Pirates of the
Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Grab the Dramamine and prepare for oceanic thrills,
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest is all the
action, comedy and adventure you'd expect from this all-star
cast. As the movie begins, you're immediately engaged
in the seafaring saga of Captain Jack Sparrow, played
by Johnny Depp. Not instantly introduced, his character
is unraveled through others and you begin to learn about
the man and the legend. Whether you saw the first Pirates
of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl or not,
this movie stands well on it's own. Were you not a fan
of the Black Pearl and you enjoy non-stop action and rum-induced
sword fighting, you'll find what you're looking for in
Dead Man's Chest. This movie is a rare improvement from
its predecessor.
Grab the Dramamine and prepare for oceanic thrills,
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest is all the
action, comedy and adventure you'd expect from this all-star
cast. As the movie begins, you're immediately engaged
in the seafaring saga of Captain Jack Sparrow, played
by Johnny Depp. Not instantly introduced, his character
is unraveled through others and you begin to learn about
the man and the legend. Whether you saw the first Pirates
of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl or not,
this movie stands well on it's own. Were you not a fan
of the Black Pearl and you enjoy non-stop action and run-induced
sword fighting, you'll find what you're looking for in
Dead Man's Chest. This movie is a rare improvement from
its predecessor.
The plot trails two betrothed lovers. To free his adored
and jailed fiancée Elizabeth, played by the stunning
Keira Knightly, courageous Will Turner, played by Orlando
Bloom, sets off to find the notorious Captain Jack and
obtain his compass. Yet Captain Jack has another plan
in mind. The two, and eventually three, set sail to acquire
the key, which they later learn unlocks the power of the
seas. This journey through hungry island cannibals, runaway
mills, slippery ocean vultures, bar fights and swampland
fireflies, leaves you at the edge of your seat, jumping
at unexpected twists and turns.
On the surface, the movie is another ornately costumed
tale of drunken pirates, complete with a talking parrot
and menacing monkey. Yet another layer buoys up as you
begin to see Davy Jones, played by Bill Nighy, and his
ghoulish crew of grotesque and brutal underwater mutants
as more than merely Jack's enemy, but a metaphor for the
ocean itself. Each man on board his magical sea-bound
ship is mutated, growing shells, algae and appendages.
When his attempt to destroy Will fails, his crew member
states he's been taken by the sea, to which Jones replies
that's impossible: 'I am the sea.' Could their threats
represent the destructive capabilities of the ocean itself?
Captain Jack undoubtedly steals the show through with
his ever-so-contradicting persona - the hero/the frightened,
the leader/the lost, the loved/the despised. Women love
him, or so he thinks. His crew trusts him, to an extent.
Ungrateful and admittedly selfish, his wit and cleaver
coyness seem to draw even the most doubtful to his side.
But he owes Davy Jones his soul. Does he learn to go down
with his ship in the end, or survive another feat to ensure
the next sequel?
Director Gore Verbinski responsible also for The Ring
and The Mexican, as well as the Dariusz Wolski's photography
direction, Penny Rose's costume design and Hans Zimmer's
music scores create the most captivating, inspiring portrayal
of pirate life possible. The ocean waves surrounding you
and spectacular set design make you forget your in a dry
movie theater. Movie goers enter a new realm of existence,
if only for 150 minutes. If you're looking for a true
break from reality, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's
Chest, rated PG 13, is the summer movie to see. |
