one is just fine.
  
  Everything about this film is huge except the actual scriptwriting which is merely large-ish: AT WORLD'S END is a leviathan of pirate lore and sea battles. The sets are amazing. The atmosphere is convincing.
  
  There is much that's so right in this film that criticisms seem pecksniffian. In sum, a lot of what's wrong with AT WORLD'S END consists of missed opportunities, and they are missed only because they get lost amidst the almost nonstop action and the grandiosity of the film. Characterization gets slighted amongst the lights and noise. A few really silly moments (far too stereotypically, Jack Sparrow's good and evil consciences sit on his shoulders and whisper in his ears; Calypso transmutes from woman to goddess in an overkill example of bad CGI) don't help at all, and should have been left to the eventual "Deleted Scenes" disc.
  
  Just as DEAD MAN'S CHEST was too dark to have all the charm of CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL, AT WORLD'S END is too murky. Counter-counter plot is laid upon counterplot is laid upon plot until the storyline becomes a tangled skein in which the characters switch sides and affections with just too much ease.
  
  The finest pure acting performance of the film doesn't belong to Johnny Depp, it really belongs to Geoffrey Rush as Captain Barbossa, to whom Sparrow plays a curiously subordinate role throughout most of the movie. Depp has, but needs, more sassy dialogue.
  
  Still, Depp is the draw, and he keeps finding nuances in the character of Captain Jack Sparrow that keep us fascinated. Jack Sparrow is attractive to us because he is a puzzle. Is he the good guy or the bad guy, the leader or the follower, a blackguard or a Gentleman, learned or ignorant, sly or straightforward, the hero or the cad, the romantic interest or an also-ran, (or even straight or gay)? He's all of the above. In terms of character, Depp's Sparrow is the most complex in the trilogy. Depp brings to Jack Sparrow the same boyish charm, roguish motives, and essential goodness that Harrison Ford brought to Han Solo, and with much the same results: Sparrow's energy is the energy that propels the universe as we come to know it in all the PIRATES films.
  
  Another great role is played (albeit too briefly) by Keith Richards as Captain Teague, Jack Sparrow's father. Depp based his character on the real-life Richards. Richards bases his character on Depp's. Watching Richards play Depp playing Richards is a great deal of fun. They missed a perfect opportunity here. Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) is dedicated to freeing his father, "Bootstrap Bill" from Davey Jones' clutches; it would have been natural to parallel Depp's and Richards' characters, but this just never happens.
  
  As is so, so typical in Jerry Bruckheimer films, the pyrotechnics overwhelm the pirates. Ironically, in its sheer velocity, AT WORLD'S END sometimes becomes an out of control amusement park ride.
  
  Despite its excesses, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END is a truly entertaining romp through a quaint and wonderful world of half-magic and half-reality that we finally do believe in.
  
  
• "All That Without a Drop of Rum"
  By A2I6MHMAZZDCRX on 2007-12-07
  But maybe the rum would have helped. This is the weakest entry in what was formerly a great franchise.
  
  When last we saw our characters (in the cliffhanger from the last film), Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) had been swallowed by a giant sea creature and presumed dead. Fortunately, all is not lost. He's only in Davy Jones' Locker. So Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightly) reluctantly team up with a shockingly alive Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) to free him.
  
  Meanwhile, Lord Becket (Tom Hollander) has captured Davy Jones' (Bill Nighy) heart. He is using his control over Jones and his ship, the Flying Dutchman, to hunt down pirates. To stop him, a meeting of the Pirate Lords is called. And since Jack is one of them, he must be rescued. Will his rescuers find him and a way to get all of them back to the land of the living?
  
  Let's be perfectly honest. The main draw of this series is Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow. He takes a selfish drunk and makes him funny and interesting. He's in top form here. Not that the other characters don't get their fair share of witty lines. I laughed my way through the first two hours of the two and a half hour film. I was trying to keep track of all the witty lines, but I just couldn't do it.
  
  The acting is great. Special praise goes to Geoffrey Rush who made Barbossa into an interesting character. I actually found myself liking him, something I didn't think I could do after the first film. Much was made of Keith Richard and Chow Yun-Fat being in the film, but they really just had extended cameos. And the special effects were as great as always.
  
  But when you look beyond the witty lines and special effects, the movie starts to fall apart. I had no problem with the long running time, but I expected to be rewarded with a coherent plot for that. Instead, I felt like I needed a score card to keep track of who was doing what to whom. Of course, since it changed every five minutes, it really didn't matter. To make maters worse, the mythology and supernatural elements got completely out of hand. Not only did you have to keep track of motives, but you had to remember who and what everyone really was.
  
  This movie assumes you have seen the first two in the series. If you haven't you'll be lost. Granted, you'll be lost at least once even if you have seen them. But think how much worse it will be if you don't know who the characters are.
  
  And they leave out references to the famous rides. The first two had blink and you miss then scenes that mirrored stuff you see while riding at Disneyland. Maybe I blinked at the wrong time, but I didn't see any here.
  
