Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest [Blu-ray] Reviews

• Arrrgh...'tis GOOD!

  
  By A27P0MW8TE1JQP on 2006-07-08
  
  "UNDEAD MONKEY! Top that!"....Well, Pirates of the Caribbean 2 has a solid go at topping the top-grossing film of 2003.
  
  Johnny Depp, Oscar-nominated for the role of Capt. Jack Sparrow, possible the best-worst pirate ever owing a life debt to Davey Jones, Captain of the Flying Dutchman, another cursed ship. Also returning, Orlando Bloom as Wil Turner, the decent colonialist, who in the spirit of Flynn's CAPTAIN BLOOD, is drawn into the pirate's life along with Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann.Wil and Elizabeth are arrested instead of wed and slated to be executed for their part in Sparrow's escape. Wil cuts a deal to bring Jack;s quirky compass in return for a pardon for he and Elizabeth. The three become involved in Sparrow's struggle to free himself of eternal servitude onboard the Flying Dutchman, along with "Bootstrap" Bill Turner aka Wil's Dad. Captain Jack and Wil Turner's unlikely friendship continues in one misadventure after another, with more returning character's from the original than you can swash a buckle with, like Elizabeth's father Governor Wetherby Swann (Jonathan Pryce), the lovable buffoons Pintel and Ragetti (Lee Arenberg and MacKenzie Crook), first mate Gibbs (Kevin McNally) and the fallen Commodore James Norrington (Jack Davenport).
  
  Director of the original, Gore Verbinski again throws the pirates into one amusing action sequence after another, from island cannibals, to an inevitable bar fight, some Treasure Island homages, battles with barnacled minions of Davey Jones and a runaway mill-wheel-three-way duel between Jack/Wil/Norrington that is worth the price of admission and beverages.
  
  Depp's swaggering-staggering Sparrow makes any scene fascinating with his rock star take on pirates. But be WARNED: Pirates of the Caribbean 2 and 3 were produced back-to-back to allow for quicker release of two, meaning Dead Man's Chest is "a link film." And for those of us who endured the ending wait between The Empire Strikes Back and Jedi, you know what I mean. Pirates 2, ends with a bit of a cliffhanger which is always risky. The ending leaves almost nothing resolved and no villain thwarted.
  
  The locales as breath-taking and effects are as stunning as the original, in particular the ship swallowing Kracken. Sadly the brilliant Bill Nighy as Davey Jones is wasted as the overly CGI and effect laden character, who could have been anyone and was less striking than the previous films nemesis. In fact, I would rather see Nighy play Sparrow's dad (who was supposed to be briefly in the 3 movie due out in 2007)
  
  
  
  

• Do you fear death? Do you fear that dark abyss? All your deeds lay bare, all your sins punished? --- Davy Jones

  
  By A1A535W556ROBQ on 2006-07-24
  Although not as dark as it sounds, Dead Man's Chest delivers the goods and hints at many more adventures to come. I don't know if the Pirates writing crew is making this up as they go along or if they have a vision, but this film certainly hinted at a much broader vision of things to come with numerous references to past battles, loves lost, and hearts kept under lock and key. It is a much more encompassing movie than was The Curse of the Black Pearl, but it is much more loose in structure. Verbinski keeps the action going despite what is a pretty complicated set of stories, more or less interwoven together but ultimately left unresolved. Johnny Depp may get top billing but it is Orlando Bloom who takes the lead in this movie, holding his own against sea-monsters and the King's men alike. With nothing more to go on than the image of a key, Will Turner and Captain Jack Sparrow are reunited (sort of) in an attempt to unlock a chest that offers a strange treasure indeed. Keira Knightley is reduced to a stowaway, with some memorable scenes, but not as big a role as she had in The Black Pearl. Bill Nighy steals the show as the incredible Davy Jones, a half man/half sea monster that draws on Captain Nemo more than the Flying Dutchman, but develops a troubled dark soul all his own. Naomie Harris makes for a fetching Voodoo Queen who ultimately unlocks the secret of this adventure, aiding Captain Jack and crew on their dark voyage. Jack Davenport returns as Norrington, a much more compelling character this time around than he was in The Black Pearl. Having fallen from grace, he completes the triangle that makes for some pretty tense action, especially in the closing scenes.
  
  Be warned that Dead Man's Chest is an open ended movie, setting up what promises to be a thrilling third installment to Pirates of the Caribbean. Not only that, it hints at possible prequels because it covers so much territory in this sprawling movie that it leaves you craving for much more.
  
  
  

• Made me seasick

  
  By A34WQ1AP79D3QU on 2006-11-17
  I LOVED the first movie...and I'm sad I can't say the same here.
  
  As Rene Rodriguez of the Miami Herald put it: The worst kind of sequel - the kind that exists only to give you more, more, MORE of what you particularly liked about the first film, without ever justifying its own existence. Indeed, in my view, Dead Man's Chest was just that, and it didn't please me nearly as much as the first.
  
  What the filmmakers did was listen closely to what audiences said about Curse of the Black Pearl. The audience liked the swashbuckling action, the audience liked the humor, and of course, the audience L-O-V-E-D Capt. Jack Sparrow. The filmmakers took this feedback and tried to incorporate these things into Dead Man's Chest. Oh boy did they try - way too hard. It shows.
  
  Swashbuckling action? Let's give them a three-way sword fight between the three main characters that lasts twice as long as it should. Swashbuckling action: check.
  
  Humor? Let's bring back Pintel and Regetti, the comic relief of the first movie, and make them a bigger part. We don't have to explain how they got out of jail and why others of Barbossa's crew didn't. We don't have to explain why they both vow to help bring Jack Sparrow back when, in the first movie, they helped maroon him and almost shot him. They're funny, that's what the audience wants. And hey, lets have most of the cast on an island inhabited by cannibals. We can have Jack roasting on a spit, then have it become a shishkabob later. We can have the crew in hanging cages, swinging back and forth and rolling downhill in them. This whole scene of the movie will be utterly pointless, but it will give them the laughs they want. Humor: check.
  
  Jack Sparrow? We'll have plenty of him, but just doing these silly loony toon-like stunts. Not putting him in different critical situations that display his cunning and convincing negotiation skills and his quick-thinking. And what of the central threatening situation? Whether it was escaping from a sinking dory or fighting a ferocious battle with his former first mate or facing death by hanging, Jack was always calm, cool, and collected. Not this time. So what if it goes against him (as one filmmaker said himself) always believing that if he can just hang on long enough, that everything will eventually turn in his favor. Make him visibly afraid. Make him panic at the sight of a black spot on his hand. Make him cringe at the first sight of Davy Jones. Yes, Jack Sparrow's mannerism will be a bit different this time, but its Johnny Depp in the same pirate costume - it should satisfy the audience. Jack Sparrow: check.
  
