Tuesday, July 25, 2006

"PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST"

Johnny Depp, Keira Knighley, Orlando Bloom, Bill Nighy, Jack Davenport, Stellan Skarsgard, Jonathan Pryce, Kevin McNally


Cinema 1, Shang Cineplex

Capt. Jack Sparrow

Well lookie here, he's back! Aye, Captain Jack Sparrow!

I love this sequel more than the original. More laughing out loud moments, great special effects, the plot is well developed. The musical score is beguiling with picturesque cinematography, shots of the deep blue sea, a dreary swamp as well as lusciously verdant islands. There are new fascinatingly engaging albeit yucky characters (Davey Jones crew and those hungry cannibals) complete with grim infested dirty clothes and cavity laden bad teeth. Captain Jack Sparrow takes us on a new treasure hunt across the seas. Encountering shipwreck after shipwreck with good thrilling action filled moments, it was a blast.

Ultimately, Johnny Depp is magnificent as ever as the merry little pirate with heavy kohl eye makeup. He totally cracks me up with his cynical one liners, his silly antics and his swagger walk.

Certain characters from the original film are also back. Lovebirds, Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann. Captain Jack's Black Pearl crew. Ragetti and Pintel, those two characters who in the original film kept invoking 'parlay'. A pompously conniving English, Lord Cutler Beckett. A smaller role for Governor Swann, Elizabeth's father. Even Norrrington is revived. Elizabeth's former fiance who is now portrayed by the dashing Jack Davenport.

One thing hasn't changed though, Orlando Bloom still doesn't know how to act. He is so bland, he projects no charisma and his weak voice is almost like a whimper. I certainly don't understand the adulation he receives from fans. Everytime he was in the frame, I would nudge my sister and roll my eyes as if to say 'pffft he is so blah'.

The entire film is such a visual treat, a typical Hollywood blockbuster which one naturally doesn't take seriously except to be entertained for 150 minutes. Everything you would expect from a pirate movie.

This review has been nothing more than an excuse to bombard it with links to various articles about Johnny Depp, who I totally adore.
So I conclude by saying I can't wait for the last installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and for the return of Captain Jack Sparrow.

Buggeroo! Ships Ahoy!

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