  Unlike the first two, there was really only one memorable fight sequence here. It was clever, well down, and very entertaining. The others were enjoyable, but not up to the level of this one.
  
  Then there's the climax. I won't spoil it. I'll just say it was not what I expected. And that wasn't a good thing.
  
  The quality of the movies in the series continues to decline. The only reason to make a fourth would be to fix the mistakes made here. But based on this film, I doubt that would happen. If you're a fan, you'll enjoy seeing your favorites again and laughing at their antics. But don't go expecting the entertainment of the first movie. That ship has sailed.
  
  
• That's NOT A Pirates Life for Me!
  By A3HLNWWEG4RKEY on 2007-11-10
  This is a terrible movie; however, sad as it is, the majority of consumers are not going to see it that way.
  
  Like "The Simpsons Movie," "At World's End" (AWE for short--but trust me, I was in no such state) is an example of previous success blinding objectivity. In the case of the Simpsons, the show's previous and unprecedented success was a nice big distraction to the film's lame, half-baked execution.
  
  And with AWE, we get an entire series born off of one performance--that being Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow in the first film--that so charmed audiences that they'll sit through whatever sludge director Gore Verbinski chooses to drag them through, just as long as they see Depp. However, like "Simpsons," AWE is a terrible movie.
  
  Where to start, though? For a movie this flawed, it's a challenge. Verbinski direction is lazy. Showing absolutely no control over the film, he let's the plot spiral out into the horizon, aimlessly moving around with no end in sight. Yes, I have already been told by shameful supporters of this film that "it's just a complex plot, and you need to pay attention!" Wanna see a complex plot that works? watch "Memento." Want to see the plot of a director and writers who find themselves far more clever then they truly are? watch AWE. Honestly, if one more character swapped allegiances throughout the course of this trainwreck, I would have wept.
  
  And, as a side-note, watch how the film builds up the ridiculous 'Calypso' storyline, only to completely abandon it without a moments hesitation. People, this is bad film making--please take notice.
  
  Which brings me to the script, which is equally bad. Bearing more holes than Swiss Cheese, the awfulness of the script makes you slightly hold off on Verbinski, seeing that nobody short of Orson Welles could direct a script this geriatric and unnecessarily convoluted. And plot aside, the dialogue is also terrible, made worse by the film's downright terrible performances.
  
  I said it with "Dead Man's Chest" and I'll say it again, Depp is bored with this character. His Jack Sparrow of AWE is a shadow of the fun it was in the first film, and I didn't even enjoy him THAT much altogether in "Curse of the Black Pearl." What he's become is a caricature of himself, and he'll ride that cliché into the sunset, as long as executives keep paying and brain dead consumers keep watching. In all fairness (and you won't find any in this review), Orlando Bloom should not be an actor. Nothing more than a product of the "Lord of the Rings" mega-trilogy, he's riding on the bank ability of himself, except unlike Depp, he can't act to save his life. Watch this film, and watch of the LOTR films...they are the EXACT same character. Oh yeah, there is a difference--their NAMES.
  
  And then there is Keira Knightly, a lovely thing who has proven herself a capable actress elsewhere--but here, under Verbinski, she suffers just the same. But there was one particular moment of this movie that was revelatory, and I can thank Ms. Knightly for providing me with the moment.
  
  There a part in the film where Knightly's Elizabeth Swan gives a 'rousing' speech to her crew, rallying them up to fight the forces of evil. Watching that, I realized that the entire "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise is nothing more than a poor-man's "Master and Commander." Possessing not even a quarter of MaC's intelligence, craftsmanship, or wit, the PotC franchise is Diet MaC.
  
  Yet it still works and brings in the greenbacks, which I suppose is a testament to Depp's performance in the first film, and which also acts as a great inspiration to aspiring film makers around the world. If you want to find success, do not, by any means, make a great film; instead, make a film that is structurally flawed, but one that features an original, white-hot lead character with a charming actor and by golly, you will be on your way!
  
  
• Series takes a turn from so-so to abysmal.
  By A24F1UX8ZT5IXY on 2007-12-04
  Gore Verbinski's manic, shallow riff on pirate lore really catches up with him in this third installment of a near billion-dollar series. In all my years I have never encountered a more convoluted plot in a film, nor more unbelievable character development. Taken together, this 8-hour trilogy is fatally flawed in its vain attempts to create a postmodern adventure story; throwing in new "rules" and shifting already anemic allegiances every five minutes fails to make nonsensical material intellectual.
  
  The Pirates of the Caribbean films have looted an entire genre -- hell, an entire century -- of its most cherished and magnificent visuals. "The Maelstrom" is one of Edgar Allen Poe's great stories, as are countless others (Dumas, Stevenson, Lovecraft, Melville) that are shilled in the name of this Bruckheimer Splenda fest. This was already painfully evident in the first two films, but I found myself enjoying Dead Man's Chest despite it all; Davy Jones and the Flying Dutchman were quite simply pulled off too well for me to disregard.
  