  But what of the other things that make a film good? Things like, say, a story? Aware that the film did need a tale to tell, the filmmakers decided the "plot" of Dead Man's Chest would be four individual dilemmas thrown clumsily together: Cutler Beckett wants Jack Sparrow's compass (why? we'll have to wait for the 3rd movie to find out), Norrington seeks to restore his now-shattered career to it's previous glory, Will and Elizabeth must get Beckett what he wants in order to escape the hangman's noose, and Jack Sparrow attempts to weasel out of a 13-year-old bargain made with Davy Jones. What does this all come down to? Only one character accomplishes what he/she set out to do in the whole 2.5 hours. Norrington brought Davy Jones' heart to Beckett - but Will had to steal the key from Jones first. That's the only thing that actually gets DONE in the movie. How could that have taken 2.5 hours to do? It didn't. Then what filled up the extra time? The pointless stuff I mentioned above. As Ty Burr of the Boston Globe put it: It goes absolutely nowhere and takes 2.5 hours to get there.
  
  I'm not someone whom filmmakers can show three men sword-fighting and a group of savage cannibals chasing someone down a beach and expect me to be impressed. There needs to be a point, something behind it all. As Dana Steven of Slate put it: Without a beating heart at its center, this chest feels empty indeed. One star for effort...and for Davy Jones' creative design (tentacles for a beard, nice).
  
  

• Where's the charm of the first?

  
  By A2SW560X584UEF on 2006-12-07
  
  I'm in the very small minority here, but I didn't care for this movie at all. It seemed to lack all the charm and spontaneity of the original, as though the producers racheted up the special effects and production just to cash in on the Pirate's "franchise." Even Depp's performance was sub-par (and he's one of my favorite actors!); he didn't seem to have his heart in it. The others called their lines in by phone!
  
  I mean, what in the world were those early scenes on the island with the hungry natives supposed to be about? It didn't do anything to add to the story or the characterizations. It was absurd -- but not funny.
  
  To me, the entire intention of this movie was to sell products and promotional items -- not to entertain.
  
  Okay, go ahead and hit the "not helpful" button -- but I just had to put in my dissenting opinion.
  
  

• Aye! A new standard there be!

  
  By A10G4BPT5MGBHY on 2007-05-22
  If you liked this movie as a regular DVD, you're going to love it in Blu-Ray. Everything there is to like about the film is even better here. The creepy stuff is creepier, the funny stuff funnier, the special effects more special. In fact, "Dead Mans Chest" fans will probably consider this the absolute best Blu-Ray movie there is. Personally, I prefer Pirates of the Caribbean - Curse of the Black Pearl [Blu-ray] for its better storytelling, but this one has equally vivid color, equally outstanding detail and a soundtrack that will blow you away. Disney is obviously using its Pirates titles as its Blu-ray showcase, and has poured in the bucks to make them the best titles on the market.
  
  VIDEO
  
  Though "Pearl" has a better story, "Chest" has the better effects, and its squishy fishy pirates lend themselves better to Blu-ray detail than the first film's skeleton crew. The barnacles, coral, scales and tentacles that cover Davy Jones and his mates are much more visible here than in the standard release, and when Bootstrap Bill stuffs a crawling shell in his mouth you can tell it was hermit crab. In fact, the movie's near-perfect digital transfer reveals new details in nearly every scene, from the dark blue dye on Tia Dalma's teeth to the glisten and glimmer on the attacking kracken.
  
  The images have rich shadows and, amazingly, no grain, so even the darkest details come to life. You can even see that cannibal who traps Will Turner -- before he jumps out from the tree.
  
  AUDIO
  
  Wow! No other Blu-ray title sounds like this. Whether it's a simple explosion or the complex chase scene, the uncompressed 5.1 soundtrack delivers the goods loud and clear, with plenty of nuance and perfect channel separation -- just like those reference DVDs at a Bose store. Often the sound is so vivid it seems you can watch the film with your eyes closed. The best sequence comes when Davy Jones plays his pipe organ. Turn it up and you can feel it in your spine.
  
  BONUS FEATURES
  
  There's just one hi-tech extra, an interactive Liar's Dice game. Here, you're pitted against Pintel (Lee Arenberg) in a contest that plays out through video clips that rarely repeat. Unlike most games of this type, this one renders its visuals quickly, thanks to a new technology called BD-Java. The other bonus features are the same as those on the standard DVD, at the same standard fidelity and resolution.
  
  To sum up, "Pearl" is still better, but if you buy this disc you won't be disappointed. With video and audio that set a new standard for Blu-ray releases, this new "Dead Man's Chest" takes you for a real Pirates ride.
  
  
• A Grand Swashbuckling Movie That Has The Spirit Of The Original & Brings New Stuff To The Table, Action Filmmaking At Its Finest
  By A27CHILBK6HIL2 on 2006-07-08
  MOVIE: Here we go, probably the most anticipated blockbuster of the year. When the first Pirates Of The Caribbean came out it became an overnight success, and of course immediately greenlit two sequels. Dead Man's Chest is a little different than the first film, which is definately a good thing. I would absolutely have hated to watch the same movie again, and thankfully this film brings a different approach to the story and the characters. The first movie was more epic in my opinion. It was very grand with open-sea ship battles, pirates swinging from ropes tied to the masts, firing cannons, and one on one sword fighting. This movie continues in that tradition a bit, but also brings fresh action and humor to the table. Instead of Barbossa and his cursed crew we have Davy Jones and his sea crew. Jack Sparrow is in debt to Davy Jones and in order to keep his freedom he must in turn find 100 men to be on Davy Jones' crew on the Flying Dutchman. In a seperate conflict we have Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann who had their wedding ambushed because a corrupt politician wants to find the dead man's chest so that he can control the assests of the East India Trading Company. Jack Sparrow on the other hand wants the chest so that he can have control over Davy Jones and keep a creature known as the Kraken away. The film basically follows our main characters from one island to another in search of this mysterious chest and the contents it contains. The film is the perfect blend of action and humor that keeps it exciting and entertaining. This is really one of the best action movies ever made. The set design, costumes, makeup, and visual effects were just breathtaking. Davy Jones and his crew are the most creative and amazing CGI characters I have ever seen on film. This usually never happens to me, but I am still in question whether Davy Jones' face was all CGI or a blend of prosthetics and CGI. The area around his eyes, nose, and mouth seemed so real and perfect that I am actually in question if it's CGI or prosthetics. It is simply amazing how much detail has been put into this film. Hans Zimmer steps up as composer after replacing his good friend Klaus Badelt from the first film. Zimmer's score really made the movie for me, it borrowed the themes we love so much from the first score and blends it in with darker and heavier music that truly makes this movie a swashbuckling movie. This movie was so much fun, it was so entertaining, so exciting, and funny. You will have a hard time finding a better time at the movies than with Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. It is an amazing continuation of the first film and a great lead-in to the final installment in the trilogy, which will be released next summer.
  
