Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
release year: 2006
genre: pirate action/adventure
viewing setting: home streaming 5/17/22 and home DVD 4/2/08
synopsis: In a continuation of events from the last movie, a long and complicated sequence of searches, chases, and battles leads to the chest containing fishy pirate captain Davy Jones' heart.
impressions: More of the same: action, humor, and weirdness. The action scenes are varied and spectacular, including a moving swordfight within and atop a giant wooden wheel. This time, there's Davy Jones' ship, The Flying Dutchman, which can function both above water and under it, and whose crew are all cursed not to mention covered in starfish, shells, worms, tentacles, and more (one guy even has a head like that of a hammerhead shark.) At no point is any of this explained - it was a good thing that I happened to know the story of Davy Jones and his underwater problems. The plot is a bit convoluted, but basically everyone's fighting for control of Jones, his ship, and the kraken. Oh, a kraken...always good for some thrills. This one destroys multiple ships and has some good attacking scenes in doing so.
something this movie has that no other movie has: A guy with a starfish fused to one side of his face.
acting: Johnny Depp is Jack Sparrow, one of the most eccentric "heroes" in any movie I've ever seen. Despite being quirky and somewhat larcenous, this character is well-liked by all the other characters, and I just don't get it. Orlando Bloom and Kiera Knightley are the actual real good guys. Bill Nighy is the weird Davy Jones, who sports tentacles and a crab's arm. Jack Davenport returns as the commodore who fell from power after the last movie. Stellan Skarsgard debuts as Will's lost father. Naomie Harris is a voodoo witch woman who helps.
final word: Good rousing pirate-battle movie that's constantly entertaining.
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