People often decry films based on video games, but now there’s an even more ridiculous medium to draw from; films based on theme park rides. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest gleefully embraces the spirit of its source material, cramming loud, flashy, and expensive spectacles down the audience’s throat for the duration of the thrilling trip.
Johnny Depp returns as the colorful, stumbling Captain Jack Sparrow, who we first see blasting his way out of an ocean-bound coffin. Old comrades Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Kiera Knightley) find themselves in shackles on their wedding day, blackmailed into finding Sparrow and retrieving his magical compass. You’d think the massive British navy could accomplish this, but I suppose questions like that become moot when magical compasses are a major plot point.
Depp once again shines as Sparrow, the anti-hero role that gained him a popular following amongst general audiences that his litany of wonderful films over the past two decades had failed to. The sheer originality of the performance hasn’t worn off, and leaves the audience patiently awaiting more, which is no small achievement. Bloom plays type as the bland supporting hero entrapped by his loyalties, while Knightley scores a laugh or two (watch her attempt to stop a sword fight) while remaining painfully beautiful to look at. Most importantly, they all have as much fun playing the roles as we’re supposed to have watching them.
Director Gore Verbinski darkens the atmosphere, providing many more morbid deaths and treacherous double-crosses than the original. An unrecognizable but excellent Bill Nighy plays Davy Jones, an undead cross between octopus and pirate captain who commands not just a similarly fishy crew, but a colossal sea creature that can smash a ship to firewood with the flick of a tentacle. Here we have the most interesting character, a cruel antagonist with much power but a devastating Achilles Heel (or in this case, Heart). The mere appearance of the villain and his crew are a testament to the joys of CGI, and strip much of the vulgarity out of the film’s reported $200 million budget.
The great action sequences come in a few doses of long length, at times wearing out their welcome, but managing to impress. Verbinski and crew know how to mix it up, keeping the battles in (relatively) uncharted waters. Particularly exciting are a three man duel on a rolling wooden wheel and a tense confrontation with the aforementioned sea creature, both with so much going on it’s hard not to get dizzy.
At 150 minutes the plot drags, but not nearly as much as its predecessor. While the first film spent too much time lost at sea, aimlessly searching for things to do, this one wisely takes advantage of the established history, kicking off the action sequences and witty banter quickly. Some sequences get far too chatty, but we know that a thrilling drop lurks at the end of every steep incline.
Sure, the film goes on a while longer than it has to, may give you a headache, and won’t change your life, but you get what you pay for. For a quiet, introspective experience, try the library, or rent Capote. For an obnoxious blast of summer fun, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest will do as nicely as a trip to Disney Land.
3.5 out of 5
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