Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
I knew that I would see this movie eventually (no matte how much I knew that I shouldn't), so I stopped by for a matinee the other day, and got about what I expected. Just to review, the first film was great (funny, witty, not overly serious), the second film sucked (I don't think I can say anything good about it), and the third film fell in the middle (but more towards the second).
All the same cast returns in this one (for better or worse), along with a slew of new people who aren't really developed since we already have too many characters involved. The acting is rather uninspiring apart from Johnny Depp who, unlike Tobey Maguire in Spiderman 3, gives another great performance and tries to singlehandedly save this doomed movie. He doesn't, however.
The problems are deep and numerous. First off, as the series progressesd, the films started to take themselves way too seriously. The beauty of the first one was that it was almost an Aciton/Comedy, not the Action/Drama that we're force fed here. It still has its funny moments, but almost all of them are due to Depp. The story itself is just terrible too. There is so much trickery and backstabbing and sideswitching that I just lost interest in any part of the story that might have been remotely interesting. Other parts of the plot seemed to just come and then disappear without much explanation (See: Calipso and/or Raising the Dead).
That isn't to say that it was all bad. The action was quite good, and the effects were very well done, however when both were put together it was completely over-done and turned into yet another rock-em sock-em CGI fest. What ever happened to good old fashion action? Or to a good old R-rated action film? (Yes I have seen the trailers for the new Rambo, and yes maybe that will save that oft ignored sub-genre). Some may like it (many will/do I'm sure), but I'm sick of all the CGI. I can handle wires, but let's at least see some stunts in a movie!
In the end this wasn't as bad as it could have been. It had its moments, and it was better than the second (while still 168 mins, at least this one had an ending). If you enjoyed the second film (God help your soul), you'll most likely enjoy this one as well. In fact, even if you didn't like number two, there's still a chance that you'll like number three. But I still can't reccomend it, it'd be too much of a burden on my conscience.
RATING: Worth Waiting Until Rental (If you feel the need to finish off the trilogy)