Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest - Review

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Rated: PG-13

Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures

Release Date: 2006-07-07

Starring: Johnny Depp (Captain Jack Sparrow), Orlando Bloom (Will Turner), Keira Knightley (Elizabeth Swan), Stellan Skarsgård (Bootstrap Bill), Naomi Harris (Gypsy Queen), Chow Yun Fat (Captain Sao Feng), Alex Norton (Captain Bellamy), Bill Nighy (Davey Jones)

Directed by Gore Verbinski

Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer .

Written by Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio

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Reviewed by Josh Tyler : 2006-07-08 13:07:49

Pirates of the Caribbean returns to theaters for more summer swashbuckling, only they may have forgotten to buckle their swash. The sequel is subtitled Dead Man’s Chest, and pits the incomparable Captain Jack Sparrow against the owner of that chest, Davy Jones. You may remember him from his locker, and as a founding member of The Monkees.

Unlike his modern pop-culture counterpart this fishy Davy Jones is a decent musician, and he rolls across the Earth’s oceans in a ghostly galleon capturing souls and playing a mean pipe organ. In the last movie Captain Jack got his beloved ship the Black Pearl back, but now he may have to give her up. Davy Jones and his crustacean encrusted crew of the damned are out to get him. Jack owes Davy a debt, having promised him his soul in exchange for the captaincy of a certain black-sailed pirate ship.

The centerpiece of a successful Pirates movie must be Johnny Depp, and he’s back doing his drunken, rock and roll pirate thing. Jack is actually less interesting this time around. He’s not doing anything new, simply repeating the performance we’ve seen already. Well not exactly. He’s less of a scoundrel, probably because he’s too busy flailing his arms around and running to get down to good old-fashioned skullduggery. That’s the story for most of the movie, beloved characters from Curse of the Black Pearl running around being chased, trampled, and rolled down hills. Where the last movie had piracy, fencing, gun battles, and drunken singing; Dead Man’s Chest has CGI beasties and lots of screaming.

The film feels forced, as director Gore Verbinski struggles mightily to up the ante for his sequel, only to miss out on a lot of what made the original so fun in the first place. I’m not sure Verbinski quite gets it. All we want is hefty dose of swinging swordplay and a lot of Jack Sparrow. Where’s the sword fighting? The pillaging? Drunken romps with hideous women? Curse of the Black Pearl did an excellent job of balancing the supernatural with the film’s simpler pleasures of pirates just being pirates. When CGI was used to show off some creepy ghoul it was done beautifully, almost as an aside to the story rather than as a centerpiece. Here the oversized effects are the focus with the film’s now less interesting characters left with no choice but to jostle for space around them. Is this a pirate movie or are we watching a sea voyaging remake of Ghostbusters?

Though the movie falls a little too in love with its big effects budget, at least the effects are rather good. Davy Jones in particular is a masterfully realized featured creature. Half-squid, half man, he oozes and wheezes across the deck of his ship the Flying Dutchman with an air of inevitability. Jones hasn’t the screen presence of Geoffrey Rush’s iconic Captain Barbosa from the first film, but Bill Nighy does a remarkable job buried under thick, viscous layers of CGI.

Despite its flaws a lot of people are probably really going to enjoy Dead Man's Chest, and for those who don't the good news here is that they’ve got another movie to get it right. This is the first of two Pirates movies filmed simultaneously, and like so many other trilogy tweeners Dead Man’s Chest is more of a setup than a complete movie. Even as a sort of hum-drum, overlong tweener this second one isn’t a total waste. Most of the best moments are references back to the last movie, but Captain Jack has one or two familiarly brilliant spasms mixed in with his excessive running and the rest of the cast seems poised to do something big in the next sequel. They just don’t do it in this one. Pirates 2 isn’t bad enough to be disappointment even if it doesn’t live up to the fun of its predecessor. I still have high hopes for the third one and if Verbinski figures things out in the editing room, then Dead Man’s Chest will likely end up being remembered as something akin to Back to the Future II.

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Sarah
June 15, 2007 at 21:50

the 3rd movie rox!!!! they pulled it together really well

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bwuaha
May 17, 2007 at 23:13

To all the Jack/Elizabeth nay-sayers that use Elizabeth's 'hatred/anger' toward Jack in the first movie:

There is a fine line between love and hate.

Go back to grade school-- as kids, when a boy and a girl like each other but the social stigma prevents them from acting 'lovey dovey', what is it they do? Fight, argue, pull each other's hair and over all, are a nuisance to one another.

Hell, for the first FOUR years of my knowing Guy X I swore, up and down, that I hated his guts with all my passion. At some point in those four years we became friends (though I still swore I found him disgusting) and before I knew it, I wrote a love letter and left it in his locker.

People do change, so does circumstance.

