by Derek Viger

Created on: July 10, 2006   Last Updated: December 03, 2010

Climb aboard me mates for another ride on the Spanish Main: Johnny Depp and crew return in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. What a ride it is. In fact, I feel somewhat bad that you're taking the time to read this. Its time that you could be spending watching Pirates, but before you rush off do read on. Make sure it's worth your time.

BOOM! CRASH! YAAAARRRGGG! You'll be hearing those sounds often in this film. The action is packed into nearly every nook and cranny of this film. Recall the sword fight between Depp and Bloom early in the first film. I found that to be the highlight of the fight scenes. Well forget all that. Just ten seconds of one of the amazing scenes in Dead Man's Chest tops it. You think I'm exaggerating? Not even close. Just to give you a taste of what to expect. There is a three-way sword battle on top of a water wheel. Excited? You should be, because my description does not even begin to tell the whole scene.

The effects for this movie trump the previous in almost every way. Davey Jones and his crew are impressive. The nuances of his crusty crew were amazing. Though the skeletal crew from The Black Pearl was rather extraordinary, the seemed to lack individuality at times. Each member of Davey's crew stands out. From lobsters to hermit crabs to sharks, they've got seemingly every creature from the sea represented. Then there's Davey Jones himself. Played brilliantly by Bill Nighy (Slartibartfast Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy , Philip Shaun of the Dead) the character is impressive all around. Showing hints of the ghost pirate LeChuck from the Monkey Island series, Davey was at least as engaging as Barbossa, if not more. Nighy proves that you couldn't just put anyone in the makeup and have them play the part. Nighy is Davey Jones, plain and simple. He delivers little inflections in his dialog or a particular snort and just the right moment and it is perfection. Davey's beard is always moving and it's surprisingly realistic. The tentacles move fluidly and also according to Davey's mood.

Depp is right on the spot again, as is the rest of the returning cast. I particularly enjoyed Jack Davenport's return as the fallen Commander Norrington. Having lost Jack Sparrow in The Black Pearl, Norrington was drummed out of the King's Navy. When we first encounter the man, he is a broken drunk. It is refreshing to view an adventure flick, especially a Disney one, were everything isn't sunshine and roses. Like Empire Strikes Back and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Dead Man's Chest isn't afraid to show us the darker side while still allowing us to have tons of fun.

There is no reason why you shouldn't see this film. You get great acting, great story, great action, and most of all great fun. This is a movie we don't often see the likes of anymore. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest is most definitely worth your time.

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