yo-ho-hum: soggy pirates sequel overstays
Bob RossPirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End
The third “Pirates of the Caribbean” adventure is a lot like the second one. It’s long, it’s loud and it’s loaded with incomprehensible subplots.
It’s called “At World’s End” but it might just as well be titled “At Wit’s End.” This overstuffed epic wastes a megabudget’s worth of energy and imagination on its colorful but ludicrous lineup of seafaring comic episodes. For a mind-numbing two hours and 48 minutes, director Gore Verbinski fills the screen with computer-generated storms, crazily choreographed conflicts and madly made-up monsters.
Yes, there is a main plot of sorts, but it’s practically useless to follow that tale about reviving Captain Jack Sparrow — Johnny Depp doing his now-familiar careless-rogue shtick — and reclaiming his beloved boat, the Black Pearl. There’s just too much else going on. Will Turner (Orlando Bloon) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) are still star-crossed lovers, separated by evil forces as they battle the same snaky-faced ghost-villain (Bill Nighy as the legendary Davy Jones) they encountered in the second “Pirates” flick.
Yes, we despised the second chapter too, and yes, it was a huge box-office smash. Audiences relished the extensive special-effects sequences, the inflated battles and wacky humanoids. This film, like its predecessor shot at the same time, offers visual diversions that overwhelm one’s wish for varied pacing and rational plotting. That’s why “Pirates 3″ will score big bucks worldwide despite its innate incoherence and contemptuously ragged pacing. When a ship is stuck in doldrums for what seems like forever, it’s an apt metaphor for the film itself. While the screen is crammed with exotic images, bombastic effects and a surprising amount of bloody mayhem, there’s no driving force — no unifying narrative — to keep us interested in anything more than its abundantly bloated digital effects.
Yes, Keith Richards does appear. Depp’s alleged role model for the Jack Sparrow character shows up nearly two hours into the movie, hangs around for a minute or two and then reappears even more briefly near the long-overdue ending. More visible is Asian star Chow Yun-Fat (”Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”) as a wicked pirate with his own agenda.
But the movie’s major emphasis is its spectacle. If you think silly swashbuckling never wears thin, this one’s your summer delight. If you expect coherent plot points and fresh twists, you’ll drown in disappointment.
“Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” is rated PG-13 for violence.
We rate it a soggy C-.
For more movie fun, trailers, and video reviews, go to BobRossMovies.com
Loading ...
May 24th, 2007 at 1:10 am
OH my GOD, it’s all that some people around me talk about (short ones) … GREAT REVIEW !!