There are few franchises that have done a complete 180 so quickly as which after an enjoyable first installment, featuring a dynamite lead performance by Johnny Depp and a giddy swashbuckling feel, has sunk to the bottom of the title's sea like the bloated, overblown stone it is. While I have never been (and likely never will be) as unabashed a fan of Pirates of the CaribbeanCurse of the Black Pearl, I can understand its appeal. Its effortless blend of humor and action and sound family friendly feel is perfectly tailored to the summer multiplexes. As to why it became as popular as it did, seemingly tapping into the cultural zeitgeist, is somewhat of a mystery. One can imagine that its mindless escapism was a welcome relief from the daily bombardment of news reports from Iraq and Afghanistan. Unfortunately for viewers, the first was something of a one off engagement, as both sequels, last year's Dead Man's Chest and this summer's At World's End, are needlessly overblown duds, stripped of much of the first's humor and entertainment. At World's End, directed by Gore Verbinski, is a particular mess, a wandering overlong installment that left me exhausted and checking my watch.
First off, just to get it out of the way, Depp is still great; Knightley is still a beauty as are the special effects. Those three elements work wonderfully and are the highlights of the film. Keeping with his work in the first two films, Depp continues to completely embody Captain Jack Sparrow, throwing his whole body and soul into a demented and charismatic performance that is some of the finest acting jobs in any blockbuster ever. It is rare to see an actor so wholeheartedly embrace his/her character while dealing with a huge budget film but Depp is a rare talent. His subtle motions and ticks are as effective as ever, adding a humanity and humor to his characters actions. Sparrow isn't necessarily the best drawn or best developed character in film but Depp extracts as much as he physically can from the script, making the best of it and the results continue to be wonderful. As time goes on, these films will become known for two reasons: their box office clout and Depp's phenomenal work.
While Knightley never reaches the twisted heights of Depp, her performance is one of an obvious star coming into her own. She rules the screen with a undeniable charisma, adding a vitality to each of her scenes. Like Depp's Sparrow, her character, Elizabeth Swann, is a one dimensional cut out that she makes the best of, allowing her star power to take hold. She is a rarity today, a classical beauty that has acting talent and charisma, harkening back to the days of the studio era where women like Lake and Hayworth rode a similar blend to box office gold and Hollywood legend.
Visually, the film is everything one can hope for from a blockbuster, a delicious feast crammed with gorgeous CGI. It is no wonder that the team behind the franchise's special effects were awarded with an Oscar for their troubles, as their work is flawless, down to the smallest details. The film's villain, Davy Jones, a man/squid hybrid, played by ever-wonderful Bill Nighy, is brought to life by the film's CGI with each gill and tentacle moving independently from the other. The climatic battle, despite the lengthy, unneeded build up and uneven pacing, is another highlight with massive ships filling the screen while mayhem ensues around them.
All that being said, the film is a complete bore and its running time of 2 hours and 48 minutes is unbearably unnecessary. There is nothing in the narrative that demands this type of length. It seems like Bruckheimer and Verbinski were trying to force an epic feel out of a story that isn't even remotely close to actually being epic. Rather by including as many double dealings and back stabbings as possible, the film is an incoherent mess, with the story wandering to and fro instead of being a streamlined shot of action and comedy. While even the first film was long as 2 hours and 20 minutes, there is no excuse for a nearly 3 hour run time for the final installment. It isn't until the cameo appearance of Keith Richards, almost 2 hours in, that the film picks up speed (and even this universally hyped moment is disappointing). While there are some decent action scenes, there could have been a solid hour hacked off of the film without losing a single important piece of narrative.
For every Depp, Knightley and Nighy, there is an Orlando Bloom, who may be the most perplexing star in the world today. If you look at his work since 2001's Fellowship of the Ring, his film's possess a gross of over 2 billion dollars, which, unless I'm mistaken, unmatched by any other star in recent memory. Granted he has worked in primarily ensemble casts but his appeal is a mystery to me. He is a pretty face but doesn't possess much actual talent unlike say, someone like Jake Gyllenhaal, another young attractive star. His performance in At World's End is wooden and a perfect example of a big budget actor coasting through a role. The one film in which he has a substantial lead in which he is required to carry the film was Elizabethtown, Cameron Crowe's worst film by any criteria. Much of that film's failure is a direct result of Bloom's inability to play off a likable and talented female foil, Kirsten Dunst. As an action star, Bloom works well but when the film relies on him for romantic moments with Knightley, it suffers. Where it is obvious that Knightley can work with romantic material (see: Love Actually, Pride and Prejudice), Bloom's ability to do so is in doubt and POTC: AWE does nothing to clarify the situation.
It is unfortunate that the trilogy's creators were unable to continue with the success of the first film in any way other than box office earnings. While the series is an obvious hit, providing Disney with its first legitimate franchise in a while, I imagine that the final two films will quickly sail from the public's imagination. Much like the Wachowski's Matrix trilogy, the filmmakers would have been better off stopping with their one, first cinematic triumph. Rather they end up dragging that accomplishment down with two overblown, disappointing sequels that do nothing but hurt the franchise's chances as being remembered as anything but a money maker, a studio cash in, instead of the classics they could been. The summer's first (not entirely unexpected) disappointment.
**
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