  Alas, Pirates III hypes up all of the worst elements of the series and it's where the chickens really come home to roost. The pretentious attempt to bring in political and colonial history? Check. The convoluted, grating creation of all things "pirate" and their world? Much worse this time around. Groan-inducing romance, senseless action scenes, goofy cameos and Keira Knightly as a leading lady? Oh baby, you don't know the half of it. The list goes on and on, but suffice to say that this story has run its course headlong into a cement wall.
  
  I will end this review by stating how completely disappointed anyone must be who enjoyed the performances of Johnny Depp, Bill Nighy, and Stellan Skarsgaard in the previous films. None of their characters drive the 8-ring circus of action, and Davy jones is just paraded about as another has-been CGI effect. This is the shallowest of Hollywood and Disney pap. And no, the FX aren't appreciably any better than in #2; even with 2000 composite shots and the largest set in history Pirates III is a bore.
  
  
• I'LL assume it's going to suck
  By A34WQ1AP79D3QU on 2006-12-05
  I haven't seen the film, neither have the people who posted before me. But that didn't stop them from assuming how something's going to turn out before actually experiencing it. I did not realize you could write reviews for movies you haven't seen, books you haven't read, or music you haven't listen to. People have given this yet-to-be-released movie 5 stars just because they loved the preceding movies. Well, I didn't care for Dead Man's Chest. Therefore, I give Worlds End 1 star for effort.
  
  P.S. To others who may review this movie before seeing it, you're not helping anyone. In fact, you're doing nothing but a disservice to people who use this website and take reviewers' words into account before making purchases. Amazon is not a fan-based message board where you post about your anticipation - that's what IMDb was created for. Please, kindly leave the reviewing to people who've seen/read/listened to the item in question.
  
  
• No more "Pirates!" Please make it stop!
  By A3KEZLJ59C1JVH on 2007-05-28
  I didn't think it was possible for "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" to be worse than the last pirates movie, "Dead Man's Chest." I was wrong.
  
  I can't understand why the second and third installments of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" films are so craptastic when the first movie was so amazing. "At World's End" is one of the worst movies I have ever seen. As with "Dead Man's Chest," the problem rests entirely with the script. I will not even attempt to describe the plot of this movie because it's so ridiculous and awful. The third movie is the worst of the series because the basic plot is stupid, there are 25,000 dumb things going on at once, and most of the dialogue is lousy and provides little comic relief. Among the asinine aspects of "At World's End" are the schizophrenic Jack Sparrows, the "Attack of Johnny Depp's Nose"/crab walk scene, Calypso the 100-foot-tall giantess, and what happens to Will Turner at the end of the movie. (Is this seriously supposed to be a happy ending for Will and Elizabeth?! My cat could have penned a better script!)
  
  There are a few redeeming qualities about the film, and there's room for me to list them all here because they are so few and far between:
  
  + Geoffrey Rush is back as Captain Barbossa. If he wasn't in this movie (which is almost three hours long, by the way: it was excruciating to sit through), I couldn't have made it to the end. I seriously would have walked out of the theatre after less than an hour.
  
  + The special effects are fantastic.
  
  + We get to see Johnny Depp without his shirt on. (It's only for a fraction of a second and he was looking rather pasty, but still...it was definitely a highlight of the film.)
  
  + We also get to see Bill Nighy's face without the crazy Squid Man ensemble. That glimpse only lasts for a brief moment, but I welcomed any break from Squid Man.
  
  + Keith Richards has a brief cameo as Jack's father. He's absolutely hysterical in the film. (Sadly, I think there were only a handful of people in the theatre who knew who Keith Richards IS. It's so sad.)
  
  To say that I was disappointed with this movie would be an understatement. It's a terrible, terrible film. I wish the "Pirates" sequels had never been made, or that I'd been asked to write the screenplays instead, because I can guarantee that I'd crank out better material than this garbage.
  
  Let's just hope that there isn't a "Pirates 4!"
  
  
• Samsung's Lack of Support for their Blu-ray player
  By A2BNCFLTD67GA3 on 2007-12-12
  For those who have bought Samsung's Blu-ray players and have tried to run Pirate's of the Caribbean 3, you have probably discovered that it doesn't work. The answer Samsung gives is that the movie industry hasn't settled on a standard and won't until next year. Furthermore, any firmware fix won't happen until well into January. Read that to mean that Samsung has no desire to update the firmware until the industry decides on a standard. That means we are left holding the bag because Samsung doesn't want to spend the money to achieve customer satisfaction. When I called Disney, they told me that Samsung had provided them the beta of the new firmware update and Disney formatted the POC 3 to run on it. However, when the firmware came out, Samsung had made some changes. My recommendation is for folks NOT to buy the Samsung player. Go with the industry standard such as Sony or Panasonic. Stay away from anything produced by a company who is unwilling to back their product with the technical support necessary to keep their customers loyal to them.
  
