Album Reviews
Movies
Concert Reviews
Movie Resources
Concert Reviews
Book Reviews

Top 10
Resources
Contact Us

“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” well, think theme park here, as in really big theme park with additions of a giant squid, Davy Jones slime-encrusted ghost-boat, a ride with hanging globes and a gigantic hamster’s exercise ball with humans inside. Even Indiana Jones would have been in awe of these items and Johnny Depp plus sword-wielding friends take advantage of everything.

Yes, Depp is back as the backstabbing Captain Jack Sparrow and this time, he owes a debt to the dead Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) who wants to collect. Jack has three days to get 100 souls or he will lose his own. In the meantime, everyone is searching for a mysterious chest that contains something valuable even the dead Davy Jones wants. Keira Knightley is the woman who thinks ahead of the guys, while Orlando Bloom knows his way around a sword fight.

I think you would have to see the first “Pirates of the Caribbean” to get all the connections to this film, the second in a trilogy. Kiera and Orlando were supposed to have gotten married in the first film, but now are on the run from an English officer who wants treasure and thinks they can help him. Sparrow is, from moment to moment, either helping people in his own way, or betraying them for his own purpose. Actually, no one is up to any good in these films, and a jolly bunch of pirates they all are, indeed, Matey.

“Dead Man’s Chest” opens with a slam-bang episode, as did the first film. From there, we find how Sparrow owes a debt to Davy Jones and if you don’t pay Davy, it is off to the devil with you forever and ever. Kiera and Orlando are separated and trying to find each other, and in the mix are Jones’s pirates, Sparrow’s crew, cannibals, an angry squid of gigantic proportions, a parrot who is part of Sparrow’s crew, a monkey who no one likes, and a mysterious woman in a swamp who befriends Sparrow and friends. Ah, the good old days.

There is plenty of action here and escapes that are akin to the ones in “King Kong.” In one, Orlando and a disgraced British officer are having a sword fight in a giant hamster-type wooden wheel (actually an old mill wheel) that is careening down a steep hillside. In another, Sparrow is trying to escape from a group of cannibals who think he would make a good entree. The make-up here is what is fascinating. Davey Jones and his crew are encrusted with moving sea life as befits someone who “died” at sea. One is shaped like a hammerhead shark while Jones is an octopus. It is difficult to carry on a conversation when everything about that person is crawling about. This is a take-off on the skeleton crew from the first film. 

Humor is presented by members of the skeleton crew from the first film, which are now mortal and trying to get into heaven by reading the Bible. Trouble is, they can’t read, but think even looking at the Good Book is trying to be good. Slime is everywhere and there is even a food fight of sorts to please people who enjoy that.

The film is long by 20 minutes. Several underwater scenes could have been omitted. It is difficult to separate characters when all is gray, encrusted with sea life and slimy. Kiera Knightley does a good sword fight and outthinks the guys at just about every move. Orlando keeps getting bonked on the head, but comes back fighting. Jack still has a wicked reputation that precedes him and being an animal near him is a dangerous occupation. Followers of television’s “Lost” will feel right at home in this locale of beaches, surf, boat wrecks and anything buried.

All in all, “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” is a good second film in a trilogy much the same as “The Two Towers” was for the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. It is a bridge and you begin to wait for the third film to tie loose ends together. For children wanting to see this film, the PG 13 rating is for violence, though some of it is off-screen, but certainly implied. The squid and Davy Jones would make anyone squirm, so best for kids over age ten. Hans Zimmer’s music score is as good as the first film.

Copyright 2006 Marie Asner
Submitted 6/29/06

One of the  most anticipated sequels since Star Wars and Lord of the Rings hits theaters this weekend and you will remember this as the summer of Captain Jack Sparrow.  Almost three years ago to the day Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl took movie goers by storm. It’s success due mainly to the performance of Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow. A performance that the executives at Disney were sweating. Depp was turning their character into something they had never envisioned. A staggering, slurring, rockstar of a pirate. Yet it worked. It worked so well that Depp picked up a best actor oscar nomination. Depp is back in the sequel, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.

In this follow up all the elements that made the first one a smash-hit are back, on screen and off. At the onset we find a nervous Captain Sparrow at the helm of the Black Pearl. Seems he is being hunted by a squid headed Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) who shows up to claim what is rightfully his.  Namely Sparrows soul. At the same time, blacksmith turned pirate advocate, Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and his lovely intended, Elizabeth Swan (Keira Knightley) have been arrested for aiding Sparrow in act 1.  In order to buy their freedom they must work a deal with the government. This sends them on another misadventure with the ever misguided Sparrow. It’s a fun twisty ride full of laughs and thrills.

This one does not miss a beat as it falls right into line of the first release. Hats off to the return of the writing team of Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio along with director Gore Verbuinski as they bring the same wit, banter and rhythms as before and keep the movie moving. You will quickly find yourself right back into the story and taken over by the characters. Even the new names and faces are welcomed and join the Pirate family seamlessly. Davy Jones is a well made villain and a just adversary of Sparrow and the crew of the Pearl. Fans of the first Pirates movie will be overjoyed and should not feel disappointed at all in any elements. I was worried because sequels can go ether way. I was having Jurassic Park flashbacks and the debacle that sequel was. Not here. This was just as brilliant and enjoyable as the first.

But to be fair I must say that I am a fan of this style and writing and I loved the first movie. I truly dig Sparrow’s character. I think it was a brilliant transformation by Depp.  If you are not a fan of that or find this sort of wit thin then this movie and it’s 150 minute run time might be long and tedious. Basically, if you loved the first one you will love this one as much if not more. If the first one was simply ok in your mind then this will be no better but fortunately no worse.

Pirates is Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of adventure violence, including frightening images. Younger watchers may find the sea pirates scarier than the skeleton dead of the first one. I can’t help rating this as a perfect summer blockbuster and a must see for all fans of action adventure. With a look at Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. I’m Matt Mungle.
 

The Mungle 7/10/06

Matt is a member of the North Texas Film Critics Association (NTFCA) and hosts the weekly syndicated Indie Rock Radio Show Spin 180. Plus with his wife Cindy they do a weekly radio feature, The Mungles on Movies. For additional reviews and interview clips visit the website www.mungleshow.com