Even if Elizabeth has feelings for Jack and vice-versa, it doesn't mean they will end up together.... it just means they have feelings for one another. You'll be surprised how often the brain wins over the heart in such cases.

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sarah
May 5, 2007 at 02:32

Well, i don't agree with whoever wrote this artical, b/c DMC was the best movie i have seen this year! grant it it was not as good as COTBP, but almost and the third is suppose to be even better. i loved that they had jack and elizabeth kiss and they put some tention in there, i thought they would have made a better couple than her and will since the first one. i also think i like jack a little more in this one. i mean of course i loved him in the 1st one too, but in this one he is more heroic and more of a good guy, and it was nice to see that side of him. i hope we see more of that in the next one. i think at worlds end will be amazing, unless jack and elizabeth don't end up together then it will stink. lol

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truth
February 27, 2007 at 05:08

just to let u kno if any actors in pt 3 talk bout de movie theyll get killed...they say it in all the inetrviews! n not literally figuratively speaking in the movie they get killed lol dey got dem actors on leash lol pay attetion to the interviews...n dey cant say it da way i did

example:

interviewer: mr.depp can u tell us about pirates 3
depp: no notin if i do "dey kill me"

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Morgan
January 4, 2007 at 23:49

OK you all are right but wrong i mean i loved that movie and i love CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow and yes it was long but the longer the better. at the end it was sad to see Jack get eaten by the KRAKEN and if i was Elizabeth i would have stayed on the ship with Jack, i couldn't do that to him and i would have made the kiss last longer and i wouldn't care if i was cheating on will cuz Jack is better

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Jesse C
January 3, 2007 at 13:00

Spoilers
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Ok...I gotta clear some stuff up. I just read every comment and alot of things bugged me....1st Cracken is not spelled CRACKEN its spelled Kraken....Read some greek mythology would yah....And 2nd when Tia Dalma (Voodoo Women) Says "Ahhhh...Jack sparrow dont know what him want" Shes reffering to the compass...The compass points too the one thing u want most of all...oh yah and to the person who said they were gonna die....the thing on his hand was the black spot its a symbol that one pirate gives to another that says hes going to murder him...

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JACK sparrow
December 27, 2006 at 01:35

I think u guys should just chillax its just a movie and try not to get into it tooo much.......HOW CAN U WATCH A MOVIE 10 times no matter how interesting it is...........i would say u have too much time on ur hands

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Emily
December 17, 2006 at 20:36

Well I don't know about any of you. But I really enjoyed the Dead Man's chest. The CGI was amazing. And the story was awesome. I thought Jack was not as classic as he was in the first one, I thougt maybie they tried too hard with the whole drunk stupour walk. But Davy Jones...ah he just steals me heart.
If you watch the commentary on the DVD, you will get lots of iformation of the next movie. There are also hints all over the second movie about the last movie! If you notice the locket. It first appeared in Tia Dalma's hut, and then Davy Jones has a locket very similar if not exactly like it. So I'm guessing in the third movie there might be a past between Davy Jones and Tia Dalma

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paris
September 10, 2006 at 23:01

i want to lick wills neck with my tongue and hold him in my arms while he repeats my name over and over i love him he is sooooooo hot!!!! i am one sexy girl and will is my hot baby
paris

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Eden
August 19, 2006 at 08:56

POTENTIAL SPOILERS:::

I'm not saying I honestly think the whole thing with Jack and Elizabeth would work out, but honestly, would things with Will and Elizabeth really work out either?? Yes, Will is a nice guy, and it breaks my heart to see him hurt, but Will and Elizabeth just plain aren't meant for each other. Their relationship is based off of a childhood fantasy of love. Elizabeth was attracted to him because, at the time, he was a lot more exciting than that stiff Commodore Norrington. And Will loved her because, well, it's Elizabeth. She may be a little annoying sometimes, but she's still kick-ass. I think Will's more infatuated with the idea of being in love than actually loving someone. I don't think Will really knows how to love, seeing as he tries so hard to save Elizabeth and look like the hero, without actually totally grasping what in fact he's doing, and what the true purpose is. He just seems a little confused to me. Difficult to put into words, sorry. Hopefully you're catching my drift. Anyway.. he loves her so darn much, that when he sees Elizabeth kissing Jack in the oh-so-passionate manner that she does, he's willing to let her go, just like that. Did anyone else notice the way he spoke to her at Tia Dalma's afterwards? "If there was anything that could be done to bring him back..." Will wants only what is best for Elizabeth, which is what makes me feel bad for him. At the same time, he's just pathetic. (Sorry fangirls) I just don't feel like I've seen much of any chemistry between Will and Elizabeth, aside from the very first scene that they're together in the first movie, when they sort of flirt as Elizabeth confesses she dreamt about him and the day they met.