  
• THE Reason the Pirating Life Came to an End
  By A96K1ZGW56S2I on 2007-08-15
  Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), and the rest of the pirates are on a quest to bring Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) back from the land of the dead. Their journey is greatly been hampered because Lord Cutler Beckett (Tom Hollander) is in possession of Davy Jones' heart and controls the seas, making himself and the East India Trading Company extremely wealthy and supreme commander of the world's waterways. With world domination in sight, Beckett wants to wipe out the last of the pirates. In order to do so he has to find where Shipwreck Island is, the place where the nine Pirate Lords of the Brethren Court are meeting and keep them from uniting their pieces of eight. If the pirate lords succeed the sea goddess Calypso will be released and the power of Davy Jones' heart will be no more. Meanwhile Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley), Barbossa, and crew travel to the world's end.
  
  PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END could have been an incredible movie. I was a tad disappointed after seeing DEAD MAN'S CHEST because it made the films a tight an interconnected trilogy instead of allowing each movie to stand on its own. Yet, DEAD MAN'S CHEST ended on such a cliffhanger that I was excited to see how everything would come together in AT WORLD'S END. Though the loose ends are tied-up by the end of the film, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END was the biggest movie disappointment of the year so far.
  
  I will grant that the film does explore some of the history and motives of some of the series more important secondary figures. I give the screenwriters and filmmakers credit for that. I will also give credit for beginning the movie in a truly swashbuckling fashion in the underworld of the Orient. Lastly, the scene of the meeting of the Pirate Lords was handled rather nicely especially the treat of seeing Keith Richards portray Jack Sparrow's father and keeper of the Code, Capt. Teague.
  
  But those are the only things that stand out in the movie. The rest is an over-the-top, incoherent, convoluted, blundered mess. Let's start with action sequences. This is a movie that is supposed to be about the very real possible extermination of the world's last remaining pirates. The pirate lords all join forces to fight against the East Indian Trading Company and Davy Jones' Flying Dutchman. Yet, the battle that supposedly takes place is nonexistent. This is the biggest missing action sequence, but it happened several times during the movie. There's also the ten minute conversation the Jack Sparrow has with multiple variations of himself. Other than to illicit a cheap laugh, the scene serves no function and only makes the story even more confusing than it already is. That's not to say that the Pirate franchise hasn't been a little confusing all along. However, in the previous two movies, things were at least presented in a believable enough manner to allow for the suspension of our disbelief. That doesn't happen in AT THE WORLD'S END. Take the whole subplot with Calypso. The goddess of the sea trapped in human form by humans??? Where did that come from? Then when Calypso is released she looks more like a bad special effect from ATTACK OF THE 50 FT WOMAN instead of a powerful goddess. Or what about how things end up working out between Will and Elizabeth; I don't want to reveal what happens, but the way things work out is just way too weird. Or what about the Kraken, why didn't it appear again and threaten some more ships instead of just being written off?
  
  I will say that for such a seemingly epic and supernatural movie, the acting remained consistent and pretty good. Johnny Depp is always a delight to watch, Chow Yun-Fat is a pleasure to watch perform, and I even felt a bit sorry for Will Turner a few times because Orlando Bloom stopped being himself and started to act. Still, the best acting in the world couldn't save this bloated mess from falling over a waterfall of tepidity. PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END could have been the movie to keep pirates cool, instead it ended up being the movie that makes people thankful that and remember why pirate movies aren't made very often.
  
  
• It Is What It Seems...
  By A1FJ1U5LKD87RA on 2007-11-22
  With every argument, one person always states a film to be a success. Naturally, the opposer would say otherwise. With the "Pirates of the Caribbean" film series, that aforementioned arrangement has dominated the perceptions that we moviegoers have been forced to face in watching these films.
  
  Now, having seen all three, I can honestly say, that anyone who takes the time to critique a film should at least know that no film, even if if is a "Godfather" or "Lord of the Rings," will ever go without receiving negative criticism. "At World's End" is no exception. Needless to say that "At World's End" most definitely is not "The Godfather" or "Lord of the Rings;" however, this film does possess what the other two examples claim. It is a film that entertains, a film that captures the imagination, and a flim that once seen compels any viewer to stay and watch it again. For those looking for masterpieces, venture to your local art musuem or library, for the producers and makers of this film are not trying to create a masterpiece, but simply, they are attempting to do what all other movie production companies do, entertain the masses. This film achieves those goals.
  
  With that said, now I will address the film. The third pirates movie starts with the comical and heavy-hearted pirates we have come to love deal with the fallout of the conclusion of "Dead Man's Chest." The charismatic Captain Jack Sparrow has fallen along with his infamous vessel the Black Pearl. The new villians who are out to destroy the pirate world have gained the upper hand, and our not quite heroic heroes are left with heavy burdens to bear and new problems to solve. Tia Dalma, the seer and guide that has steered Barbossa, Will and Elizabeth on their new quest to rescue Jack, has joined the crew, taking the story in new directions along with her.
  
  A new character emerges to add depth and persona to the film, especially giving that the heroes are no longer in the Caribbean. Chow Yun-Fat, a majestic and charismatic actor in his own right, joins the cast as the venerable and treacherous Captain Sao Feng, pirate leader of Singapore. Though his part in the film is not lengthy, his character commands the presence necessary to leave a permanent impression.
  
