Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
In the second installment of this blockbuster franchise Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) returns for another spirited journey, involving cannibals, the most feared creature of the sea, and that damn monkey that still wont die. Sparrow is swiftly reminded of a debt he owes to the legendary Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) and as a result sets out to find Jones mysterious chest as a means of bargaining his freedom, that is believed to contain his heart. Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swan (Keira Knightley) find themselves sentenced to death due to the part they played in Sparrow's release. They are left with no option but to join the irresistible adventures with Sparrow and his crew in an attempt to secure their freedom. As familiar characters return and new ones emerge, everyone seems to possess a desire for the legendary chest of Davy Jones.
The second movie of a trilogy/franchise is often bigger and better than the first such as; The Dark Knight, Spider-Man 2 or The Empire Strikes Back. Dead Man's Chest may not be better than the first (equally as good) but it is certainly bigger. The creative team behind the movies have successfully created another supernatural crew of pirates with Davey Jones and his crew aboard the Flying Dutchman. The characters are a mixture of human and sea life, portraying their role as the 'rulers' of the sea. The creativity and execution behind the characters in particular Davy Jones displays the potential special effects can have when achieved successfully. The kraken is shrouded in mystery and suspense for the most part with the viewer only provided with evidence of his devastating strength and snippets of his true form, letting our imagination do the rest.
Bill Nighy as the unrecognisable Davy Jones is a great inclusion to the story, his ruthlessness as a captain and determination to enlist Sparrow proves to be a genuine threat to the fearless Sparrow. One thing that may be lost in the film is the characters, as Swan and Turner in particular don't really have to do much. The love triangle between Sparrow, Swan and Turner adds some interest but it was never truly believable. Ultimately the characters are not built upon from the first installment but act as pawns that are constantly swept up amongst the action.
Character development is made difficult due to the inclusion of so many new characters, most notably: Davy Jones, Bootstrap Bill (Stellan Skarsgard) as Will's father, the merciless Lord Beckett (Tom Hollander) and the quirky sorceress Tia Dalma (Naomie Harris). Don't get me wrong the characters are still a joy to watch with all the regulars returning and Depp seamlessly stepping into the boots of Sparrow. Every character seems to have an individual motive as loyalties are tested and treacherous acts are committed. The film overflows with ridiculous situations that are genuinely entertaining to watch supported by a witty script, compelling score and picturesque locations.
The highlight for me came on the the cannibal island where Sparrow was adopted as a 'god' destined to be sacrificed and eaten. The sequence of events that unfold on the island are brilliantly clever and simply hilarious. What compliments the scenes on the island is the backdrop of untouched jungles and pearl white beaches from filming locations such as the Bahamas and Dominica. Some may find the film too long with scenes perceived as unimportant to the plot yet. I welcomed the length as the film maintained my interest throughout and I urge you to stick with the film as every scene has its purpose.
Dead Man's Chest is the quintessential blockbuster providing an original idea whilst maintaining the familiar excitement and intrigue that was present in the first. The film ends with a truly spectacular cliffhanger which is I believe is one of the best endings to a movie, challenging the scriptwriters for the third pirates film. The movie doesn't try to be anything else than good quality entertainment and it achieves this with ease.
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