A Grand, Epic Conclusion: The Sequel of "Pirate" Sequels
The Popcorn Reel Movie Review: "Pirates Of The
Caribbean: At World's End"
By Omar P.L. Moore/May 23, 2007
New and familiar: Chow Yun-Fat as Pirate Captain
Seo Feng with Johnny Depp, once again as Pirate Captain Jack Sparrow, in "At
World's End", which is now playing around the world, and starting in the U.S.
tomorrow night before opening across the country on Friday, May 25. (All
photos: Disney)
Director Gore Verbinski "closes" out the
"Pirates" series with this grand two-hour, 47-minute spectacle of action, visual
splendor and scintillating production design. "At World's End", which
opens today in Belgium and France among other nations, and in the U.S. on
Thursday night in special night screenings, may or may not be the end of the
"Pirates" movie franchise, but the film is a supreme upgrade over the harried
and messy middle film "Dead Man's Chest". Although "At World's End"
requires a careful following of the multiple story threads -- all the more
reason to experience it twice -- it is fresh, engrossing and above all
entertaining, approximating if not superseding the original 2003 film which
spawned all this Piratemania in the first place.
Keira Knightley and Naomie Harris are given larger platforms to shine in "At
World's End", and Harris is especially good here as Tia Dalma, a soothsayer who
plays a key role. Miss Knightley takes on greater leadership
responsibilities as Elizabeth Swann.
The shorthand way to describe the film's story is to say that Will (Orlando
Bloom), Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush, his revitalized presence and brilliance
here is the best thing about this film) and Swann have to rescue pirate Captain
Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), one of the Nine Lords of the Brethren Court.
Sparrow is imprisoned in the locker of Davy Jones (the great Bill Nighy in an
emotionally layered performance.) The Nine Lords are indispensable in the
trio's quest to defeat the vicious British East India Conpany led by Lord Cutler
Beckett (Tom Hollander) who controls Jones, his chest, his ship The Flying
Dutchman, and a massive armada. The trio will need the help of Captain Sao
Feng (Chow Yun-Fat) who has a special map of rings that will lead all in the
right direction. Or will it? Along the way there is betrayal, and
agendas dictate alliances. Who to trust? Who to believe?
Mysteries unravel, secrets are revealed, desires are unearthed. There are
love stories, surprises, cameo appearances, heartbreaks, glory and tragedy.
And what would a summer movie be without these things?
Naomie Harris as Tia Dalma, Orlando Bloom as Will Turner
and Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann in "At World's End", the third film in
the "Pirates Of The Caribbean" series.
Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio's script is sharper, more alive, with the stories
and histories of some of the characters being given the substantial screen time
that was missing in "Dead Man's Chest." The new film's extended length
isn't a problem, because the amazing cinematography by Dariusz Wolski is
priceless, and the computer-generated visuals are a delight, not a nuisance.
Hans Zimmer's music score is rousing, punctuating the vigorous swashbuckling
action, especially during a phenomenal, rain-swept sequence during the film's
third act. Yes, there are some hokey lines of dialogue during this time,
but the choreography, precision and acrobatics of the big sword fight
participants is more than amazing.
In opposition to the refrain, "there's nothing to see here," there are plenty of
costumes designed by Penny Rose, remarkable make-up, scintillating locations
(the film was shot mainly in the Bahamas, along with trips to American locations
like Utah, California and upstate New York's Niagara Falls -- to absorb.
"At World's End" makes the most of its largest sequences, and squeezes
everything out of its smaller, equally significant moments. There is more
character interaction, more foreshadowing, more exposition, which all serve to
benefit this significant summer extravaganza.
Conversely, while some may claim that too many pirates spoil the broth in "At
World's End", Mr. Verbinski's splendorous spectacle cooks up a feast of fun.
It is a welcome sight to see new faces in new places, to get a different gloss
on this film series, and even more so given the film's running time of nearly
three hours. An injection of life and variance was needed, and Mr.
Verbinski and the film's screenwriters Mr. Elliott and Mr. Rossio wisely
recognized this. Accordingly, Johnny Depp is introduced in a fitting way.
His Jack Sparrow character has taken on cult status since the first movie, and
one of the weaker aspects of "At World's End" is its duplication of Sparrow in
at least two sequences. This device is as much a celebration of the iconic
status among "Pirates" fans as it is an illustration of the dementia and
hallucinogenic effects of being imprisoned in Davy Jones' locker.
Regrettably the multiple Jacks afford opportunities to waste valuable screen
time with his irreverent hi-jinks (a shorter movie may have been more valuable
without the comic relief) which sometimes exhaust themselves in "At
World's End" but at other times are just perfect.
Clockwise, from top photo: Geoffrey Rush as
Barbossa, Miss Knightley and Mr. Depp; Mr. Chow; Mr. Rush, outstanding as
Barbossa; and Bill Nighy as Davy Jones, underneath the remarkable make-up by Ve
Neill.
In other words, with Captain Jack, less is so much more -- and for a while Mr.
Depp is offscreen, while Mr. Bloom, Miss Knightley, Miss Harris and especially
Mr. Rush are better adept at carrying the proceedings than the Oscar-nominated
Depp, who nonetheless remains a stellar actor on his own terms. One can
only wonder how Robert Downey, Jr. would have faired playing Captain Jack
Sparrow, but it is fair to say that he would have done as well as, if not better
-- at least in "At World's End" -- than Depp has done. (By the way, fans
of a certain rock group should be able to recognize the famous rock and roller
who plays Captain Teague, the father of Sparrow. One other note: sit
through the end credits of the film -- do not leave -- because if you do you
will miss something.)
The supporting cast to the five or six main players do very well, Kevin R.
McNally as Gibbs, Lee Arenberg as Pintel and Mackenzie Crook as Ragetti are all
essential staples to the dramas and other goings-on during the film. They
and other familiar faces anchor this triumphant finale, a satisfying conclusion
to this exciting if uneven series.
"Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End"
is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action/adventure violence and some
frightening images. There are some moments of mild sensuality in this near
three-hour film, and unlike "Spider-Man 3", this film is filled with life,
laughter and some good backstories.
Related story:
Tales Of The Seven Seas
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