  The other stars, Depp, Rush, Knightley, and Bloom all reprise their characters with the same vigor and intention displayed in the earlier two and don't miss a beat in carrying their characters to the final outcome of the film. However, what truly takes center stage in this film is the backstory that involves Lord Cutler Beckett and the cause for his machinations, Davy Jones and what sent him on his quest for retribution, and Tia Dalma and the true history behind her presence. Those storylines intertwined with the others create a plethora of intrigue, Q & A, and new developments that could lead to a possible fourth film. Do not let the rants of outrage, negativity and hateful reviews keep you from watching a fun film. "At World's End" simply put, is what it seems, a film of great quality and entertainment.
  
  
• What is it with critics out there?
  By ANUBY6KOT60WH on 2007-06-11
  I have just read like 12 internet reviews of "Pirates 3" just literally smashing the movie and labeling as "boring", "overplotted", "unsubstancial"... I watched the movie (with my 9 y.o., 8 y.o. & husband) the day of the premiere and went again one week later to watch it again. On both occasions, all four of us were glued to our seats... Of course, I have to say that my 8 y.o is a total fan of pirate stories and also of Jack Sparrow's so, ok, perhaps that's an issue here but overall you just have to see the box office figures both U.S. and international to take a glimpse at how these movies are perceived by audiences worldwide. The plot is magnificently chained with the previous movies and easy to understand for kids. The visuals are amazing. All characters are superbly portrayed being of course Johnny Depp's charismatic "Captain Jack Sparrow" at the top of the line. And finally music (oh music) Hans Zimmer simply excels himself (which is a lot to say) with this soundtrack. Plus the movie ends up with a tragic note but still it manages to deliver a profound sense of hope... Having said that, is simply funny how these so called critics rip apart a movie (a trilogy, more exactly) that obviously has such an special place within audiences' hearts worldwide.. Makes you wonder... What is it with critics out there? Get real people! Movies are about entertaining and about setting the dream-machine in motion. Also about reviving those old stories you use to read about and now can also watch majestically adapted for screen. Plus to me Gore Verbinski's saga has done the miracle of bringing back the good ol' pirate stuff, for contemporary kids and parents to enjoy and share. If millions of viewers worldwide love these movies, they most definitely must have touched a very important string of social consciousness beyond cultures, languages or historical backgrounds. A peoples' hearts favorites though appearantly not so a critics' one.
  
  
• Yo ho, maties! Drink up!
  By A26TSW6AI59ZCV on 2008-01-27
  Preface: This be the third installment in a series, matie, and while it don't measure up to the first, it be a wee bit better than the second. All three films are set, I believe, in the 18th Century. The first two, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, are set in the Caribbean, while Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End involves the whole world.
  
  For those unfamiliar with the series, in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Elizabeth Swann, the daughter of a colonial governor, is kidnapped by the mutinous pirate captain, Barbossa. Will Turner, a poor blacksmith who loves Miss Swann, enlists the aid of Captain Jack Sparrow, a pirate who was once captain of the Black Pearl, who ostensibly helps Will in return for Will busting Jack out of jail. However, Captain Jack knows things about Will's past, that might help him reclaim his beloved Black Pearl. In the second movie, Pirates of the Caribean: Dead Man's Chest, Captain Jack finds out that the deal he had made with Davy Jones, to get the Black Pearl in the first place, and Jones now wants either the soul of Captain Jack Sparrow, or one hundred other souls. Captain Jack goes in search of The Dead Man's Chest, in order to kill Davy Jones, with the aid of Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann, who have separate reasons for wanting the chest. And now, onto the third movie . . .
  
  In the beginning, there was the void, and darkness lie upon the Earth, and the name of that darkness was Lord Cutler Beckett. The darkness was able to subdue even the most fearsome of men, like Davy Jones, for the darkness knew how to get to the heart of the matter. The darkness craved dominance, and sought to wipe the seas free of the scourge of piracy, so that the darkness could rule (and the East Indian Trading Company could bask in the wealth of monopoly). But, one man stood in his way, one Captain Jack Sparrow. Now, the darkness felt that said obstacle had been removed, with the aid and abettance of Davy Jones and his beloved pet, the kraken. However, a man such as Captain Jack Sparrow is not easily vanquished. Though he be exiled to the Land of the Dead, and trapped in Davy Jones' Locker, Captain Jack still had hope, amidst his flourishing madness, and he also had stalwart friends like Will Turner, Captain Barbossa, Elizabeth Swann, Tia Dalma, and Sao Feng. Well, perhaps "friends" might not be the best of labels for those relationships, and perhaps those "friends" might have agendas of their own, but they were united in retrieving Captain Jack Sparrow, along with his mighty ship, The Black Pearl.
  
  Would Captain Jack Sparrow get the green light to leave Davy Jones' Locker? Would he get a flash of inspiration, that would lead our cohort of heroes out of the Locker, so that they could play their game of musical allegiances? In a world filled with greed, would the good-guy pirates prevail against the oppressive darkness of Lord Cutler Beckett? What of Davy Jones? Can he be redeemed, and who might take his place? Is there more to Tia Dalma than meets the eye? Can Will Turner save his father? Will now-Admiral Norrington see the truth that stands right before him? Who will win the love of the King of the Pirates?
  