  ACTING: Johnny Depp got an Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow in the first movie. Depp is one of the most versitile and talented actors that we have ever seen on the screen. He truly has a presence that cannot be matched and he has crafted an iconic character with Jack Sparrow. Orlando Bloom and Kiera Knightly provide great acting in their supporting roles even though they have less to do with the main plot this time around. The real highlight here is the character of Davy Jones who is played brilliantly by Bill Nighy. Nighy is a British actor relatively unkown to American audiences. He was recently seen in The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy and The Constant Gardener, and he adds perfection to the character of Davy Jones. The cast makes the movie and they are all perfect in it.
  
  BOTTOM LINE: What more can you ask for? The movie has everything you would want in a summer adventure fare. The first movie was one of the top grossing films of the year when it came out, and I have no doubt that this will do the same. Gore Verbinski was able to handle all that story and make it flow seamlessly, it was always entertaining and never felt long dispite it's long running time. The film was perfect in my opinion, I really would not change anything about it. Also, there is a little bonus for those who stay after the credits. So, go and enjoy the summer's best movie.
  
  
• A Cute Little Disney Film but Not for Children
  By A328S9RN3U5M68 on 2006-12-08
  'Pirates Of The Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest' is but the second installment (the third has already been shot) in the series of movies based on a Disneyland ride: strange nidus for a story idea and one that takes a bit of patience to sit through, but a fun evening nevertheless. Though the first installment took the audience by surprise with the character of Jack Sparrow so inimitably portrayed by the gifted Johnny Depp and therefore served as a tastier treat, this second installment substitutes sea-dead cum barnacles for the dancing skeletons of the first and is a bit more grisly...and a lot less fun.
  
  But Gore Verbinski knows how to choreograph these outings and he is able to marry some very fine special effects to the genuinely good cast of characters and the result is a fantasy that is a visual delight. The cast includes Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Jack Davenport, Bill Nighy who is completely covered in tentacles as Davy Jones, Jonathan Pryce, Tom Hollander, Stellan Skarsgård,and Naomie Harris and they all seem to be having a glorious time. It is a bit long for a slight story (well in excess of two hours) and the special effects of the kraken (octopus like tentacles) overwhelming boats becomes tedious, but it is a fun outing and it all too blatantly sets us up for part three due our next spring. Grady Harp, December 06
  
  
• Proof that American audiences are getting dumber.
  By A1SXWM5IZLE3HS on 2006-09-22
  This film was perhaps the most incoherent mess to appear in theaters in 2006. Unfortunately, audiences were, for the most part, unable to see it for what it was. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Mans Chest is a terrible movie. The characters seem to be doing weak impressions of their former selves from Curse of the Black Pearl. Hell, Jack Sparrow even shamelessly replays many of his old jokes with total self-awareness. There is no plot structure, either. Things just...happen...to move the "characters" from one set piece to another, so they can utter the same one-liners made popular in the first film. It all amounts to a bunch of pretty people in pretty places which, really, could just as easily have been pretty flashes of lights and sound.
  
  It's a waste of a franchise. The opportunity here was limitless, and I couldn't have been more disappointed. Instead of becoming a classic action trilogy, in the vein of Indiana Jones or Star Wars, the Pirates of the Caribbean films have become nothing more than a big, fat cash cow and further proof that audiences are way too easily entertained.
  
  
• John Q. Public strikes again!
  By AXKLJRDTPJCA7 on 2006-06-16
  Another day, another movie this guy has not seen, another 1 star review. Another review talking about how everyone involved is a "freak," nevermind what makes them such is never explained, another review that attacks a movie studio rather than the film itself and another review that says "there is no script, yet if you have not seen it how would you know? The same stuff is said in every single review, mainly because nothing else can be said when you make assumptions about things you have not seen. I have no big fanfare in me for the "Pirates" movies, but rest assured a) I will wait to review it until AFTER I've see it (what a concept, hey?), b) I will review the film, not the movie studio or my own personal politics, and c) will always post a similar review to this one every time I come across one of these laughable and shameful bunch of lies posted by "J.Q. Public," just to cancel (ballance) his out.
  
  
• There be monsters here!
  By A26TSW6AI59ZCV on 2006-12-31
  At the end of "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," all seemed resolved. But, as we start this film, everything falls apart: the marriage of Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann is interrupted so that they can both be jailed for aiding and abetting Captain Jack Sparrow; Commodore Norrington has lost all rank for failing to catch Jack; the undead Davy Jones is looking to collect on an old debt by Captain Jack; we find out the ugly fate of Bootstrap Bill Turner.
  
  What needs to happen to set thing s aright? Well, Captain Jack Sparrow has to find the key to the chest that holds the secret to escaping the wrath of Davy Jones, and Will Turner must retrieve Jack's compass for Lord Cutler Beckett, who sees it as the key to taming the seas and wiping away the scourge of pirates. For Norrington, retrieving the compass for Beckett would earn him a full pardon. Happily for us viewers, these tasks are highly interwoven.
  
  When "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" came out, I expected a film with lots of action and special effects, but not much else. Thanks to a great script, sparkling dialogue, and the outlandish zeal of Johnny Depp, that film is a true gem. Captain Jack Sparrow is one of the strangest, most intriguing, and most interesting characters in film history. But, could they maintain the quality here, in this second-of-three movies?
  
  For "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," we get even more action than in the predecessor, even more special effects, and more sparkling dialogue. It does have a few flaws that the first movie did not have though.
  
  I will start with the strengths. Do you like a movie with lots of action? Anyone could overdose on this one! Naval battles, tribes of cannibals trying to sacrifice all the main characters, a kraken (giant squid) controlled by Davy Jones and sent out to hunt down Jack Sparrow, and an incredible sword-fight, involving Captain Sparrow, former Commodore Norrington, and Will Turner, with as many shifts in allegiances as there are glints of sun off their blades. The escape of the captives from the cannibals was a humorous action sequence that is hard to beat, and the flight of the mill-wheel was fantastic.
  
  As for special effects, Disney created a miracle in the giant squid in "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," and it now has a worthy successor. Hmmm, maybe it's the same squid, just all grown up now! The crew of the Flying Dutchman (Davy Jones' ship) is a nightmare, too. All these undead souls have partially morphed into sea-creatures, with Jones having a tentacled face, and one crewman having his entire head in a (not entirely attached) conch-shell. The camera angles were also great in portraying the enormity of the squid, the Flying Dutchman, and even the mill-wheel, when it finally runs out of steam.
  
  While the dialogue does not quite match "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" (Captain Jack's speech about trusting a dishonest man is marvelous), the repartee in the sequel is excellent, showing a beautiful use of the English language. There just aren't quite as many memorable lines.
  
  Some reviewers think that plot and story is not a strength here in "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," but I disagree. With Will and Elizabeth trying to save themselves and Jack, with Jack's continued redemption-in-progress, and Norrington's movement toward two kinds of redemption (i.e., in the eyes of the British throne, and in re-finding his true honor), we have three strong story-lines, and then there is the reconciliation of Will with his father, Bootstrap Bill, which adds an unexpected dimension.
  
