If you are content with snazzy special effects, lots of swashbuckling action sequences and lots and lots of Johnny Depp one liners, then undoubtedly you will enjoy the third installment of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise, “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.” However, if you are like me, and you appreciated the heart and mythology of the original “Pirates” as well as the zany humor of the sequel, you are going to be deeply disappointed in this latest chapter.
“At World’s End” is a convoluted, ridiculously long (does any movie about pirates need to be almost three hours in length?) drama that is hard to follow and ultimately the nonsensical action wastes the opportunity to tell a great story about choices, destiny, and sacrificial love.
Trying to explain the plot of “At World’s End” is a little like trying to explain all three seasons of “Lost” to someone who has never seen the TV show before. As the story opens, Will and Elizabeth are still attempting to find a crew and a ship so they can helm a rescue mission to find Jack Sparrow. However, there is a massacre of pirates being conducted by an evil Lord Beckett as well as other trials and tribulations for the pirate duo to overcome. Add to that, the ongoing story of saving Will’s father, capturing evil Davey Jones’ heart, and a “Lord of the Rings” style twist with the pirates Nine Brethren of the Court–a group that is to band together to save their piracy world–and it’s no wonder my head was spinning only 90 minutes into the film.
The best part of the movie were the moments when we saw Will finally becoming the leader he was destined to be by making sacrifices for love and family, but that is only a small part of a bloated shipwreck of a story. I am also not a big fan of turning Davy Jones into less of a villain and more of a pirate who was just misunderstood. Why can’t any of these blockbuster action movies allow their villains to be evil without making excuses for them?
If you stick around long enough to watch the twist after the closing credits, you will also realize there is a possibility for another “Pirate’s” movie, though nothing has been annnounced. I, however, am of the opinion, that there is no more gold or treasure to be found in this cast of characters, and I hope Depp and the others choose to drydock this franchise.
posted May 28, 2007 at 9:54 am
You couldn’t be MORE wrong. But you have to be a swashbuckling pirate fan to understand all the nuances of this movie AND the entire trilogy. It is clear that this is not a genre (pirate movies) that you are particularly interested in. It was just a movie, to you, and it disappointed you, I suspect, because you EXPECTED it to do so.
posted May 28, 2007 at 9:03 pm
It’s NOT the first movie – where the characters were introduced and established their ‘role’ in the trio of friends. Each ‘episode’ should be judged on it’s own merit. It wasn’t like the first, but it is NOT total dog either. I saw it yesterday, and I enjoyed it. The friend I went with was a bit disappointed but still enjoyed it.Some fans may be missing that Jack isn’t in the film from the beginning. The ‘singing the song’ could have been explained a bit better – as well as Becket’s role in the East Indian Trade Co.’s war on Piracy.Anyone who knows a bit about history knows ‘pirates’ were hired to keep shipment’s safe on voyages by sinking other ‘pirates’ ships. Then the company severs ties and the pirates prey upon their former employer. The ‘rescue’ of Jack wasn’t actually a rescue – they each had their own reasons to retrieve the Black Pearl and Jack. Some of the scenes with the pirate council were very confusing – I could not understand what was being said with the noise of the fighting and yelling. Keith Richards as Teague was a bonus. Nice touch! It’s NOT the ‘Empire Strikes Back’ but it isn’t the Return of the Sith either. I was SO disappointed in the last Star Wars – but that is another blog. Lighten up – it’s a movie. If ya wanna get upset about something – do it about something that matters, like the current Administration.
posted May 28, 2007 at 9:49 pm
You absolutely must be on something. I loved the movie and it was more action packed then the first 2! They should make a part 4, and if you don’t like it, don’t see it!>
posted May 28, 2007 at 10:30 pm
I agree with Anonymous. The movie is great. It would be great if they did another. I would see it. My kids would also like to see another one. As for “Lost”. If you are a true fan, describing the basic plot wouldn’t be hard at all. You would have to actually watch the movie and enjoy it to be able to explain it. I have had several friends who have started watching it after the third season started, because I talked so much about it.
posted May 29, 2007 at 5:14 am
You say that this movie is a flop and I say that’s your opinion, of which everyone is entitled to. But, I also have to say that you are wrong. Anyone who is a fan of the first two “Pirates” movies is going to love this one, too. I did, and I would go see it again! Personally, I hope they do make a fourth movie. And, that’s my opinion.
posted May 29, 2007 at 6:56 am
Are you nuts? I think that we saw two different movies. This was a raw, warmly complex, blend of a greater love, pirate lore, and world mythology. I thoroughly enjoyed it, as did my entire family. If you want to get upset, look at the anatomy of the current administration in disected layers. 1-20-08 cannot come soon enough for me. There is a little Pirate in all of us, why can’t you just admit that you would have been the one hanging them at the beginning of the film?
posted May 29, 2007 at 4:11 pm
How can you not love this movie? It just came out and I’ve seen it twice. I absolutely love this movie and I hope they make the fourth one. They just left everyone hanging at the end and I want to find out what happens. It was the perfect mixture of action and everything else. I’m sorry that you feel that way about this movie, but if you honestly didn’t like it and you don’t want a fourth one to come out… just don’t go see it. It’s as simple as that. I agree that it was a little confusing, but you just have to pay a little more attention.
posted May 29, 2007 at 7:31 pm
As an English teacher, I must say that your blog is very well-written, except for one sentence. The first sentence of the fourth paragraph has an incorrect verb tense. “Were” can only be used with a plural subject, or in the subjunctive mood. You could fix this by changing your subject, “part,” to the plural “parts,” or by changing the verb to “was.” Other than that, it is a very well-written blog.
posted May 29, 2007 at 8:08 pm
I personally enjoyed the movie… I found it entertaining and funny and a great way to have spent my sunday afternoon. If there is a movie that sunk it was spiderman 3… very predictable not at all entertaining. Couldn’t wait for it to end… I personnally would love to see a fourth one to the pirates trilogy… even it only starred Johnny Depp and no one else.And of course the Monkey.
posted May 30, 2007 at 6:52 am
the nite we saw it couldn’t be more beautiful at the drivein with our three kids who absoultly loved it and the first two an older college kid and my 11 yr. old both like dressing up as pirates he came dressed in the whole suit w/ musket and sword hat and du rag and and boots w/ attuide we got live entertainment as well. love the part of them also getting married on the run if that not like how we have to do things now,elizabeth will have to only hold on to his heart in a chest until she gets fed up to go back in sequal #4 to retrive his body to go with his heart and feel his touch again and have a family and live happily ever after.
posted June 1, 2007 at 4:42 pm
And I most certainly agree with you, I was greatly disappointed, the movie lost the heart of the characters in the 300 million dollar special effects.
posted June 12, 2007 at 9:59 pm
I enjoyed this movie. I was slightly disappointed initially when I saw it, but the more I think about it the more I wish I could go back and see it, because I think it would be better the second time around. Someone had ruined the ending for me so I was irritated through the whole movie, but it ended much better than I thought it would. I did like the history from different parts of the world combined. If anything, it made me go home and start looking up information about the concepts and characters in the mobie.