Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest ***1/2

I'll admit, back in 2003, when "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" came out, I have very low expectations for it. In the end, it was one of the most entertaining action movies ever made, and I even blessed it with a perfect four star rating. And now we have the sequel, the "Empire Strikes Back" of the trilogy. Come to think of it, the poster even kind of looks like it. "Dead Man's Chest" doesn't match the perfection of "The Curse of the Black Pearl," but it's still alot of fun, and 100 percent entertainment. I didn't have the urge to check my watch once. You'd have to be nuts to not have a good time here.

All the central characters from the first are back, with Johnny Depp in his first role reprisal of his career, playing the character that earned him an Oscar nomination, Captain Jack Sparrow. When we last left him, he got his ship back, The Black Pearl, while the British government was after him for all of the crimes that he commited as a pirate. Meanwhile, the two lovebirds Will Turner and Elizibeth Swan ended up together after the perils and dangers of the seas. What we didn't see was that Sparrow was indeed arrested, but Turner and Swan both helped him get out of prison. They also got engaged. Now, on the day of their wedding, they are both arrested for the aid that they had in getting Jack out of jail and back on the seas. The Lord, however, does give Will one chance to be cleared of all his charges. All he needs to do is find Jack Sparrow, and get his compass from him. They don't have to have a sword fight, all he has to do is bargain with him. Turns out that Jack needs the compass for something that he is planning-involving finding a key and a chest that belongs to Davy Jones, the captain of The Flying Dutchman. Jack is in debt to Davy Jones, who made a deal with Sparrow that he would be the captain of the Black Pearl for thirteen years, and then he would have to gives Jones his soul. Jack was kicked off the ship after two years of being captain, but time caught up with him. Jones is a half-squid half man, and him and his undead crew is one of the most impressive visual groups I've ever seen on film. And now, Will is off to find Jack, and eventually Elizibeth finds a way out to go look for Will, and she finds Jack, eventually all meeting up for the breathtaking climatic battle on the waters. Bring me that horizon!

The only real problems in the entire film is the beginning. It takes a while for anything to start happen, but when it does, it doesn't let go. I'm a bit easier on films like this, rating wise. "Pirates of the Caribbean" was made for people to have a good time at the movies, and not to be anything groundbreaking or poetic. It's just fun, and you can't go wrong. Depp is perfect as Jack Sparrow, bringing the same charm from the first to this one. The visuals are stunning, and the action sequences and swordfights are alot of fun. I enjoyed how it wasn't a retrend of the first. They only used one or two of the same jokes, and even those made you smile, as you remembered what made they funny in the first place. Seeing the first is a requirement, as many of the characters and situations won't make much sense. And then there's the final twist at the end, which sets up the third installment which comes out next May, and the final twist had me pumped and excited for it. I won't say anything more, but you'll never ever guess it. For fun, excitement, and everything in between, go see "Pirates." You won't regret it at all.