Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (12A)
Posted by James on Thu, 16 Aug 2007.
Starring: Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Jack Davenport, Bill Nighy, Jonathan Pryce
The older ones amongst us were probably awaiting the long anticipated role of Keith Richards as Jack Sparrow’s father, and to be honest he didn’t disappoint. What was disappointing was the rather short time he was on screen, a two minute cameo role. As you leave the cinema you can see why critics are divided over this film (but then, when are they not?).
The film does start off rather slowly, with the opening sequence a bit of a Disney shocker showing hundreds of men, women and a child being sent to the gallows (a couple of parents in the audience visibly winced as their stunned offspring sat with jaws open in shock). The first hour plods along, without Captain Jack I might add, with Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) still trying to find a bit of charisma, Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightly) trying to convince the Pirate Lord of Singapore, Chow Yun Fat, that he really does want to help save Sparrow and a couple of diversions such as the unfortunate loss of a pirates big toe…..
If you can make it through that, and the over the top CGI’d rendition of Davy Jones’ locker (with multiple Depps littering the screen), then the film does pick it’s game up somewhat with an epic sea battle and some nicely choreographed buckling of swashes (and it was needed). Plus Captain Jack seems to regain his humorous sea legs again.
Geoffrey Rush does a sterling job yet again, with more “yaarrrrrs” then you can shake a parrot at, along with Jonny Depp (when has he ever put in a bad performance?) and Keith Richards providing a great diversion and some genuine moments of pirate brilliance…..but it’s not quite enough to hide some of the more obvious failings of the film.
If you loved the first two movies, then it’s a bit of a “no-brainer”, then yes you must see this film. If you liked the first film, semi liked the second, then you may find this hard going. If that wasn’t enough, the scene is set and left wide open for a fourth film.