  I mentioned earlier that there are a few small flaws. I found the first quarter of the film hard to follow the first time through. I think the reasons are that several story-lines get introduced rather quickly, and there are many scenes in the night with low visibility. Another confusion factor for me was the accents of Davy Jones, although I adapted to that fairly quickly, and of Tia Dalma, which was more of a challenge. I've watched the movie twice, and I actually used the subtitles (captions for the hearing-impaired) for the second viewing, and the movie now makes much more sense. I think that I won't need the subtitles for the next viewing.
  
  As far as acting goes:
  
  Jack Davenport is excellent as the bitter, angry, vengeful Norrington, who still retains some deep-seated honor. Lee Arenberg and Mackenzie Crook are great as Pintel and Ragetti, the pirate duo from Captain Barbosa's crew, with the illiterate Pintel occasionally waxing eloquent and philosophical. Tom Hollander is good as Lord Cutler Beckett, the new villain of the story, and Naomie Harris is great as the exotic and creepy Tia Dalma. Reggie Lee gives is some creepy humor as Headless, the pirate from Davy Jones' crew who loses his conch-shell-encapsulated head. Jonathan Pryce becomes a more noble Governor Weatherby Swann, as he tries to save his daughter. Stellan Skarsgard is excellent as Bootstrap Bill, the damned but heroic father of Will Turner. John Boswall adds an eerie touch as Wyvern, the pirate who has become part of The Flying Dutchman itself. Keira Knightley continues her good performance as the usually-proper but high-spirited Elizabeth Swann, who loves Will Turner, who is again portrayed with some verve by Orlando Bloom. Bill Nighy makes an excellent addition to the cast, as Davy Jones, who is gleefully and exultantly damned and evil and commanding.
  
  No matter what anyone else in this film does, though, the film rests solidly on the swaggering shoulders of Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow. Without Depp's Sparrow, this film just does not make it. He again gives us a Captain Jack of questionable loyalties, questionable honor, questionable prowess, and great wit. He keeps us interested and amused, right from his dramatic entrance (he shoots his way out of a floating coffin) to his face-off with the kraken, where he is either incredibly brave, oblivious to his plight, or resigned to whatever role Fate has given him.
  
  The ending of this film is absolutely perfect. Just as it looks like all is lost, we get a very brief cameo appearance, that further ties this sequel to the original, and sets up the trilogy's conclusion brilliantly. I will not say who makes this appearance, but I wanted to cheer when I saw who came walking down those stairs. The third movie is now set up to be the best of the three, and that is saying something.
  
  Side-note: Can you imagine what next Halloween will be like? Captain Jack's chieftain get-up will be everywhere, along with the exotic Tia Dalma, Davy Jones, Bootstrap Bill, and Headless.
  
  This is a rousing action-adventure tale, that does match its predecessor, despite a beginning that is about scattered or frenetic, and despite a few characters with challenging accents. Now, show me that horizon!
  
  
• "Pirates of the Caribbean: Attack of the Giant Squid!"
  By A3KEZLJ59C1JVH on 2006-07-09
  Wow. I can't remember the last time I was so disappointed with a movie. I want to preface this review by stating that I absolutely ADORED the first "Pirates of the Caribbean" film, and I've been anticipating the sequel for years. Now that I've seen it, I almost wish it hadn't been made at all. It was such a letdown!
  
  I think the biggest problem with "Dead Man's Chest" is that the plot is incredibly confusing and difficult to follow. There's just too much going on at once. Things get off to a rocky start right from the beginning: at first I thought the opening scene was just a dream sequence or something, but then I realized that it was ACTUALLY HAPPENING. Basically, the movie begins by showing Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) crying in the rain on her wedding day. It seems that her fiance Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) has been arrested by a newly appointed official of the British government, Lord Cutler Beckett (Tom Hollander), for helping the pirate Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) escape. Elizabeth soon finds herself under arrest as well, and Beckett threatens to hang her and Will unless they agree to coerce Jack into stealing the key to Davy Jones' locker.
  
  While all this is going on, Jack and his crew are busy manning the Black Pearl. Jack is stunned to discover that Will's father, the legendary pirate Bootstrap Bill (Stellan Skarsgard) is still alive. Bootstrap reveals that Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) is looking for Jack in order to resolve an old debt. Unfortunately for Jack, Davy Jones is basically an undead sea creature/pirate. Yes, that's right: remember how in the last movie Jack was running from a haunted pirate ship that was manned by a crew that turned into skeletons in the moonlight? Well, this time Jack is running from SEA MONSTER PIRATES! I wish I was making this up, but I'm not. Basically, it's "SpongeBob SquarePants" meets "Night of the Living Dead." The costumes and special effects are impressive, but the sea monster pirates are extremely creepy, and not in a good way. Why do the bad guys all have starfish and coral growing out of their faces?! It's so wrong! And if that's not bad enough, Davy Jones commands a giant sea dragon to do his bidding. The sea dragon (basically a Loch Ness Monster/giant squid combo) attacks unsuspecting ships and pulls them to the bottom of the ocean.
  
  Are you confused yet? You should be...and I haven't even explained half of the plot yet! I'm not even going to try. I left out a bunch of other random stuff, like the Pygmy tribe that thinks Jack Sparrow is a reincarnated god, the crazy voodoo witch doctor who I couldn't even understand half of the time, and Elizabeth's makeout session with Jack...yes, with Jack! (That last part was pretty funny, though.)
  
  The bottom line is, this movie just doesn't flow very well. It's too confusing and I really didn't understand the whole sea monster theme that they have going. There are some good things about the film: the costumes and special effects are amazing and all of the actors delivered outstanding performances, especially Depp. However, the script really sucks, which is such a shame. The jokes weren't all that funny and the storyline was just plain ridiculous at times. I liked the way Commodore Norrington (Jack Davenport) was worked into the story so well, but even that was ruined for me at the end of the movie. There was hardly any swordfighting in "Dead Man's Chest," and then Jack, Will, and Norrington finally started going at it, but then they jumped on that huge wheel and started rolling around the island and I just couldn't take it anymore. Sigh.
  
  Here's how the movie ends: Captain Jack Sparrow is swallowed by the giant squid creature. No, I am not making that up...I wish I was! Jack gets swallowed up and we have to wait until the third "Pirates" movie to see what happens to him. "Dead Man's Chest" was really part one of two...it ends with a big cliffhanger. The one redeeming bit of news at the end is that we learn Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) is still alive and will be prominently featured in the next "Pirates" film. (I have no idea how they're going to explain that, since he seemed pretty dead at the end of "The Curse of the Black Pearl," but I guess anything is possible. It almost seems like Barbossa is going to HELP Will and Elizabeth save Jack, which makes absolutely no sense to me at all. Barbossa is supposed to be a VILLAIN! Bill Nighy was fine as Davy Jones/Octopus Man, but another reason "Dead Man's Chest" came up short is because Barbossa wasn't in it.)
  
