POTC At Worlds End Best of Trilogy
Third Film Sails True for Fans of Pirates of the Caribbean Series
The last of the trilogy, "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" has its faults but turns out to be one of this summer's can't miss films.
When last we left the story, Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and his beloved Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) had teamed up with old foe Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) to rescue Captain Jack (Johnny Depp) from Davy Jones’ Locker. Meanwhile the heart of Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) was captured by Norrington (Jack Davenport) and turned over to Lord Cutler Beckett (Tom Hollander).
As the story picks up in “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End,” we find Beckett using his control of the heart to force the tentacled Jones and his ship, the Flying Dutchman, into eradicating all other pirates on the open seas.
Sailing under Beckett’s radar, Barbossa, Turner and Swann land in Singapore in hopes of convincing Captain Sao Feng (Chow Yun-Fat) to call a meeting of the pirate lords of the world to fight this menace. Pirates being pirates, however, Feng at first resists, finding nothing in it for him. Being invaded by Beckett’s forces soon changes his mind.
Or does it? Part of what makes this movie so much fun is figuring out all the betrayals and back stabbings. Some are real and some are merely a mental slight-of-hand.
Realizing they need Capt. Jack’s participation as one of the pirate lords, Feng lends Barbossa one of his ships and a crew. Soon he, Turner and Swann are literally sailing off the end of the Earth into what seems certain death. It is there that they find the netherworld that houses Davy Jones’ Locker. Jack, going mad and hallucinating, isn’t quite sure the rescue isn’t another trick of his mind, but decides to go along with it.
Once rescued, the meeting of the pirate lords is called but Beckett and the Flying Dutchman are there soon after to wage war. From there, the movie becomes one long non-stop sea battle, punctuated by liberal doses of humor.
Clocking in at around two hours and forty-five minutes, the film is at its best when it does slide into action-adventure mode. From cannon battles to sword fights in the watery swirl of an angry goddess-induced maelstrom, the storyline sails true with even balances of drama and comedy.
But there are several scenes that could have been trimmed or even cut without sacrificing much more than the overall length of the movie. And it’s only when the movie tries to gain its land legs with unnecessary exposition and overly long transition scenes that the film feels like it’s a bit off course. There are also times when huge leaps of faith are required for events that feel like they have no reason to them.
Overall, though, “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” is a truly fun summer movie. It’s a lighthearted fantasy romp full of amazing visual imagery and quick-witted humor. Depp, Bloom and Knightley are the perfect trinity of actors for this story and with this being the third film, they have their characters so down pat they actually seem to be having way more fun than they should in this movie. As Barbossa, Rush also provides a good foil for the eccentric mannerism’s of Depp’s Jack. And the appearance of Keith Richards as Jack's dad is a great spot of casting...just don't ask about the mum.
No, it doesn’t always make sense, and yes, it is sometimes slow. But if you enjoyed the first two films, you won’t want to miss a moment of “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.”
Three words of warning though:
- This third, and final, part of the trilogy is more violent and has more gross scenes than the prior two, which may not make it suitable for viewing by younger children. There is also a scene near the end between Turner and Swann that may also be inappropriate for younger eyes (it’s a little more intimate than just a kiss, but no nudity), but will have most adult women wanting to trade places with Knightley.
- Even though the movie is already almost three hours in length, hold off on slamming that soda halfway through because there is a hidden scene after the last of the ending credits has rolled by onscreen.
- Nobody should have to look at Johnny Depp’s nose that large on film without somebody giving him a Biore pore strip prior. Seriously, the man had blackheads as big as my whole head on the movie screen.
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PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD’S END
Directed by Gore Verbinski
Starring: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Geoffrey Rush, Jack Davenport, Bill Nighy, Chow Yun-Fat, Tom Hollander
Rated: PG-13
Website: disney.go.com/disneypictures/pirates/atworldsend/
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