I can’t wait until next summer.
Then, finally, I will be able to sit in a darkened theater and watch in contentment as the newest and best film trilogy since Lord of the Rings finally comes to its conclusion.
When the original Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl debuted a couple summers ago, I wasn’t expecting much. The first couple of trailers made me moderately curious, then as newer ones came out, I was slowly filled with a sense of curiosity. Finally, I figured, “what the heck, it’ll probably be dumb, but maybe just goofy enough to be fun.”
Boy, weren’t we all surprised, huh?
The movie went on to become an unexpected smash hit and brought Orlando Bloom more to prominence than even his role in the LOTR trilogy. It introduced the world to Kiera Knightley with a vengeance, and brought Johnny Depp an Oscar nomination. Naturally in Hollywood, when a film makes even $10 profit, a sequel is quickly announced, plans are put into effect, and the second child in the family makes a debut not long after. With very rare exceptions (Empire Strikes Back, Aliens, Terminator 2), such sequels are hastily cobbled together slap-dash, with no respect for character development, plot construction or even dues given to the film that originally spawned it. Then, there are sequels which come out in due time only, after a strong plot has been constructed, a thru-line established, and more concrete is laid upon the foundation. In such sequels, the actors are actually allowed to breathe in their roles, and unexpected surprises abound.
This latter, positive appraisal is the case with Pirates of the Caribbe-an: Dead Man’s Chest. Thank you, Gore Verbinski and Jerry Bruck-heimer.
PotC: DMC(as it’s come to be called on fan sites) is not so much a revelation as it is a revolution. While in some ways not quite as enter-taining as Curse of the Black Pearl(anything encountered in cinema can only be new once, after all), it is always fun(even in moments of thematic despair for the characters) and always pulling new tricks out of its hat. Yes, the running time does seem a bit long(two hours and thirty minutes was a long time to hold off going to the bathroom…but still definitely worth it!) but I honestly couldn’t figure out where they might have actually clipped scenes without the overall storyline being hurt in the long run. And unlike the recently released Superman Returns—which is FAILING at the box office—every last penny spent on special effects is up there on the screen for all to see.
It is very telling that a film like Superman Returns, which cost $300 million to make(advertising factored in) and had more than 400 people working on its special effects, fails to dazzle its audience in any way or make the impression it was supposed to make at the box office(must make back: $600 million to break even. Opening week take for 7 days: $114 million. Read: Not Good.), while the new Pirates cost considerably less and had just over 100 people working on its effects, and leaves audiences in awe. At the screening I attended, there was a young woman who had gone to the midnight showing the night before, and returned the next day with her parents in tow. One can safely assume there have been similar instances. This movie already has repeat busi-ness, while no one I know has any desire to see SR again. Bryan Singer: please take notes.
It is a testament to the talent of director Gore Verbinski that he can take a PG-13 movie and push it to the limits of its rating without being tacky or needlessly gruesome or going overboard, so to speak. His most famous film, The Ring, was also PG-13 and still managed to not only keep people on the edge of their seat, but to slip in a few fitful nights of sleep as well. DMC gives up a similar bounty, and is amazing in the scope of its technical wizardry—delivering makeup effects, marvelous stunt work and action sequences in many ways rivaling the aforemen-tioned LOTR trilogy.
The cast—Depp, Knightley, Bloom, et al—seem to be having a ball in their roles. It feels as if everybody chose to film an impromptu party-as-movie, and we’re allowed to watch. Virtually everyone from the original cast is back: Jack Davenport as Norrington, now a man without a country. Jonathan Pryce as Governor Weatherby Swann, his beautiful daughter as always his only concern, though it might very well cost him his standing in the British Empire. Even Kevin McNally as Gibbs, David Bailie as Cotton and Lee Arenberg as Pintel. The addition of Bill Nighy as Davy Jones is a wonder to behold. Like any sequel of substance, the job here is to deliver a villain or threat more menacing than faced by our heroes in the previous outing. Here, the film builds brilliantly on that idea, taking the mythology of Davy Jones—often referred to by common folk but never fully understood—and weaving it into a credible tale of (literally) heartbreaking intrigue. Davy Jones is more of a menace than any undead pirate could ever hope to be, and it will be a treat to see how our heroes manage to best him in the final installment.
ALERT: the ending of the film is a complete, 100% surprise! DO NOT go to any website—imdb.com or other—to check out the cast listings, if you want the thrill of being taken off your guard. One thing to look for-ward to in the next film(the surprise I just mentioned is the other) is that Keith Richards has finally been signed to play Captain Jack Sparrow’s dad in the final installment. This is one of those rare instances of univer-sal confluence, when all the planets line up just right to bestow their gifts. It’s a well-known fact that executive producer Bruckheimer, Verbinski and Depp himself have been after Richards for ages to play Sparrow’s dad, as the lead pirate himself was based in part on Richards’ mannerisms. To finally see this come to pass next year will certainly be a treat.
Now, for some niggling details: yes, Will Turner(Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann(Knightley) are engaged in this film, their wedding day disrupted by the unexpected arrest of her betrothed. Yes, Captain Jack Sparrow(Depp) is still sailing the seven seas aboard the Black Pearl, which he fought so hard to win back. But aside from that, don’t look for too much character development…Verbinski’s goal was clear from the get-go: deliver fun, excitement and enough double-dealing and backdoor entanglements to keep the audience and characters guessing as to everyone’s true motive for anything they do. On this point, DMC succeeds magnificently—but aside from solid performances all the way around(even from the cannibals which threaten to eat Jack and crew), there’s not much more we get to know about anyone except Will, and that’s only because his father is introduced into the story. Yes, we finally get to meet Bootstrap Bill(Stellan Skarsgard), referenced in the first Pirates movie, now cursed to serve Davy Jones for 100 years. However, for once I won’t quibble too much about the lack of character develop-ment: I have a feeling that due to the fact Will sees Elizabeth share a passionate kiss with Jack on the deck of the Black Pearl, the character development is going to be ignited like a bonfire in the final film.
In some ways, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest asks you to forgive a lot. But it gives so much more in return for your patience. Of course, the sight of Will fighting both Norrington and Sparrow atop a runaway windmill wheel is patently absurd—but then again, it’s FUN! And sometimes, that’s all a summer movie is supposed to be. DMC doesn’t hold itself to lofty goals or ask you to turn on the thinking part of your brain; it offers characters you actually care about and places them in situations where you are concerned for their safety and hope they have the wherewithal to make it through. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest asks nothing more than to sit back in a darkened theater, enjoy the air conditioning, listen with your heart, and enjoy.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to the theater and listen up one more time…
Official Archives of LanceReviews...
Yo-ho-ho--!
(How a bunch of Pirates actually saved the summer!)
Addendum: Yes, I know...Pirates 3 sucked. Hey, it's still better than Pulse!.
One of the better sequels in recent memory.
Johnny Depp returns as Captain Jack Sparrow...one of the most original creations in modern cinema.
First Lord of the Rings, then Pirates. Orlando Bloom continues to hit high marks in his choice of roles.
The first Pirates gave us the delightful Kiera Knight-ley. She returns with a vengeance in the followup.
Although the central villains were mortal in this movie, they were still a formidable menace.
Dead Man's Chest brings back all the players--even Kevin McNally as Gibbs.
Avast! There be even more fun t'be had in Pirates 2!