  If you were a fan of the first "Pirates" movie, I'm sure you'll want to see "Dead Man's Chest." Prepare to be disappointed like I was. The movie just didn't do it for me. (It's make a heck of a lot of money at the box office, though, mark my words!)
  
  
• The Beat of a Pirate's Heart.....
  By A28F6DE63BC4RY on 2006-11-12
  If you judge this movie using the same checklist you would for "A Beautiful Mind" or even "Lord of the Rings" you've missed the boat. This movie is a bit more foolish than the others and that is what's so great about it. See this movie through the eyes of a child and allow it to make you laugh, to gross you out, to surprise you with its clever twists of plot, to amaze you with heroes that defy all odds, and to capture your imagination with peculiar pirates' treasures.
  
  
• Disappointing
  By A1TY4OSA0W1FMC on 2006-10-03
  I immensely enjoyed the first 'Pirates'. It was engaging and entertaining. This second installment seems to lean entirely on the success of the first. The dialogue is trite and unimaginative. Several of the scenes left me wondering what they were there for. They added nothing to the plot or depth of the characters. Some of the redeeming qualities of the characters in the first movie were left behind as they tried to invent additional scenes to 'entertain'. Elizabeth especially was more heroic and intelligient in the first movie. She became silly and ridiculous in this one, checking her moral foundation at the door. The best scene was the last, where Captain Barbosa makes an appearance, giving us hope at least that the third installment may recover from this disappointing film.
  
  
• Fresh delights - full of adventure. It is able to be funny, creepy, and dramatic - not easy to pull off.
  By AUHG8KSHI529U on 2006-12-11
  What a hoot! This movie is an amazing amount of fun. It has adventure, fresh takes on the pirate and sea story genre, has some wonderfully creepy villains, has some laugh out loud hilarity, and is even touching at times. It is one of the most fun movies I have seen in quite awhile. I recommend it to everyone who likes to have fun watching movies. And it is a decent family film, but NOT for young children. The PG-13 rating makes sense because some of the creepy / frightening moments are even effective for adults.
  
  If you haven't seen the first movie, I would suggest you see it before you see this one. It isn't absolutely required, but you will know the characters in a way this films assumes you do when it opens. The movie opens with Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and his lady love, Elizabeth Swann (Kiera Knightley) being arrested by Lord Beckett (Tom Hollander). They are to be hanged for helping Capt. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) escape in the first movie. I don't want to go into the plot any more than this because every detail of it is so much fun to discover for the first time. Let me just say that you will not expect or predict much of what happens in this movie. Even when you think you know what is going to happen, what actually is put on the screen is fresh and that goes for the sound of the movie, as well.
  
  Even the Capt. Jack Sparrow of Johnny Depp is given new twists and depths and delights. Sure, there is the Keith Richards aspect, but then there is the shish kabob. You will have to see it to believe what you are seeing. I do want to praise Bill Nighy for being able to bring so much expression to Davy Jones behind that octopus mask. That is not easy to pull off, but he does.
  
  This is a movie worth seeing several times.
  
  
• Swashbuckling good fun with a shipload of laughs
  By A2MRZPTMYFADUV on 2006-07-06
  Arrrrr! Johnny Depp does it again as he reprises his role of slightly whacko, always mildly drunk Captain Jack Sparrow. Yes, he and his crew of Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and his beau Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) take on the seven seas once more in "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest." Hold on to your vessels people, because this thumping good adventure will leave you clinging to the ropes and demanding the third installment!
  
  On their wedding day, Will and Elizabeth are rudely interrupted when they are charged with conspiring with pirates (a brutal crime) and sentenced to their deaths by hanging. In a twist of luck, Will is summoned by the higher order to find and bring back the compass of Captain Jack Sparrow, which has some sort of powerful significance. As Will sets out in search of Jack, Elizabeth follows leading all three of them involved with the menacing supernatural tyrant Davy Jones and his deadly score to settle with Jack Sparrow.
  
  Disney nailed this film, to the point where I can't decide if I liked this one or the original better. The special effects are outstanding, giving "Lord of the Rings" a sure run for their money. I honestly couldn't decided what came out of the computer and what didn't! Absolutely stunning.
  
  And, most importantly, what is "Pirates of the Caribbean" without its swashbuckling comedy, accentuated by the genious that is Johnny Depp. So many scenes had the sold-out audience in absolute barrels of laughter. No doubt, I think this addition punched out more laughs than the last. I had tears in my eyes from laughing so hard on more than one occasion.
  
  Finally, the entire movie cinema was left with their jaws dropped wide open as a string of surprises (good and bad) climax to a whopping good cliffhanger. But I won't talk about that, I'll leave it to audiences to experience the brilliant ending (?) themselves! All I'll say is expect the unexpected! It will leave you simply gasping for the next installment!
  
  All in all, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" was the full package. Loaded with action sequences that will take your breath away, laugh-out-loud humour, and magical chemistry of Johnny Depp to his alter-ego Jack Sparrow alongside Orlando and Keira, this film is one you would be surely sorry to miss. And judging by the sold-out sessions I witnessed today, you'd be in the minority if you did.
  
  Bring on number three!
  
  
  
• This is a Monster Bone-Crunching Gorilla with no Spine.
  By AXPN8L8QI2Z4A on 2006-07-08
  Though this movie had charm, had swashbuckling, had Orlando Bloom, and special effects, it had no sensible structure.
  
  If you're looking for a good two hours and change of monsters, swords, Indians, ocean, and laughs this is your movie.
  
  If you need some structure, this is a ramble from one swashbuckling event to another with no coherency or climax. Worse this movie builds toward something then just falls off the last fifteen minutes to ensure the viewer will buy a ticket for the next showing.
  
  
• Shiver Me Timbers! Captain Jack Returns in a Lumbering Adventure That Improves in the Second Half
  By A13E0ARAXI6KJW on 2006-07-10
  Johnny Depp's preening cheekiness as Captain Jack Sparrow continues to be the invaluable glue that holds together this action-packed, over-the-top movie, the second in a trilogy inspired by the well-loved, nearly forty year-old ride in Disneyland. The jam-packed story picks up relatively soon after the point where the last one left off with spunky Elizabeth Swann about to marry adventurer Will Turner. Complications come in the form of British East India Trading Company's Lord Cutler Beckett, who charges the couple with conspiring to help Sparrow escape from the company's clutches. Death is their fate unless they can secure Sparrow's magical compass for Beckett. Sparrow has troubles of his own as he has sold his soul to the legendary dawn-of-the-dead pirate, Davy Jones, fabled captain of the Flying Dutchman, in exchange for the right to command his vessel, the Black Pearl. Sparrow's one option is to find the key to a chest containing Jones' still-beating heart.
  
