piratesofthecaribbean2

THE SYNOPSIS

The wily Capt. Jack Sparrow (Depp) and the motley crew of The Black Pearl are back for more adventures on the high seas when his friend Will Turner (Bloom) is led away in shackles before he can marry his betrothed, Elizabeth Swann (Knightley).

It turns out that there are new men in power in the Caribbean--led by the new head of the East India Trading Company, Lord Cutler Beckett (Hollander), whose intrepid goal is to eliminate all of the buccaneers and pirates in the area. After arresting Will and Elizabeth’s father, Governor Weatherby Swann (Pryce), Beckett hatches a plan to become the 1700’s equivalent of Microsoft in the trading and privateering industries.

To do so, he must retrieve the legendary “Dead Man’s Chest”--a trunk said to be holding the living heart of the dreaded Davy Jones (Nighy)--the Ruler of the Ocean Depths...not the lead singer of The Monkees.

Ironically, Jack owes his soul to Davy Jones, who chases after the pirate in his spectral ship, The Flying Dutchman. To ward of the villainous sea deity, Jack suckers Will into taking his place as Jones’s prisoner. Elizabeth joins the hunt to rescue Will, while her former flame, disavowed Commodore James Norrington (Davenport) searches for Jack Sparrow and the chest in an effort to regain his authority and reputation.

It is on The Flying Dutchman that Will meets up with his undead father, Bootstrap Bill (Skarsgård), who is under the heel of Davy Jones himself. The father helps free the son and steal the chest.

Naturally much mayhem and swashbuckling follows, as everyone is out to get the chest with the heart inside. Sparrow gets it and plans to trade it for his soul; while Will chases after it to save them all; and don’t forget that Norrington is after all of them while Elizabeth just wants her man back!

In the end, Jack is seemingly swallowed by the Kraken--Jones’s pet monster...or is he? Having lost The Black Pearl to the Kraken, Will, Elizabeth and the others retreat to the sanctuary of witch woman Tia Dalma (Harris)--who may have the key to saving Jack and finishing this epic.

Their only hope may be in the return of the dreaded Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) himself...

THE CRITIQUE

Aaaaaaarghhhhhhh, mee mateys!!!

A rarity in the land of moviemaking: a sequel just as worthy as the original! POTC: DMC carries on the thrills, spills and chills that its predecessor, Pirates Of The Caribbean: Curse Of The Black Pearl, so very excitingly delivered back in 2003 (and very profitably, as well--to the worldwide tune of $655 million).

Since there’s so much to say about this movie, I shall break down my comments into categories:

Acting

One thing I really like about this sequel is that all of the main characters are back--as well as the thespians who portray them. Hell, even peripheral characters and those who perished in the original return!

Once again, Johnny Depp steals the show as the randy, cunning Capt. Jack Sparrow. Orlando and Keira are also on cool detail while one of my favorite character actors, Stellan Skarsgård, makes his sepulchral appearance as the undead Bootstrap Bill Turner.

Sharing in the acting kudos is terrific English actor Bill Nighty as the calamari-faced Davy Jones. The character should be the mascot for the Red Lobster seafood chain--just a thought...

Direction

POTC: COTBP helmer Gore Verbinski returns to the high seas in fine form here. Continuing the shenanigans and adventures of wonderful characters gives this dude something to work with and is a fine rebound from 2005’s The Weather Man (he also directed 2002’s The Ring & 2001’s The Mexican).

Screenplay

Also returning to the crow’s nest (as it were) are the original’s screenwriting team of Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio (these cats are a hitmaking machine, churning out scripts for such hits as Shrek, The Mask Of Zorro and Aladdin).

If that pedigree wasn’t enough, their smooth writing keeps the movie glued to a well-worn-yet-solid formula of pirate movie ethos mixed in with some timely political garble. And all this based on a Disney theme ride!

Cinematography

Once again, my hats go off to veteran Polish cinematographer Dariusz Wolski (Pirates Of The Caribbean: Curse Of The Black Pearl/Dark City/The Fan) for his handsome and visceral widescreen-lensing.

Gorgeous photography, elegant framing and composition (of course, with the director’s input) and seamless integration with SFX will surely invoke an Oscar© nom for Wolski.

Production Design/Location

Further props are in order for the excellent production design, spearheaded by terrific PD Rick Heinrichs (Lemony Snicket’s A Series Of Unfortunate Events/HULK/Sleepy Hollow). Not only was he and his team responsible for designing dozens of sets, ships and props--but everything was basically put to some real use out in the Caribbean locations. Give this guy an Oscar© nom on behalf as well!

For the record, the movie was shot in on location in the Caribbean islands of The Bahamas, Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as in California. Top drawer, every bit of it!

Editing/Music

POTC: DMC exhibits some crisp cutting thanks to returning POTC editors Stephen Rivkin (Stealth/Ali/Swordfish) and Craig Wood (The Weather Man/The Ring/The Mexican).

The musical score is courtesy of Teutonic composer Hans Zimmer (Oscar©-winner for The Lion King/also composed Batman Begins/Gladiator/Black Rain)--and it’s a rousing, shanty-filled symphony.

Costumes

Returning for duty in the costume design department are POTC: COTBP’s Liz Dann & Penny Rose. As with the first, the costumes are exquisite and totally add to the show’s mise-en-scene. I smell another Oscar© nom!

VFX/SFX

Gotta mention this category, as it is flawless! Firms like ILM, The Asylum, Tippett Studios and other s are all involved. Easily another Oscar© nom in the making--and if there is...who gets it?

If there is anything negative to say about this sequel, is that it runs a bit long. But like a plethora of favorite relatives who come by for an afternoon BBQ, it all looks, smells and tastes good!

THE BOTTOM LINE

What’s not to like? The cast’s back; the filmmakers are back; the lensing is superior; Keira’s hot. I cannot complain! Here’s hoping that Part 3 will bring about a rousing conclusion. Face it, this flick kicks ass! Now where did I put that eyepatch, bottle of rum and peg-leg?

CAST: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Jack Davenport, Bill Nighy, Jonathan Pryce, Lee Arenberg, MacKenzie Crook, Tom Hollander, Stellan Skarsgard, Naomie Harris

CREDITS: Director: Gore Verbinski; Screenwriters: Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio, based on characters created by: Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Stuart Beattie & Jay Wolpert; Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer; Director of Photography: Dariusz Wolski; Production Designer: Rick Heinrichs; Editors: Craig Wood & Stephen Rivkin; Costume Designer: Penny Rose; Music: Hans Zimmer

AC/V 2006 151m ENGLISH