Piratas del Caribe: El cofre de la muerte

Some blockbuster movies pretend to be more than they actually are. They sometimes even try to be philosophical. 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest', thank goodness, does no such thing. From start to finish, it practically flaunts the fact that it is pure and utter entertainment, comic yet breathtaking. The slapstick comedy involving the various sequences on the cannibal island and the water mill are amusing, the scenes at sea with the Flying Dutchman and the Kraken draw gasps, and, as ever, the antics of Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow brings endless pleasure. Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann does her share too, but Orlando Bloom as William Turner is still somewhat...wooden, perhaps because of the insipid character that he plays. His (almost idiotic) chivalry and goodness simply does not click with the mischievous magnetism that Jack Sparrow and Elizabeth Swann delivers. He still does amuse from time to time, however. The supporting cast is truly stellar; Bill Nighy as Captain Davy Jones, Stellan Skarsgard as Bill 'Boostrap' Turner and Naomie Harris as Tia Dalma are simply brilliant. Bill Nighy delivers his lines with aplomb, smacking his lips as if he relishes each syllable. Stellan Skarsgard is completely believable as the wretched Bootstrap Bill, a man who has fallen to the depths as far as he can go, and yet can still find the strength to endure it all in the love he has for his son, William. Naomie Harris is just as charismatic as the former two, but her charisma is not menacing or stoic but mysterious and even alluring. When she grins her black-toothed grin, one cannot help but grin along with her. In the end, 'Dead Man's Chest' is a roller-coaster-ride of a movie that thoroughly exploits every minute of its two-and-a-half-hour running time, ending with a final cliffhanger that leaves people feeling excited yet frustrated. (Remember when you watched 'Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring' and realized that you would have to wait another year for 'The Two Towers'? Like that.) NB. If you have the patience, stay till the end of credits. It's mildly amusing.

I just came out of the movie 30 minutes ago (as it was released a day before America over here).

The movie is visually stunning - the CGI is top rate and you won't spend the whole film groaning about how fake things appear on the screen.

Acting was brilliant. Johnny Depp once again proves why he's the only man alive who can play the role of Cap. Jack Sparrow. There's a great number of returning characters from the first film - including a couple I was very happy to see again.

My only fault was perhaps that this film lack a certain 'heart' that the first film had, which I believe came because the first film was something very different, which of course this film couldn't contend with.

That aside, you will hardly notice it. There's a good plot, wonderful sets, great acting and plenty of laughs. One of the best films I've seen all year thus far - can't wait for the 3rd one!

I struggle to comprehend why this film is so much less loved than the original. I find myself enjoying it even more than "Curse of the Black Pearl" at moments.

I've said this before, but the first three "Pirates of the Caribbean" films are insanely fun and exciting adventure films, but they are also surprisingly subversive and thought-provoking. You can enjoy them equally with your brain turned off, or your brain dialed up to 11.

This film takes everything that is wonderful about the first film, while further deepening and exploring the themes. I feel that Lord Beckett, as a villain, is genuinely such a sly commentary on the human urge to control and dominate nature and the world as a whole. He's smug, powerful, and a wonderfully hateable villain. His presence in this movie, I feel, furthers the ideas presented by the "Pirates" movies: that authority is not always right, and that being a good and noble person sometimes exists outside of the mainstream.

Yet this movie further complicates these themes by giving each of the characters (including the once-idealistic Will and Elizabeth) complicated motives and conflicting agendas. It really makes me think about how the world, and society, breaks down individuals to commit such acts of "piracy" when at the core they're just trying to protect the ones they love.

You can say I'm reading too much into it-I say otherwise. As I said, the beauty of the original "Pirates" trilogy is that you can enjoy it both mindlessly and mindfully.

Beyond the thematic exploration, I think "Dead Man's Chest" is still just as fun and ridiculous as its predecessor-if not moreso. Everything from the action sequences on the islands to the fight at the ruined windmill is just so much fun, so badass. Aesthetically as well, I think this movie is so pleasing. Davy Jones and his crew are such creepy, skin-crawling characters, and surprisingly, their special effects still hold up to this day. Moreover, this film is perhaps one of Disney's darkest films ever (which, granted, isn't saying much); I find myself surprised each time I rewatch it at just how violent it is; I kind of doubt Disney would have the guts to be so brutally violent with their films in recent years.

Overall, I find myself enjoying this movie just as much as the original, I probably have seen it more times as well. It's just so damn fun, hilarious, emotional, and thoughtful. Another near-perfect film in the series.

After seeing all three of the "Pirates Of The Caribbean" films, I still think this second one was easily the best of the three. Most friends disagree with me on this, but.....hey, we all look at films differently.

This was the best "Pirates" to me because it had some fascinating new characters; it did not have the sappy or annoying characters and romance of the first film; it had just the right mix of action and lulls and it had some super special-effects and humor. Much of that good stuff, unfortunately, was overdone in the third film.which also dragged on too long. This movie isn't short, but none of the action scenes go on too long and so the entire two-and-a-half hours is entertaining.

Also (and this goes for all three of the movie) it looks absolutely super on Blu-Ray. It's the reason POTC is often shown in electronic stores promoting high-definition televisions because this film is about as good-looking as it gets. It's incredibly sharp.

The newest main character is the multi-tentacled "Davy Jones," and he's a real hoot. Who knows how many hours each day poor Bill Nighy had to sit in the makeup room before "Davy" was ready for action. (Actually, the same good be said for Johnny Depp's "Capt. Jack Farrow, who wears almost has much makeup as the late Tammy Fae Bakker.) Anyway, between the battles of both land and sea, something interesting always is going on or being said in this movie, making it a fun ride all the way.

This film is a little too long, and doesn't quite have the charm of the predecessor. But it is solid entertainment, with a good plot, and consistently good acting, as well as the whole production looking stunning. Johnny Depp is as lovable as always as Jack, and Kiera Knightly is as lovely as ever. Orlando Bloom, while less charismatic than he was in the first movie, is still charming. Jonathan Pryce and Jack Davenport also delight, as does Stellan Skargaard as Bootstrap Bill. But an unrecognisable Bill Nighy almost steals the show as the rather creepy Davy Jones. The special effects and the stunts were very impressive especially with the very scary krakon, so was the outstanding music score and although the script lacks the sparkle of the predecessor, this is a resoundingly entertaining film nonetheless. Oh, and be prepared for a surprise at the end. 8/10 Bethany Cox.