Dash_Rendar

The eight-star score is generous. Dead Man's Chest is definitely not a bad film, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed a little. It's always tough to create sequels to successful blockbusters and have them live up to original's name. The first "Pirates" film had a rare charm that most other Hollywood pictures would envy. Fantastic characters, a great story, amazing special effects, and an all-around "fun" feel. It's not hard to understand why it became so popular.

On paper, nothing really seems wrong with Dead Man's Chest. It has the same elements that made the first film a hit. Yet at the same time, something felt missing.

Two of the "main three" characters (Sparrow, Turner, and Swann) seemed to have experienced a personality makeover. Initially, all three characters are likable and you found yourself rooting for them through both good and bad intentions. That's not the case in DMC. Jack Sparrow and Elizabeth Swann both show their dark side and become devious, cowardly, and double-crossing individuals. Their actions are so despicable that even a movie audience will have a hard time justifying them. Will Turner, however, is still the same honorable and loyal gentleman that is the fish-out-of-water among cutthroat pirates. This leaves Turner as the only remaining likable character out of the "main three." On the other hand, there is one character change that I was pleasantly surprised with. Commodore Norrington. In the first film, he was a snobbish stiff that dedicated himself to capturing criminal scum and bringing them to justice (or execution). In DMC, an unfortunate twist of fate causes his character to do a 180* and become the very same scum he once fought to destroy. This spin is very amusing and one of the highlights of the film.

A great amount of the storyline felt like filler, as if they were just there to set up the next action scene. This formula works for B-movies and martial arts films, but for a big budget film like DMC, it feels awkward.

The humor is hit-and-miss. It's impossible not to smile Johnny Depp's performance, even at his most outrageous moments. However, it often feels that the writers tried too hard to squeeze in humor at inappropriate places just so they can meet their humor quota. This sort of bad timing is another element that sets DMC below COTBP in terms of quality.

Davy Jones and "Bootstrap" Bill Turner are two terrific additions to the "Pirates" cast. They both add to a very dark atmosphere that the overall story focuses on. While the dark tone is a welcome change for the series, it also makes the story a bit depressing. You can't help but pity Bill Turner, trapped in a world that he can never escape.

Though far-fetched at times, the action/sword-fight scenes are a ton of fun to watch and help make DMC an all-around solid film.

The ending is not 100% satisfying, but that was done intentionally to build up anticipation for the third (and perhaps final) film. I hope that the third film improves on what I didn't like about the story and ties up all the loose ends so it can leave audiences feeling thrilled and satisfied. If they do, The Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy has the potential to be remembered as classics worthy to sit by the legendary Back to the Future and Indiana Jones series as great timeless adventures for everyone to enjoy.

Yep, that title pretty much sums it up. Just substitute the burglars with pirates and you have your movie. It's probably too cheesy for most adults to sit through, but I'm sure that most kids will enjoy this film. Especially if they like pirates.

The plot involves a boy by the name of Bobby who spends most of his time imagining himself in different adventures instead of concentrating in the real world. He's left alone at his Nebraska house while his mother and grandfather are away. It is then that a real adventure comes knocking on his door. An infamous pirate by the name of Jezebel Jack (Tim Curry) escapes the clutches of his crew-mates who just declared mutiny on him. Somehow, he winds up in the present day outside of Bobby's house and he struggles to fit in with the modern lifestyle. Meanwhile, Jack's shipmates follow his trail into the modern world and Jack forms an alliance with Bobby to defend his home against Jack's former crew. It's as ridiculous as it sounds. As long as you're able to not take it seriously, there is some fun to be found in this film.

With that being said, it's safe to say that Pirates of the Plain is a carry job by Curry. Without him, the film would have collapsed under its own ridiculousness. He brings credibility to something that otherwise would have failed miserably. I'm convinced that he is incapable of a bad performance. Whether it's big budget pictures, cult classics, Broadway shows, or direct-to-video stuff like this, you can always count on Curry to deliver the goods.

As I stated earlier, Pirates of the Plain is not for everyone and will mostly appeal to children. At the very least however, Curry is always fun to watch and should offer enough reason for the casual viewer to give this one a try.

Let's make one thing clear first. This film was not meant to be a direct follow-up to J. M. Barrie's famous novel and some of his rules are discarded so that the story can fit the filmmakers' vision. If you believe that Barrie's work is sacred and should not be tampered with in any way, then avoid this film at all costs. If however, you can accept the changes and are in the mood for an exciting adventure, then "Hook" is more than worth your time.

The film offers an alternative vision of Barrie's novel and a side story of what might have happened if Peter Pan decided to abandon Neverland and live a life in the normal world. The story introduces us to Peter's alternate life (now adopting the name of Peter Banning) with his two children, his wife Moira (Wendy Darling's granddaughter), and his hectic lifestyle as businessman. Though Peter's days in Neverland are long over (so much that he's lost all memory of them), his old nemesis Captain Hook still seeks to obtain his revenge and finish the feud once and for all. When Peter and his family visit Wendy at the Darling household, Hook somehow finds a way to enter Peter's world and kidnaps his two children, holding them hostage in exchange for one final showdown. After Wendy reveals the truth of Peter's past to him, he reluctantly finds himself back in Neverland on a quest to settle his unfinished business and return his kids safely home. And that's when the fun begins.

The all-star cast is outstanding. Dustin Hoffman is nearly unrecognizable as the devious Captain Hook and has an awesome on-screen presence. Even the toughest of critics will admit that Hoffman nailed the role perfectly. The casting of Robin Williams as Peter Pan/Banning was more controversial, but as usual, Williams exceeded expectations and was brilliant with what he had to work with. Bob Hoskins almost steals the show as Hook's right-hand-man, Smee, and provided a good portion of the film's comedic relief. The only major drawback is Julia Roberts who didn't provide anything unique or special to the character of Tinkerbell. That's not to say that it's her fault, but in all honesty, her absence wouldn't have made much of a difference.

I have read reviews that bash this film left and right, saying it's an embarrassment to Spielberg's legacy, should never have been made, and is an example of his limited manipulative style. What a manipulative style means is something that I'll never understand. Isn't that the whole point of movies? To be manipulated into seeing something that you're not? Anyway, some of these film snobs need to do some growing up themselves and give this film the credit that it deserves. Hook is a fun fantasy adventure that illustrates the importance of staying young at heart and I would recommend it to anyone seeking a good time.