The third installment of the popular action franchise begins where the previous film left off.  We encounter Elizabeth Swan (Keira Knightley), Barbarosa (Geoffrey Rush) and Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) ostensibly joining forces with Chinese pirate Sao Feng (Chow Yun-fat) in an effort to rescue Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) from the netherworld of Davy Jones’ Locker. 

Unfortunately, we’re not quite sure where Turner’s true loyalties lie, since he seems to keep switching allegiances.  Does he really want to save Sparrow, or does he just want to get command of the pirate ship Black Pearl, so that he can rescue his father (Stellan Skarsgard) from the clutches of Davy Jones (Bill Nighy).

Once Sparrow has been rescued, all of the world’s pirates join forces at Shipwreck City and shortly thereafter find themselves under the command of their new “king,” Elizabeth Swan.  She decides that they will do battle with the nefarious British nobleman Cutler Beckett (Tom Hollander), who has blackmailed Jones and his ghostly crew into joining him in fighting the pirates.

The final, extended battle sequence is quite furious, and not without some unexpected consequences.

CRITIQUE

I would strongly suggest that, before you view this film, you reacquaint yourself with the first two movies in this trilogy.  Otherwise, rather than simply watching the action unfold for the first forty-five minutes or so, you’re going to be trying to recall who these characters are, the nature of their relationships and why they are doing what they are doing.  Indeed, a Prologue that served as a refresher course would have been welcome.

Once you are up to speed on the who/what/where of this third chapter, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End is a fairly entertaining, albeit overlong, movie.  Had it been a half-hour shorter, nothing really significant would have been lost and it would have been much more riveting.

Hopefully, some day directors will learn that action sequences don’t have to go on forever.  It’s more effective to scrap that fifth or sixth spectacular stunt and get on with the story.  Too much action can become boring.

That said, the computer-generated action sequences are nothing short of amazing, particularly The Maelstrom, in which the crews of two ships do battle, while their vessels ride the inner rim of a gigantic whirlpool.

Johnny Depp, of course, as the whimsical Captain Jack Sparrow, steals every scene in which he appears, whether he’s dueling atop a mast with the octopus-faced Davy Jones or talking to his multiple selves while marooned in the netherworld of Jones’ locker.

The ending of the picture leaves the door wide open for further sequels, of course.

THE VIDEO

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. The transfer is crisp, sharp and there are no noticeable flaws.

THE AUDIO

The Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound is crystal clear and very loud. What else would you expect from a Jerry Bruckheimer film?

THE EXTRAS

This two-disc set is filled with many extras, including a printed list of “Frequently Asked Questions” for people who were confused by the movie’s ending.

The sole extra on the first disc is Bloopers of the Caribbean, which includes a couple of laugh-out-loud flubs.

Disc 2 contains the following bulk of bonus material:

Keith & The Captain: On Set with Johnny Depp and The Rock Legend: It’s no secret that Depp patterned his characterization of Captain Jack Sparrow after rock legend Keith Richards.  In this featurette, we find the film’s cast and crew virtually swooning over Richards who, in a cameo role, plays Depp’s father.  Johnny and Keith also have an amusing on-the-set chat.

Deleted Scenes: Here are two scenes that add nothing to the picture with audio commentary by director Gore Verbinski as to why he cut them.

The Tale of the Many Jacks: Depp and various crew members discuss how the scene with multiple Jack Sparrows was achieved, including the production design for his “good” and “evil” Jacks.

Anatomy of a Scene: The Maelstrom: This featurette shows how the film’s most spectacular scene was created.  According to the producers, it involved extensive computer special effects and one of the largest practical sets ever created for a film.

Masters of Design: This collection of five featurettes deals with how various elements of the picture were created.  These include Sao Feng’s multiple-part Map, the make-up design for Davy Jones’ cursed crew, the extensive Singapore set, Keith Richard’s costume and the pirates’ code book.

The World of Chow Yun-Fat: International film star Chow Yun-Fat discusses his career and his experiences working in the final chapter of the trilogy.  Other cast/crew members sing the praises of working with the Chow Yun-Fat

Inside the Brethren Court: This is an interesting multiple-part/interactive documentary.  It explores the fact and fiction aspects of the nine Pirate Lords of the Brethren Court; a virtual rogues’ gallery of notorious captains from the Seven Seas.

The Pirate Maestro: The Music of Hans Zimmer: Zimmer talks about creating the score for the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy.

Hoist the Colours:  This featurette discusses the inspiration for the original pirates’ song, “Hoist the Colours”.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Despite its flaws, if you already own the first two films in this trilogy, you’re definitely going to want to buy this one.  If you don’t own them, I suggest that you buy and view them first.