  The storylines eventually collide but not before the main characters run into a voodoo woman, Tia Dalma, full of mystical advice on how to get the key; Elizabeth's jilted swain, Commodore James Norrington, out for revenge against Will; Will's lost-soul father, Bootstrap Bill Turner, somewhere between life and death; and a mammoth, octopus-like sea monster named Kraker. After a shaky start with far too much exposition, director Gore Verbinski gets the momentum finally going in the second hour with heart-racing action escalating in both scope and absurdity, although screenwriters Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio tend to layer all the developments in a most convoluted manner. Despite the pacing problems, what I do like about the film is its persistently irreverent tone and the way death is treated not as the final end but as a relative inconvenience. From my perspective, this is what makes the movie's spirit come alive for a contemporary viewer.
  
  Beyond Depp's devilishly clever performance, the real star is unsurprisingly the CGI-generated special effects, whether it's Jones and his ocean-morphed crew of half men/half sea creatures (the hammerhead shark is a particularly creepy figure to watch); Kraker and its engulfing destruction (though this gets repetitive in the story); or the variety of memorable action set pieces, such as the Black Pearl crew swinging in a ravine to escape their suspended spherical cages, or concurrently, Sparrow precariously maneuvering a pole where he inadvertently becomes part of a fruit shish kebob. My favorite set piece is the runaway waterwheel on the island where Will, Norrington and Sparrow are preoccupied with their swashbuckling and the search for the chest. The audacious silliness of these action sequences is what keeps the movie afloat.
  
  Both Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom return from the first film as Elizabeth and Will. Looking beautiful, even disguised as a boy, Knightley has been promoted into more of an action role here and handles her part with aplomb. Bloom is still a relatively colorless presence but fulfills the heroic dimensions of the part almost by default. As Davy Jones, Bill Nighy is able to create an intriguing character underneath the CGI-generated visage of octopus tentacles, and in a tribute to Jules Verne's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea", has a great scene where he plays the numerous keys of a pipe organ all at once. Granted, at 150 minutes, the epic movie does run too long for the story it tells, and the lumbering series of climaxes seems excessive. Regardless, it's still grand fun thanks to Depp and the oozing, barnacle-encrusted realism of the CGI effects.
  
  
• An Epic Sea Adventure
  By A26B5U1U894ADI on 2006-10-04
  Undoubtedly, the title of greatest epic sea adventure belongs to the book "Moby Dick," but "Pirates of the Caribbean" brings back all of the ambiance that made Melville's book such a classic. Even the characters bear interesting similarities. When I think about Will Turner as the young gent like Ishmael that either fortunately or unfortunately finds himself on board the ship of a mad man, it starts to cross paths with "Moby Dick." Upon careful examination, "Pirates" takes on a whole new dimension. While Jack Sparrow is not as sinister as Captain Ahab, he's equally as delusional. He will do whatever it takes to get what he wants even if a few crew members have to be sacrificed along the way. Sound familiar? Even the ending of "Dead Man's Chest" finds both Captains at the mercy of a mythical sea creature. In "Moby Dick," it's the great white whale himself. In "Dead Man's Chest," it's the scene-stealing Kraken. Both operate like underwater ghosts that rise to the surface for the kind of "shock and awe" that great stories are made of. And you don't want to take either lightly. When you add Hans Zimmer's "Gladiator/Phantom of the Opera" like score, it just begs to become more than a summer-studio blockbuster. This movie is worth its weight in pirate gold plus a few pieces here and there. The special effects are once again stellar. I hope the Oscars give this film a second look and not write it off as just a fun popcorn flick. I think there's more to "Pirates" than meets the eye.
  
  
• Fool's gold
  By A387BZH5I9M6JW on 2007-04-28
  Following the enormous commercial and critical success of the 2003 PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: Curse of the Black Pearl, corporate greed made a sequel inevitable. Good or bad, it didn't matter; and the sequel "Dead Man's Chest" duly appeared in 2006, made back-to-back with another 2.5 hours of footage that will be released as a third installment in May 2007: "At World's End." Sequels can be fine: some, like SPIDER-MAN 2, even surpass their predecessors. When gold is the *only* prize however, as Disney's corporate pirates should have heeded, there is often a price. In the case of "Dead Man's Chest," that price is quality. The first film was conceived as a closed system, with a beginning, middle, and end. It was buoyant, humorous, exciting, wise at times, crisply executed, and carefully researched historically--right down to the English period violins and bows used, generally brilliant. Topping it off was a lead performance as iconoclast as one is ever going to see: Johnny Depp as the witty, sardonic, and wonderfully fey pirate, Jack Sparrow. Sparrow's position in the plot, his world-view, and his ambiguous sexuality telegraphed him immediately as an outsider, with all the insight that can bring. The film also had a surprising horror theme of undead pirates, adding a note of the surreal to the impeccable 18th-century action and settings.
  
  "Dead Man's Chest" couldn't be more different except for its rough basic premise and its excessive length: apparently the director hates editing; even his fine first PIRATES entry was a tad long at 143 minutes. "Chest" is historically sloppy, genuine period details actually dismissed in favor of showier ones. It began with NO script: in the DVD extras, the writers freely admitted that they were not prepared for a sequel and couldn't come up with anything. So when shooting time came, the director simply filmed a lot of action sequences and the script was made up along the way. As for themes, much is an untalented retread of the first film; even the same fine musical score is reused--its best feature. The result is an utter mess, without any real humor, continuity, pacing, or appeal. It's 2.5 hours of confusion, tedium, some uncomfortable sadism, and an unhealthy dose of racial stereotyping.
  
  We do not identify with any of the principal characters, whose natures have changed radically since the first film--except perhaps Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), now a doormat for his fiancee Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) and for Jack Sparrow. Jack comes off here as a treacherous, cowardly opportunist more than anything else. Apparently, the "gay reading"--which Depp intended and discussed with Rolling Stone, citing his study of the scholarly "Sodomy and the Pirate Tradition"--must have been too scary for Disney, though not for audiences, given the first film's returns. For "Chest," the writers and/or editors have assured that Sparrow is no longer a clever, witty, or interesting outsider; he is simply a selfish, manipulative alcoholic. Moreover, the writers and/or editors lessened or eliminated any sexual ambiguity by bolstering Sparrow's male persona, hinting at gratuitous past histories with women; they even included a preposterous pseudo-romantic link between him and an equally treacherous Elizabeth--who is mysteriously transformed into a pirate and expert duelist. Depp does the best he can with the material, and it is astonishing what he manages to salvage from the wreckage of the "script." The special effects are well-done but overwhelming while going nowhere, and there is a 25-minute racist interlude on an island occupied by cannibals that is so repugnant as to be worthy of a vulgar 1930s comedy. That an actor of Depp's sophistication and political views could have permitted, much less participated in, such sequences after reading them in the script fragments, apparently unaware of their obvious pernicious resonances, is beyond comprehension. Again, referring to the DVD extras, the attitude of the actors, especially Depp, is not one of glowing achievement as with the first film: muted comments appear tinged with mild regret. Depp received $20 million for this film, apparently enough for him to rationalize compromising his artistic ethics. This is a film to borrow from the library as a curiosity, but the Disney pirates have raked in quite enough already and don't need anyone else's hard-earned cash for something that started out with a brilliant offbeat film and ended as a leaden franchise. The anamorphic widescreen DVD transfer is quite good; with a film of this caliber, the plethora of extras is ludicrous.
  
