Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End – Review

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Image courtesy of impawards.com

Director:

Gore Verbinski

Cast:

Johnny Depp……….Jack Sparrow
Geoffrey Rush……….Barbossa
Orlando Bloom……….Will Turner
Keira Knightley……….Elizabeth Swann
Jack Davenport……….Norrington
Bill Nighy……….Davy Jones
Jonathan Pryce……….Governor Weatherby Swann
Lee Arenberg……….Pintel
Mackenzie Crook……….Ragetti
Kevin R. McNally……….Gibbs
David Bailie……….Cotton
Stellan SkarsgÃ¥rd……….’Bootstrap’ Bill Turner
Tom Hollander……….Lord Cutler Beckett
Naomie Harris……….Tia Dalma
Chow Yun-Fat……….Captain Sao Feng
Keith Richards……….Captain Teague

It is hard to believe that four short years ago moviegoers were laughing at previews for Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. The film looked like another mindless action extravaganza from producer Jerry Bruckheimer (one based on an amusement park ride, no less). But a surprising thing happened that summer, The Curse of the Black Pearl made boatloads of booty, and Johnny Depp created one of the most iconic characters of this generation. Audiences clamored for more adventures involving Captain Jack Sparrow and his crew on the high seas.

Each eventual sequel has been, by definition, grander than the last. The problem with the more is better idea, however, is that when the original film is as epic, bloated, and dense as The Curse of the Black Pearl it is difficult to up the ante. By the third film, viewers end up with a near-three-hour, incredibly complicated (albeit extremely fun) mess of a film. It seems unfair to critique Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End for its failures in areas that neither of the other two films have had success in either. A comprehensive plot, understandable character motives, and a strong sense of time and place have never come across as important to the filmmakers of the Pirates franchise.

It is better that the audience focus on what At World’s End does well and recognize that when the film clicks it is better than almost any summer blockbuster. The action set pieces are huge, and the editing of them is top notch; the characters are memorable, funny, and sympathetic; and, in truth, the story is at least recognizable and not a complete chore to follow. In addition, there are great new characters and some logical enhancements of older ones, specifically the hysterical onset of madness in Sparrow. His trip to the other side of the world provides some of the best comedy and most thought-provoking concepts.

Those ideas more than anything else are what make At World’s End feel fresh, and will likely give the Pirates franchise new life for many sequels to come. It helps that the series is one of the few currently out there that is being made up as it goes, is not based on a past medium (unless an amusement park ride counts), and has no obvious conclusion. People craving the old Star Wars vibe can feel safe looking for it here. Comparisons are easy to draw, but hard to give credence to. Audiences will certainly have trouble giving up Star Wars as the premiere trilogy, but I honestly believe the Pirates movies come closer than anything has to capturing that sense of wonder and unpredictability. Perhaps the universe At World’s End creates is not as vast, but it is just as much fun.

It is a blast watching the tenuous team of Captain Barbosa (Geoffrey Rush), Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) hopelessly attempt to bargain with Captain Sao-Feng as if they were asking Jabba the Hutt to free Han Solo from carbonite. While the alliance between the two captains is full of distrust (they are pirates after all) it is enough for both to get what they desire; Barbosa wants to bring Sparrow and the Pearl back from the other side of the world, and Sao-Feng will do anything to keep the East India Trading Company, led by Lord Beckett (Tom Hollander), out of his business.

With both goals seemingly met, other issues come to the forefront. Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) believes Sparrow still owes him a debt, Will Turner still wants to save his father Bootstrap Bill (Stellan Skarsgård), and Elizabeth Swan wants to fix her relationship with Will. On top of all that Lord Beckett is still hoping to exterminate all pirates with the help of Jones whom he is exploiting. All ships set sail for Shipwreck Cove where the nine pirate lords have gathered to combine their Pieces of Eight in an effort to make piece with Calypso, the goddess of the sea, by freeing her.

The stage is set for one final breathtaking showdown, and it is a remarkable accomplishment in filmmaking and storytelling. All plot lines are somehow ironed out during an enormous swashbuckling battle that will make viewers forget any ill-will they might have had toward the film or series. At World’s End goes everywhere it promised and then some in what may be the first instance of Pirates honoring their word.

FINAL RATING (ON A SCALE OF 1-5 BUCKETS):