Pirates of the Caribbean: At World?s End

Starring: Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom, Bill Nighy, Chow Yun Fat, Jonathan Pryce, Keith Richards

Directed by: Gore Verbinski

The Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy should remind us of what movies are all about, and what their aim should be: to entertain. Much criticism has been directed thus far at the supposedly convoluted storylines and excessive number of characters, but to my mind the films are meant to be fanciful and a little bit crazy, much like their hero, Captain Jack Sparrow. As it is with the good captain, there are qualities which make the films both unique and appealing. They hark back to the older cinematic ideals of high entertainment and occasional farce, but they are very rarely dull. This, the third installment, rounds off the series nicely, and whilst long, at nearly 3 hours, is an enjoyable cinematic ride.

Every review I?ve read thus far in the mainstream media has made much criticism of the complicated narrative structure, and that the reviewer had trouble following the film. For what its worth, I had no trouble keeping up with the storyline whatsoever, the film may well keep you on your toes, but is not really all that hard to follow if you?ve seen the first two installments. The key to movies like this is to lose yourself in them, become immersed in the high seas hi-jinx and the world that these colourful characters inhabit. To quibble over details of plot and character development is to epitomize the negative and nitpicking nature of cinema spectatorship in the modern era. There is no need for this here, these films are harmless and fun, things often found to be lacking in today?s world. One need look no further than at their massive success than to realize they appeal to today?s broader societal psyche.
The film picks up where Dead Man?s Chest left off, with Jack Sparrow (Depp) having been taken by the Kraken to Davy Jones? (Nighy) Locker. Elizabeth Swann, Captain Barbossa and Will Turner, (Knightley, Rush and Bloom respectively), are on a rescue mission for Jack, as they each need something of him. The trio?s travels take them to Singapore, and the pirate lair of Captain Sao Feng (Fat), all this amidst the growing influence of the Dutch East India Company, which is gradually bringing the era of piracy to an end. That?s the basic setup, and the point to which the film has progressed when we join it. To further explore the plot from here is superfluous and would only serve to ruin any twists or turns along the way. Verbinski is by now well entrenched in this mystical universe he has created for these films, and At World?s End retains the visual impressiveness of its predecessors. The locations are gorgeously idyllic and typically Caribbean, further enhancing the experience and adding to the sense that you are part of the world these characters inhabit.

Whilst discussing the characters, one of the reasons for these films? immense success must be attributed to the fact that they have managed to assemble one of the finest blockbuster casts of the modern era for the trilogy. Thanks to these films Depp has secured his status as one of the biggest stars in the world, while the reputations of young stars Bloom and Knightley have been greatly enhanced, care of their participation. The addition of esteemed older generation actors such as Rush, Nighy and Pryce has added some more formal credibility to the acting ranks, with all three expressing their delight at having the opportunity to do something completely different.

Rush makes a welcome return to the Pirates fray in the third installment, and is at his devious swashbuckling best as the traitorous Captain Barbossa. Bloom?s Will Turner is a somewhat aggravating character in these films, sometimes a touch too moralistic and perfect, which you sense isn?t quite the idea behind his character. Jack Davenport?s straight-laced military man Norrington seems to be more made out for that role. The performances from all actors are across the board very strong, though one thing that must be mentioned is the over-hyped appearance of Keith Richards. All I?ll say is when Disney said ?cameo?, they meant cameo, blink and you will miss him. Keira Knightley gets a larger role in this installment, and largely carries if it off quite well. Final mention must go to Depp?s Jack Sparrow, one of the most delightful characters of the film decade, and one of the signature roles of his colourful career. Captain Jack is what makes these films, and his iconic cinematic stats will no doubt stand the test of time. Jerry Bruckheimer refused to sign on until he knew Depp would be playing the part, and you can certainly see why.

And so we arrive at the pointy end of the review, what does At World?s End receive out of 10. One concession I will make is that the first film was the strongest in the series, and a very fine film that would have nicely stood on its own without sequels. There is certainly no need for any further expansion to the series, the loose ends are tied up here, and everyone can walk away satisfied. That said, it is a testament to this film?s appeal that it manages to leave its audience by and large content with the end result. A massively entertaining film, it can appeal to all ages, and is good old fashioned movie making at its best.
 

out of ten

Reviewed by Nick Bailey