  
  
• NOT BAD NOT GREAT
  By A2FVPTS77ALKLV on 2007-05-29
  Since seeing the new movie this past weekend (total disapointment) i revisted this film in anticipation. Johnny Depp is brilliant. Thats a given. However the rest of the film is not. Now being a middle movie to be continued it is assumed to be a bit frustrating being no real resolution to the film. The movie itself gets a bit dizzy as it goes from one subplot to another to another .... etc. The movie leads right into "Worlds End" Overall could have been better but let me say without divuldging anything its is much better than "Worlds End"
  
  
• "Pirates" Invades DVD This December
  By A3IDMLOWLHWNDJ on 2006-08-25
  Disney has announced single and double-disc editions of "Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man's Chest" which stars Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom. Each will carry a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen presentation, along with English Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks. The single-disc version will include two writer commentaries and a blooper reel. The two-disc collector's edition will include that along with a number of behind the scenes featurettes that detail the characters, stunts, special effects, and Pirates lore. You can also expect trailers, and a preview of the next Pirates film.
  
  
• Yo Ho Ho! The Pirate's Movie for Me!
  By A3ORWAR4CAOPAC on 2006-10-17
  Pirates of the Carribean 2 is funny, creepy, scary, tense, adventurous, slimy, gross and magical. Johnny Depp is once again superb as the mincing pirate captain, and Keira Knightly and Orlando Bloom are worthy back ups to Depp. As the movie starts, Knightly is left waiting for Bloom at the altar, only to find that they both have warrants out for their arrest for aiding in the escape of Captain Jack Sparrow. Their lives will be spared, however, if they can find a key and a hidden chest--- and the adventure is off!
  
  Let me just say it for the record that Johnny Depp is an absolute genius and the other actors n the movie provide excellent back up support for him. It's definitely his movie, but it takes all of the cast to carry it off. Some of the scenes have absolutely got to be the funniest in movie history--particularly the one where Bloom and some of the other pirates are suspended in a giant ball made of bones over a deep ravine. Watch the movie--you'll laugh your head off and bite your fingernails, all in one evening!
  
  
  
• Sunk without a trace
  By A1KZ44PTYUA43Y on 2006-11-10
  What a disappointment! I absolutely loved The Black Pearl but was admittedly nervous about a sequel. As it turned out, I had every reason to be. It whole purpose of this movie seemed to be to return those characters from the original, major or minor, who seemed interesting. That they did but, unfortunately, the producers forget to give them a credible plot and interesting things to say.
  
  Depp seemed to play his role even campier than before while Keira must have, somehow, pissed off the writers so that they refused to give her any real meaty part of this movie. Legolas, I mean, Orlando Bloom also seemed to be sort of drifting along, sometimes good but more often, haphazardly. To my mind, the only real interesting addition was that of Davey Jones. Except for times when it was hard to understand what he was saying (due to the tentacles 'n all), at least his was a unique addition to the movie. I do sort of object, however, to associating him with the Flying Dutchman legend. The two have nothing to do with each other, fantasy or not. And don't get me started on the cannibals!
  
  Any way, I think this movie merits the two y'ars I gave it. While considerably beneath that first movie, it is somewhat watchable and even enjoyable at times, but it is most definitely not as good.
  
  And, as a final thought, the very last scene of the movie? Lose it entirely. It simply was unnecessary.
  
  
  
  
• [3.5]--Dead Man's Chest is a good film.
  By A3C6CZC2JP67VK on 2006-12-19
  Dead Man's Chest is definitely not a bad film, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed a little. It's always tough to create sequels to successful blockbusters and have them live up to originals name. The first "Pirates" film had a rare charm that most other Hollywood pictures would envy. Fantastic characters, a great story, amazing special effects, and an all-around "fun" feel. It's not hard to understand why it became so popular. On paper, nothing really seems wrong with Dead Man's Chest. It has the same elements that made the first film a hit. Yet at the same time, something was missing.
  
  Two of the "main three" characters (Sparrow, Turner, and Swann) seemed to have experienced a personality makeover. Initially, all three characters are likable and you found yourself rooting for them through both good and bad intentions. That's not the case in DMC. A great amount of the storyline felt like filler, as if they were just there to set up the next action scene. This formula works for B-movies and martial arts films, but for a big budget film like this, it feels awkward. The humor is hit-and-miss. It's impossible not to smile Johnny Depp's performance, even at his most outrageous moments. However, it often feels that the writers tried too hard to squeeze in humor at inappropriate places just so they can meet their humor quota. This sort of bad timing is another element that sets it below the "Curse of the Black Peal" in terms of quality.
  
  Davy Jones and "Bootstrap" Bill Turner are two terrific additions to the "Pirates" cast. They both add to a very dark atmosphere that the overall story focuses on. While far-fetched at times, the action/sword-fight scenes are a ton of fun to watch and help make it an all-around solid film. The ending is not 100% satisfying, but that was done intentionally to build up anticipation for the third (and perhaps final) film. I hope that the third film improves on what I didn't like about the story and ties up all the loose ends so it can leave audiences feeling thrilled and satisfied.
  
  
  
• Jack's Sea Shanty
  By A37PV5GMP2ILJC on 2006-12-27
  Jack Sparrow and the Dead Man's Chest
  Yo ho ho and a barrel of rum
  As sequels go this is one of the best
  Yo ho ho and a barrel of rum
  It starts with vows that will have to wait
  As Beckett scotches a wedding date
  And Will entrusts his life to fate
  To get an item for the man
  Who wants Jack's compass if Will can
  Audaciously work out a plan
  Yo ho ho and a barrel of rum
  
  Jack Sparrow's got the dreaded spot
  Yo ho ho and a barrel of rum
  Davy Jones sent him a forget me not
  Yo ho ho and a barrel of rum
  Trapped on an island where he's made chief
  He's sorry he ever crossed that reef
  He needs to flee or come to grief
  No time to count from one to ten
  Or end up the main course for men
  Who intend to cook him in the glen
  Yo ho ho and a barrel of rum
  
  Jack Sparrow and the missing key
  Yo ho ho and a barrel of rum
  The key that will improve his destiny
  Yo ho ho and a barrel of rum
  The voodoo priestess tells a story
  That some may find a little gory
  A heart beating all hunky-dory
  Who owns the heart he rules the sea
  And that is why Jack needs the key
  That will guarantee his liberty
  Yo ho ho and a barrel of rum
  
  Jack Sparrow's off to Isla Cruces
  Yo ho ho and a barrel of rum
  A sense of balance sure has its uses
  Yo ho ho and a barrel of rum
  The Kraken awakens from its rest
  And puts the Black Pearl to the test
  It's like a beast that's been possessed
  You'll need to see Jack's finest hour
  The Kraken opens to devour
  I think it'll find him rather sour
  Yo ho ho and a barrel of rum
  
