SBE at the Movies - Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

Matthew May 24th, 2007

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

Directed by Gore Verbenski
Written by: Ted Elliott + Terry Rossio

Unlike the first two "˜Pirates', At World's End does not center around eccentric Captain Jack Sparrow. And when he is onscreen, he's less funny than in the previous films. Instead, an ensemble cast of characters takes center stage, including Will Turner (played by Orlando Bloom) and even more so Elizabeth Swann (played by Keira Knightly). There's an apt and funny line from the movie describing Knightly's character: "˜There's more to you than meets the eye, but the eye doesn't going wanting.'

This type of movie isn't an acting showcase by any stretch, but Geoffrey Rush, yet again, is absolutely fantastic as Captain Barbossa. And yes, the rumors are true, Keith Richards does make a cameo as Jack Sparrow's father. It's not great, but if anybody should be a part of an organization called SAG (Screen Actor's Guild), it should be Keith Richards.

Captain Jack is actually MIA until thirty minutes or more into the film. If you recall, he died at the end of the second film. And hope this doesn't ruin things for you, but he's not dead dead. We learn he has been transported to Davey Jones' Locker, a trippy, desolate netherworld.

After being reunited with his crew, Jack and company are caught in the doldrums, a place where the wind disappears leaving the ship without any forward momentum. Ironically, this extended sequence is when the film loses momentum as well, leaving the audience in the doldrums for what feels like forever.

Apparently, since blockbuster tentpole films are so expensive, the producers bought their storylines in bulk. The film has so many twists and double-crosses, it's tough keep track of who wants what and from whom. This was a problem with the second "˜Pirates' too, but the action in that film was so relentlessly non-stop, you at least had something entertaining to watch.

Without giving anything away, the film does wrap up a number of loose ends, but frays new ones. And the film does end with a setup for a fourth installment.

For parents, I should note that there are a number of gross-out type shots in the film, something absent in the first two. The shots are not gratuitous, and yet it might be too much for younger viewers. The opening sequence, when dozens upon dozens of prisoners are hanged, is pretty grim in tone.

And for moviegoers with sensitivity to deep vein thrombosis, the clots that form when one sits too long, the movie runs 2 hours and 48 minutes, so consider yourself warned.

Overall, the film is visually stunning with cool CG effects aplenty, but sadly, without a satisfying story, it rings hollow. In other words, the eye doesn't go wanting, but there's not any more than meets the eye.

Near the end of the film, after an intense battle, Orlando Bloom's character asks "˜is that it?'

Sadly, yeah, that's it.

* * * (out of five)

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action/adventure violence and some frightening images.

Running time: 168 min
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End opens nationwide on Friday, May 25th.

Matthew Porter writes, directs, and produces through his company, 95 Theses Entertainment, and currently serves as Head Comedy Writer for Steve Brown, Etc. He wrote and co-directed Blackwater Elegy, starring Tony-winner John Cullum (ER, Northern Exposure) and Emmy-nominee Barry Corbin (One Tree Hill, Northern Exposure). His most recent film, a documentary called HOPE+ : Surviving The Sentence of HIV / AIDS, was shot on location in Russia, South Africa, Jamaica, and Chicago (www.hopepositive.com).

Keep up with Matthew at www.myspace.com/matthewporter.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, May 24th, 2007 at 9:50 am and is filed under Geoffrey Rush, Gore Verbenski, Johnny Depp, Keira Knightly, Movies, Orlando Bloom, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.