FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Spin on Entertainment
............

 

Movie Review .....
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

  • In theaters July 7 2006
  • Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of adventure violence, including frightening images
  • RunTime: 150 min
  • Trailer
  • Matt's rating - 5 out of 5

Matt's Review

Remember you can subscribe to The Mungles on Movies weekly audio and video podcast and have it downloaded straight to your computer each week. More info at the bottom of the page!

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 moviegoers by adventurous force. 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.