The biggest difference between the original Pirates of the Caribbean and the sequel, Dead Man’s Chest is that the second film was weighted with expectations. While the second film has had a remarkable theatrical run, and proven quite popular with initial DVD sales, there is none of the surprise of the first film. The problem, in my view, is that the second film may have been a crowd pleaser by meeting audience expectations, but was seemingly fresh has become self-conscious.
The convoluted plot involves Will Turner being forced to steal Jack Sparrow’s compass, while Sparrow is seeking Davy Jones’ locker, the titular chest. Elizabeth Swann joins in the action, stowing away on a ship disguised as a boy, and later joining the boys as they find and lose and find again the fabled chest. Without giving away too much of the story, it should be explained that this very long film is actually part one of two parts with a cliff-hanger ending.
What works in the film is Johnny Depp’s performance as Jack Sparrow, especially in his understated reactions to some of the disasters that befall him. One of the funnier scenes shows him as the king of an island tribe, speaking in a gibberish of nonsense sounds, baby talk and French. Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightly both are starting to look exhausted trying to keep up with Depp and the rest of the action. The idea of having Davy Jones and his crew look like human like assemblages of sea creatures is one of the more imaginative aspects to the film, while the sea beast, at least the visible tentacles, are somewhat reminiscent of the giant octopus from Disney’s version of 20, 000 Leagues Under the Sea.
Not having been to the Pirates of the Carribean ride, I have no idea if anything was incorporated into the film from the original source. There are a couple of scenes that if they weren’t part of the ride, could be part of that attraction. One scene involves the pirate gang imprisoned in what looks like a giant ball that rolls uncontrolled down a mountain. Another scene involves Keira Knightly’s dress seeming to float by itself over a ship, frightening some superstitious sailors.
Pirates is based on a Disney ride, and the film follows somewhat in the tradition of past Disney films such as Treasure Island and Swiss Family Robinson. The film announces itself as a traditional pirate film with a character reciting the old chanty that ends “Yo ho ho, an a bottle of rumâ€. Perhaps I am being to old-school in my feelings, but some of the violence and scarier aspects to the film run counter to the Disney films I’ve grown up with. Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter may define a new generation of fantasy film, but if you’re going to use the Disney brand name, a little more warmth and gentleness might be in order to make it a bit more like Walt would have done it.
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