As dishonorable as Jack might be, Elizabeth is attracted to him because he represents everything that she wants. Recall from the first movie (I believe someone has already mentioned this) when Elizabeth and her maid are speaking in the beginning and Elizabeth thinks of the Commodore proposing as more horrifying than being "attacked" by a pirate. She found the whole situation exciting and definitely out of the ordinary in her mundane life. Jack is an adventure to her, but who's to say that he'll still be mysterious once she has him? I don't see Elizabeth sticking with Jack for her own sake, and I REALLY don't see Jack being with Elizabeth for his sake. Although, if you notice in the last scene, just after fighting off the Kraken for the last time, Jack's body language is aimed at Elizabeth as they decide what to do. So cute. Maybe he really is capable of loving. It's just so frustrating because every time they interact, they bring about emotions in each other that no one else can. Elizabeth always gets SO fired up when talking to Jack, whether they're arguing, or he's just being his normal, flirty self. And Jack softens up a bit when he's with her. Who else knows how Jack REALLY escaped from that island the first time besides Elizabeth? He's so vulnerable around her. But does he love her? I wish I could answer my own questions. If you have any information about the third movie, please don't post it in response - I love the suspense! :)

Last thoughts about the kiss, and any and all scenes surrounding the compass. OK, I don't know what the compass is honestly pointing to, and it's been pretty well covered here anyway. I will say that I think the kiss was done partly to save the crew, but mostly to save Elizabeth herself. She's totally in denial. That's why she got so frustrated when the compass pointed to Jack. Even if it really was pointing elsewhere, if she honestly loved Will and he was the one for her, she wouldn't get all ticked off and upset. She'd just shake it off and try to think of where else it could be pointing. But deep down, she knows it's true, and that's why it's so difficult for her. As for the kiss, the kiss was to prove to herself that she and Will could still have a life together. She needed Sparrow out of the picture. However, it turned out to be a big slap in the face, because she can't tell anyone what she did, and Will saw, leaving her without the means to explain herself and save the relationship. Dang, that sucks. Plus, she found out that they can bring Jack back to life. Double whammy. Now, she has to live with the fact that she tried to kill him (but we can always hope there'll be some steamy scene in the next one in which Jack does the same thing back to her.. heh) and he's soon going to be back on board, ready to unveil her wrongdoings (which could make things better with what'shisface) and just plain make things awkward. But, the point is, she's in denial. She wants that fairytale marriage just as much as Will does, even if it is empty.

Ta. Let me know what you think. I think I've left out some details, but this was getting pretty long anywho.

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Ashley
August 17, 2006 at 18:36

SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!!!
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*****

First off, Elizabeth kissing Jack was sooooo immorally WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Will is totally the best guy! He's the handsome (totally hot is the real right word here), brave, honest guy who's put his life on the line for her only a million times, where all Jack has done is lie, be a coward, and put other people's lives on the line for his!!!!! (he's most of the comic relief in the movie but thats not the point...) Just because he didn't scream and get all ticked off at her is not saying it didn't hurt him!!! Could nobody see his face when he saw her kissing Jack?!? It was terrible!

I noticed the locket deal between Tia Dalma ( here aka voodoo girl), but I agree with whoever said that she probably isn't the girl that was in love with Davey Jones and got the locket from whoever owned it.

I can't believe they're bringing in a whole new plot to add to the convuluted mess of plots they already have! We already have to get the heart back to call off the Kraken, probably kill the Kraken, rescue Jack from the dead and probably the Pearl too, salvage Will and Elizabeth's relationship (those last two are the most important ones for me), rescue Will's father; and defeat Norrington, Beckett Jones, and Davey Jones! We don't need a new plot already!

I was shocked at all the scary special effects in this movie. While younger children were able to love watching the first movie, The Dead Man's Chest was terrifying! I saw kids covering their faces, and I even heard some shrieks during the whipping scene. Davey Jones' crew- even Bootstrap Bill- was just gruesome, the whipping scene was absolutely terrible, and the cannibal people were just creepy with all the skulls, and the toe necklace and that stuff. I totally hated seeing the crew leave the dog on the beach! That was terrible!!!! I want to see that dog turn up in the third movie, he's so cool! He made it into two movies, there's no reason he can't make the third.

Beside the kiss (absolutely terrible- if Will and Elizabeth don't get back together I am going to leave the movie theater ranting and send hate mails to whoever did it), the rather gory and gruesome special effects, and the convuluted plot, I absolutely loved this movie. The action was great, and there was even more comedy this time around. The swinging cages and the rolling wheel were hysterical.

Despite the fact that The Dead Man's Chest did not live up to my expectation of it due to the first movie being absolutely magnificent, I will probably buy the movie when it comes out on DVD.

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Milan Saxena
August 17, 2006 at 06:40

The movie simply ended into suspense and disappointment: FULL STOP! - MLN

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Jess
August 14, 2006 at 22:23

more than the 1st...lol...