  The Good, the Bad, and the Obscure
  
  The Good: Well, the obviously-anticipated items, like great computer graphics, battles scenes, seagoing warfare, and action were all there. Of course, there was at least one great sequence of sword-fighting, featuring Captain Jack Sparrow and Davy Jones. In Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, I was impressed by the three-way sword-fight between Will Turner, Captain Jack, and Norrington, but Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End gives us several four-way showdowns, with allegiances shifting more than the sands of the Sahara. I liked that there were major surprises, involving the deaths of major characters, a hidden identity of a main character, the romantic history between two main characters, the resolution of the captaincy of the Flying Dutchman, and the explanation for how Davy Jones, and his crew, came to be as they are. The conclave of the pirate-lords was interesting, with a colorful bunch of minor performances, including Keith Richards portraying Captain Teague, who was Captain Jack Sparrow's role model. The madness of Captain Jack Sparrow, whilst he was imprisoned in the Locker, was hilarious. Johnny Depp (Captain Jack), Keira Knightley (Elizabeth Swann), and Geoffrey Rush (Captain Barbossa) all continue their roles quite competently, while Orlando Bloom (Will Turner) helps his character develop into someone with more depth and facets.
  
  The Bad: Besides the issue mentioned in the next section, I have very few complaints. Chow Yun-Fat as Sao Feng was surprisingly almost a non-entity on screen. I also think the direction was a bit weak, as the pace was uneven, and the flow was choppy.
  
  The Obscure: I almost sent the movie back, after watching the first twenty minutes or so, as it was so incredibly dark (as in lighting, not mood) that I was constantly squinting, and really struggled to figure out what the heck was going on. I could barely see anything!
  
  Overall, I enjoyed watching this movie, and I am glad to have it in my video collection, to be watched again. I think that, because of the violence, this movie might not be for younger children.
  
  Post-script: All the ingredients are there for another sequel.
  
  
• This movie is deeper than it appears - spoiler alert
  By A3E1KL2N4ZOQ8W on 2007-07-16
  What a pleasant surprise! On the surface, this appears to be another over the top action sequel. There are layers to this glorious film that most people won't even realize that are there. In fact, I had to watch it twice myself to notice it.
  
  The first time through it, I did not even like this installment. I was not impressed with the action and the violence of the fighting scenes on the boats, especially the final battle. The sheer length of the movie was almost too much to bear. There were times that the story line did not make sense. That's because I was just going along for the ride that Disney had prepared for me, so to speak. I just sat there and watched, numbly. I did not think about what was happening. I did not feel anything but over whelmed. I left the theater frustrated and disgusted. I did not know that the movie continued after the credits. That was a part of the problem. Fortunately, someone explained it to me. At last, I had some sort of closure.
  
  I went to see it again, last night. I was amazed at just how much I missed before. It is difficult to give an in depth review without adding some spoilers to back up my observations. What I must point out are things that impressed me as to how much these characters have grown and changed in the last three movies, especially Elisabeth.
  
  Elisabeth has grown from a coddled spoiled brat to a strong courageous woman over the years. She has more strength, courage, and character than anyone else in this film, especially Calypso. The thing that started this whole mess with Calypso, was that Calypso did love and still does. She just did not have the strength to honor her commitment to her man and wait the ten years for his return. Elisabeth on the other hand, not only stuck it out when she and Will were having problems, she agreed to marry him when times were at their toughest. She devoted herself to her husband and waited patiently for his return from sea. Not many women would do that. That is a sign of true love and commitment.
  
  So back to Calypso. The fact that she could not stay true to Davy Jones set off a whole chain of events. He was hurt and wanted revenge. She was hurt by his revenge and so on. What a messed up relationship that they have. They could learn a thing or two from Will and Elisabeth.
  
  There are also other lessons about love, loss, friendship, loyalty, honoring commitment, doing the right thing even when it's not the easy thing, courage, cooperation, and a bunch of small subtle things that we as parents hope that our children get out of this movie without realizing it. They are well hidden subliminal messages, so that they do realize that they are learning something.
  
  
• Don't waste money on the 2-disc Edition
  By A8Z2EZRWTOKOE on 2007-12-08
  Unless you are a die-hard PotC fan, don't waste extra money on the 2-disc Special Edition thinking it will have hours of extras, behind the scenes, and other extraneous material. It doesn't. With all the features combined, it doesn't even amount to an hour's worth of material. Just buy the standard Pirates 3 DVD, and save $15.00
  
  Unlike the Pirates 2 DVD, there is NO Making-Of Documentary, which was a major letdown. The featurettes on the Pirates 3 DVD are short, and moderately interesting. "The Making of Sao Feng's Map" ?? Yeaah.. greaaat.
  
  How about some background on the many visual effects (Davy Jones, the Black Pearl flipping underwater, Callypso's transformation, the meeting of the two fleets in battle, etc). Instead we get featurettes that are lacking, somewhat boring, and utterly short.
  