  Jack Sparrow and installment three
  Yo ho ho and a barrel of rum
  I'm sure that you'll sing this along with me
  Yo ho ho and a barrel of rum
  If they'd only let me have a say
  That movie would be released today
  You wouldn't have to wait 'til May
  To see what happens at World's End
  With frolics that you can't portend
  It's twenty bucks I'll be glad to spend
  Yo ho ho and a barrel of rum
  
  
  (Original Lyrics and Music by Allison and Waller, based on Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson)
  
  
  
  Amanda Richards, December 26, 2006
  
  
  
• Quick! Hide The Rum!
  By A2ATWKOFJXRRR1 on 2006-07-13
  Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is back and he's in bigger trouble in Dead Man's Chest. Along with him, of course, comes Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley), the two would-be married lovers whose wedding is interrupted by the corrupt and unscrupulous Cutler Beckett (Tom Hollander), a true marketeer for the East India Trading Company.
  
  The continuing story. Jack, sashaying his way across the Caribbean, is trying to continue his infamous ability to cheat death. Problem is, though, is that he owes a life-debt to the dreaded Davy Jones (come full-on as a character and not just a small piece of sea karma by Bill Nighy). Davy Jones and his barnacled crew take the souls of those not willing to venture into the Great Unknown and apparently Jack had met Mr. Jones previously and wrangled a deal: he'd captain the Black Pearl for 13 years, and now that 13 years is up. So, in true Captain Sparrow fashion, Jack decides to cheat, steal, manipulate, and do whatever is necessary to save his skin. Even if it means finding the heart of Davy Jones (which is stowed away ...somewhere, waiting to be found). The more trouble is that Beckett wants the heart of Jones so that he can control the seas (he who controls Davy Jones' heart controls something called the Kracken, a mythological beast ...more on that in a minute) and thus be the only trading ships on the ocean. But Will Turner also needs the heart in order to save Elizabeth from the deadly clutches of Beckett who has promised to hang both Will and Elizabeth if he doesn't get it. The race is afoot! And what a race it is!
  
  As far as summertime blockbusters go, you'd have a pretty tough time finding something as entertaining as Dead Man's Chest. The action is incredible, the dialogue fun, and the special effects first-rate. Johnny Depp, as always, inhabits the role of Jack Sparrow. His mannerisms, line delivery and antics are just a sheer joy to watch. Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom are also fun to watch but not nearly as much as Depp (who steals every scene he's in).
  
  There are problems though (Argh!). Length is an obvious issue. At 2 and 1/2 hours, younger kids might find it a bit irritating to sit through something so long. Indeed, little youngsters should avoid the film altogether as it has some rather gruesome if not downright frightening scenes in it (gaining its full PG-13 rating by having images of eyeballs being plucked out of living and caged pirates, etc.) The other problems involve the meshing histories. A tenuous connection between Davy Jones and The Flying Dutchman can be made, of course (the true captain of the Flying Dutchman was NOT anyone named "Davy Jones" but the myth is adequate enough to have him helm the ship). The other issue is Davy Jones' mythological undersea monster, the Kracken. The Kracken is a beast related to Greek and Norwegian mythology, not something as current as Davy Jones (who's myth started, I believe, in the early 1700s). My only other movie experience with the Kracken was in the sad, sad, sad B-movie CLASH OF THE TITANS (maybe not a true B-movie, but it sure felt that way!) I will admit, however, that Dead Man's Chest got the creature's features down more appropriately according to legend.
  
  At any rate, this is a wonderful summer film. Blockbuster? Definitely. Disney has done something amazing in their marketing, too: pulling stories from rides at their theme parks is a sure way to ensure that people come back to Disneyland and Disney World time and time again. Sheer genius.
  
  
• Tis a Shipwreck.
  By A3VY0HXQDWME1I on 2006-08-02
  Spoiler Warning!
  
  One of the biggest signs that our society is going down the tupe in the film industry is the loss of the story/structure, of strong characterization, and compromising these things for special effects and cheap humor. If there was ever a film that describes this absolute chaos that we are falling for, this is it.
  
  There is no reason for mercy, Gore Verbinsky had everything at his disposal, the GCI, the original cast/stars, EVERYTHING!
  
  What is the film? It is a massive over hash. GCI plastered everywhere in massive tasteless amounds, a script that betrays te main characters in the first film (Jack Sparrow turns romantic, the leading lady acts like a sissy, her stuffy suitor turns into a hippie, the evil pirates are suddenly good, Barbossa comes back from the dead!), I can't believe people are actually calling this mess entertainment, I couldn't wait for it to end!
  
  Then there is the story which bends just far enough to make room for a fortune teller with black teeth, who speaks with such a thick accent that you can't even understand her. There is suddenly room for a new set of doubly mutated pirates who's captain is the birthchild of "the phantom of the opera" and an octopus (WHAT?!). Oh, and there was this really cool sea monster that was very fascinating to watch until it was used over, and over, and over, and over, and over!!!!!!
  
  I was aksing "What happened to the professionals?"
  Well folks, the professionals are all here, and they are selling out with everyone else.
  
  This is trash.
  
  
• Yikes. This was a really bad movie.
  By A3C3URQTMUEIQW on 2006-12-02
  I am sorry, but this movie was probably one of the worst I have seen in the theaters in quite some time, and honestly cannot understand the excitement it generates. Sure, the special effects are great, but what little semblance of a plot the movie had was drowned out by endless special effects sequences that seem to have been prepared simply to show the audience, "Hey, look what we can do with computers!" Anyone who demands some type of story to follow will be sorely disappointed. Good for kids, though some of the scenes may be too intense for the really young ones.
  
  
• Still a good pick...
  By A2AUUT62VMEM3H on 2006-12-06
  The movie is loaded with action and fantastic special effects, but it does tend to ramble on and often loses its direction. A little more editing would have pulled this together to bring it up to the first movie's level. I'm still going to buy this DVD, and I look forward to the third installment with excitement.
  
  
• Ham-handed and unnecessary sequel
  By A1YRPIU7ZHW3ON on 2006-12-12
  The first film embodied everything that is fun about going to the movies. I watched it expecting it to be as good as a film based on a banal theme-park ride could be. On the contrary I was blown away. Clearly the film was self-contained and did not necessitate a sequel, but of course they would make one.
  
  Amazingly, the majority of the cast and crew rejoined and that spoke well for the possibilites of the sequel being entertaining. The aim for the filmmakers of this film were not to continue a story with the characters they created, but to make an audience pandering thrill-ride that doesn't allow any pesky plot to get in the way. It was painful to watch them crowbar every single major and minor character from the last film into the new one despite any logic. Apparently afraid the audience would reject the few new characters and ideas, they opted to make the same movie again.
  
  I hated this sequel, and I think it detracts heavilly from the original.
  
  

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