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Jess
August 14, 2006 at 00:23

Um alan...eww...ur sick...this is a movie review...not an insight into ur fantasies over keira's lack of boobs....

shelly...i found out a lot about #3....so apparently Elizabeth is kidnapped by this new chinese pirate(forget the name and don't feel like checking my info right now) so she has to be saved...AGAIN...Jack is found and yes his father comes on to the seen...but apparently it's still not certain it'll b Richards because he's got a lot to do concerning the Stones tour and might not have the time...so also Will is still worrying about freeing his father and (thank God) Will finally starts being pissed off at Keira and apparently he even throws her arm off him at one point...so...the tension continues to grow...hehe

but this movie was ttly butt kickin material...if got some terrible reviews i know...but i still loved it...more than the

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alan
August 13, 2006 at 23:53

do u no how elizabeth swann looks like? i mean she is soooooooo sexy with her enormous and totolly sexy boobs. i wish she could married me and let me be her sexy boyfriend. i wonder what she would look like naked? i also wish that she could be pregnant by me.
she is so sexy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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paris
August 13, 2006 at 18:32

hi the movie has a lot of people in it!!!!!!!jack is SOOOOOOO Hot!!!!!! I hope that jack doesn't like elizabeth because i like him a lot

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Kristin
August 13, 2006 at 10:57

dawn, we know. youre only about the 10000th person that said all those things.

anyways, a question that i dont think anyone asked:
i heard that the directors and script writers of the movie didnt put the part where elizabeth kisses jack in orlando blooms script, so that they could get his actual suprise reaction. i just want to know if anyone knows if thats true or not?

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Dawn
August 12, 2006 at 20:40

If you saw the first movie then you would know that the monkey stole a peice of gold so he remains undead.

The dude that stole the heart knew it was in the jar of dirt, which was considered "land". Every one wanted the heart because whoever has the heart controls Davy Jones, and Davy jones controls the crackin and the sea. So whioever controls the heart can get Davy to make the crackin go after any ship they want, such as other trading companies.

My guess on Barbosa is that the swamp lady found him as he was about to die and she saved him so he lived with her and now he is going to help find jack because he wants the Black Pearl back.

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Ganz
August 9, 2006 at 11:32

To Nicole;shelby;melissa;Jess;Jill;Confused (I must be really confused);

Someone Oh Please Please Please tell me. Is Jack the Undead too??? What is the thing on his palm??? It mysteriously vanishes when Davy Jones touches him but that things comes again after sometime.

I'm going to die in a few days and this is my last wish???? So please SOMEONE ;)

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melissa
August 8, 2006 at 12:32

umm, for the person with the name "confused" ..did you even watch the movie?

"Confused Says:

August 4th, 2006 at 13:46
So I went and saw pirates and I have this battle with all my family. Who is the guy at the end that walks down the stairs. Is it wills father or Jake Black's father. Please help. "

k, first off.. will's father was boostrap.
secondly, the person was captain barbossa.
thirddd, whos jake black?

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shelby
August 5, 2006 at 20:27

hey first of all thank u sooo much for all the info everybody ... cleared up alot of things anyway i was wondering about #3... i heard that jacks father is coming into it and hes going to be played by Keith Richards ... Rolling Stones .... because thats who they based johnnys character on??? does anyone want to confirm this maybe??? thanks CANNOT WAIT FOR THE 3RD!!!!!

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Jess
August 5, 2006 at 16:27

Ms Keira Bloom!!! PLEASE TELL ME IF WILL AND ELIZABETH WILL END UP BACK TOGETHER??? i'm sure they well...because it's just the way it plays out....i mean...jack and elizabeth can't end up together and i guess that if will does start getting pissed at elizabeth in the third movie she'll come to realize she's loved him all the long...and i personally am beginning to think that the kiss was nothing more than a kiss...if u get what i mean...the whole compass thing...even if jack does love elizabeth he'll come to realize that it's just physical attraction and nothing more...besides the whole jack having found his honor thing might lead to him giving up on elizabeth for will's sake and their "friendship"...w/e i can't wait for the third movie!!!! BRING IT ON!!!

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Jill
August 5, 2006 at 11:47

Confused or got it:

Who is Jake Black??

Confused Says:

August 4th, 2006 at 13:46
So I went and saw pirates and I have this battle with all my family. Who is the guy at the end that walks down the stairs. Is it wills father or *Jake Black's* father. Please help

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Got it !
August 4, 2006 at 21:43

Duh ! I totally forgot about that. I feel stupid now. It's been on my mind for so long too! Thankx !

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Nicole
August 4, 2006 at 14:24

Confused:

Did you see the first movie?

The guy on the stairs is Captain Barbossa, the captain of the Black Pearl in the first movie. He was kind of a big deal. Did you see it?

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