  I don't know if it was a budget thing, or what, but most movies with the production scale of Pirates 3 put a camera crew behind the scenes for a mind-blowing making-of.
  
  As for the film itself, it is not as good as Pirates 1&2. They tried to do WAY too much in terms of story. There are far too many characters, storylines, and plot twists. Captain Jack hops through the plot like a game of hopscotch, befriending and betraying just about every character with a speaking role. By the end of the movie, it is tiring, and ultimately detaches the viewer from the overall plot.
  
  Elizabeth's journey in Pirates 3 is unrealistic, even for a fictional movie. You get the feeling that the writers really had no ideas for her character within the framework set by the first movie, so came up with some radical ideas on the fly to try and keep Keira's presence in the film strong.
  
  Will's individual journey to redeem his father and get revenge on Davy Jones is yet another plot thread which detracts from the overall story.
  
  And just when you think the movie can't get anymore intricate, the writers decide to throw the Callypso plot thread in. This doesn't even make sense for the overall story, aside to create the Maelstrom in which there is a 20-minute sequence in. Why couldn't the Maelstrom be created naturally?
  
  I am a huge pirate fan, and fan of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, but ultimately, I was letdown by the conclusion of this trilogy. I did not leave the theater going, "Wow. That was amazing." I actually couldn't wait for the film to end. There was too much thrown in, between the many plotlines, constantly shifting alliances between the characters, Callypso, the Brethren Court, Davy Jones, World's End, etc etc etc. My feelings are that the Writers were flying blind (this is evident in the 2nd Pirates Movie, when Gore Verbinski was days from shooting and the Writers had NO SCRIPT.) I can picture them panicking and throwing together this mish-mash of a plot which in some cases contradicts the framework laid out in the 1st movie.
  
  People say that there is a chance for a Pirates 4. In this age of sequels, I wouldn't doubt it. I just hope they return to the basics and don't try to do insanely huge epics with so many plot turns that the audience actually begins to wish the film would just end. Pirates 1 was the perfect film. They should have stuck to that format.
  
  3 stars.
  
  
• Incredible Epic brought to you in Dazzling Detail
  By A22AD8M2SSOFHJ on 2007-12-16
  The Pirates of the Caribbean series has been enjoyable from the very beginning. With the incredible non-stop action and good acting. The third in the series is an epic of a movie running over two and a half hours long. If you have not watched the previous two in the series don't bother watching this movie until you have seen those.
  
  The movie starts off with a rather grim intro. Just when you think a hero will get involved they don't. It seems as though the world is doing everything to get rid of pirates. As the journey begins we are then reintroduced to all the wonderful actors that have been involved in this series.
  
  For the pirates to continue on they need their ultimate hero, Captain Jack Sparrow. Although this movie is filled with an all star cast that can't just rely on the heroic antics of Sparrow. I would have to say this movie is filled with action and a lot of violence although not a lot of gore. The movie probably would not be good for small children. So saying this movie is for families is probably a misnomer.
  
  What sets this version apart from the DVD version is the beautiful picture quality and wonderful sound. I was totally impressed with the breath taking picture in this film. Watching it on a big screen t.v. makes it very worthwhile. The movie also comes with uncompressed sound which helps create a lifelike environment that you can only find in the theatres.
  
  In the end I would have to say this movie is not for everyone. The action is non-stop and the violence is continuous. If you haven't watched the other two movies you probably shouldn't view this first since there are a lot of details in the story you wouldn't know otherwise. This is a great film that should be viewed by everyone who has enjoyed the series.
  
  
• Can't wait!
  By on 2006-07-22
  I'm already giving this movie 5 stars because the other two are my favorie movies in the world! I hope this one is just as good (I KNOW this one will be just as good).
  
  
• Fight To Run Away!
  By A1U360OMVQRPUB on 2007-05-28
  Pirate Captain Jack Sparrow is back from the land of the dead, back from Davy Jones's locker itself with his ship THE BLACK PEARL. But he's not looking for revenge against Davy Jones, the British, or other pirate lords. Not even for vengeance against Elizabeth Swan, who killed him in the second movie by feeding him to the kraken. He just wants a bit of rum and a few willing wenches.
  
  AT WORLD'S END is a lavish send-off and capstone to the trilogy. The sets are totally knock-out beautiful, especially the Singapore setting. And the action comes fast and furious. Swordplay and swinging abound, and the running cannon battles aboardship are first-rate.
  
  I have to applaud the movie's deep and daring plotting, though it did get hard at times to figure out who was setting up who, and who was betraying who. Still, even though I had to pay extra attention, it all ultimately made sense. And did I mention the action?
  
  There were some plot points that I feel weren't reconciled enough. The investment the viewer was made to make regarding Davy Jones's relationship with Calypso just didn't pan out in the end. And that whole plot point, while good, almost felt pulled out of a hat.
  
  The scenes where Johnny Depp gets to interact with himself, several himselves upon occasion, are dynamite, though awfully, awfully WEIRD. Still it fit in with Jack Sparrow's character and showed you that he's not truly of this world in some respects. Which most fans had already guessed at.
  
  Although this is billed as the last of the Pirates of the Caribbean films, I would certainly want to see more. There were enough plot hooks to keep fans returning to the theaters for another two or three movies at least.
  
  And if it is the last movie, man, what a send-off!
  
  
• The Best of the Trilogy
  By AFOP4Q3JUKV7L on 2007-06-20
  I thought that this was the best of the "Pirates" movies. While it was long (2hr 45min) this movie seemed to go by much faster than the others. I loved the choreographed sword fights, the bits of humor, and of course the politics of the Pirate convention.
  
  In this movie, Lord Cutler continues to try to scour Pirates from the open seas. Elizabeth's Swan's father is tricked with disastrous consequences, Jack returns from the dead, and Will Turner tries to save his dad without putting Elizabeth in danger. There is romance in this movie, which I greatly enjoyed, but it is far from a mushy film. Violence, love, pirates, it's the perfect movie formula.
  
  China has censored some of the movie in its country because it "vilifies the Chinese." Chow Yun-Fat, who plays pirate lord Captain Sao Feng, had his role slashed because the long, dirty nails and hair is stereotypical antiChinese. Ha! I think China is being too concerned, the movie does not make any nation look like the worst pirate place of the world. There is a definite focus on China/Asia for part of the movie, but what do you expect with a Chinese character. It's a fanciful movie, not racist.
  
  If you, like me, refused to watch the movie without knowing how the Jack-Elizabeth-Will love tangle would end up, I recommend going to Wikipeida and searching for Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.
  
  By the way, this movie leaves definite room for a sequel. Maybe a Pirates 4 lies in the future....
  
  
• A pretty good addition to the series...
  By A34IKDP77TNL4X on 2007-07-28
  While the first pirates was amazing and caught the eye of many many people the second one in most peoples eyes was a dissapointment. However, it is always hard to make a great sequel. However in hindsight, after watching the 3rd pirates it makes the second much better because the 3rd one will explain many things that left us questioning things in the 2nd pirates. That'd being said i can't wait to pick this up on blu-ray
  
  
• Fitting End for the Pirates trilogy
  By A72HISXZKT8O1 on 2007-08-16
  Contrary to the critics, At World's End is the #1 movie in the world for 2007 thanks to a clever story, witty dialogue, fantastic ensemble acting and amazing special effects. As with any sequel or trilogy movie, definitely be sure to see Pirates 1 & 2. There are so many interesting threads that carry over from the first 2 in AWE. To think that Johnny Depp and Co. have made pirate movies popular again is a true credit to all of the talent involved.
  
  Be sure to listen carefully to the story----I still find it hard to believe that some critics couldn't follow the story. I was glad to have a film that made me think as it went along rather than just numbing special effects. The film takes on an epic feel as the trio of Barbossa, Will, and Elizabeth travel to Singapore in order to retrieve some mystical charts that will lead them to Davey Jones' Locker. Capt. Jack is being held there since he was consumed by the Kraken in P2. Sao Feng, another pirate lord, holds these charts and has no love for Capt. Jack. However, since Beckett has taken over the seas(big business), the pirates are being exterminated. Barbossa convinces Feng to help in their cause and this is where the plot thickens. I don't want to give away the whole plot, but each character has their own motivations and deals are made/broken right and left. Jack is rescued and has his own agenda this time---seeking immortality. All these elements play out in a wonderful way building to a dramatic ocean battle scene which is amazing.
  
  (A previous reviewer mentioned that this scene was irrelevant as no other ships engaged in the battle other than the Flying Dutchman and the Black Pearl. However, as was revealed in all 3 films, these 2 were considered the creme de la creme of ships at the time. It was only fitting(remember this is a fantasy pirate movie) that these would be the key ships we want to see fight it out.)
  
  I doubt we'll ever see films made at this level again. The sets and cinematography are spectacular. What really shines through is the dedication that shines from the performers and the crew. I have to give credit to Gore Verbinski---what an imagination! The mix of sea lore and mythology was wonderful---lots of symbolism there. Also, the camera angles used in so many scenes made me feel I was right there in the film. Also, the writers deserve many kudos. Such clever witty dialogue and inventing a series of movies that touch on the sea lore and mythology mentioned above was truly unique.
  
  The sad part is realizing that this may be the last time we see the iconic characters of Barbossa, Will, Elizabeth and the clever Capt. Jack. They all brought such enjoyment for all ages of moviegoers these last few years, and AWE winds it up beautifully.
  
  
• I simply liked it
  By A35KYGOA3Y717Q on 2007-08-24
  Some people tend to over analyze movies. This movie was entertaining and fun. I loved the ending after the credits.
  
  
• Absolutely atrocious film.
  By AJIT88JWE7PNS on 2007-12-28
  I loved the first "Pirates," but this third installment is truly one of the worst movies ever made. Great performances by the cast, and captivating special effects, but a horrendous script and completely convoluted plot-lines.
  
  One of the worst movies ever made.
  
  

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