Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Gets Drubbed

Pirates 2 is getting killed by critics: no wonder Disney didn't mount the usual all-media screenings. I still haven't seen it and judging from the reviews, I may skip both this one and the next one. Why bother? I'll rent the original if I want to have a really good time. Metacritic gives it a measley 51 average. Rotten Tomatoes: 54% rotten. Here's Slate, EW, and a sample of A.O. Scott's review in the NYT:

"Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" is not just a movie. It's a glistening, sushi-grade chunk of franchise entertainment, which means that maximal enjoyment of it comes with certain obligations. It is the second episode in what will be at least a trilogy — the third installment is scheduled for release next summer — and full appreciation of its whirligig plot will depend on thorough acquaintance with the first "Pirates of the Caribbean" picture, conveniently available for purchase on DVD. And since "Dead Man's Chest" brazenly dispenses with the convention of an ending — it's pretty much all middle — you will, by virtue of buying that ticket, have committed yourself to buying another one a year from now if you're the least bit curious about how the whole thing turns out. By then, chances are good that you will have forgotten most of what happened in "Dead Man's Chest," so you'll have another disc to add to the shopping cart. The question is: Is it worth it?

Comments

[Alan Green]

it's an interesting argument. if the property is hot enough, does there need to be any quality in the story? why? you know you will sell tickets no matter how bad the movie is.

it's a vicious cycle. the worse the tentpoles become, the lower the expectation, and movies get worse(r). meanwhile ticket prices increase and people moan and groan about how bad the theater experience has become.

something has to give sooner or later.

[A. Campbell]

Please. It's not the second-coming, but neither is it dour and self-important like The Matrix Reloaded. There's more joy, invention, and humor in the cannibal-island sequence, or in Davy Jones & crew, then there is in all of Superman Returns. (Don't tell me SR has 'heart'. That's low on the list of requirements for summer blockbusters.)

I just do NOT get the critical drubbing. You read reviews, there's a lot of crow-eating when it comes to the first movie (which, for the record, I enjoyed but didn't think was quite as good as it came to be considered), and a lot of griping about the length; these are a sign to me of a certain amount of bitterness and helplessness. It's like they're punishing it for being shamelessly entertaining.

Did I purchase the last one? No. Will I buy this one? No. Is Mr. Scott aware that this is an *industry*?? That the price-point for a DVD makes it a better bargain than actually taking your family to the movies?? At times I am not sure, reading critics, if they're reviewing the movie or the hype around the movie. We should all object to the latter, no matter what it's pushing. So long as a movie delivers the goods— and Dead Man's Chest does —then the bad taste in our mouth goes away.

A good 30-minutes' trim would have made it stronger, but there's not as much repetition as the first and the characters are richer this time out. Depp isn't quite the delight he was in the first, but there's also not too much of him (which would have been an easy mistake). And it's far from being a re-tread, it actually goes some surprising and darker places.

Don't be too good for it— go with some (non-industry) friends and enjoy yourself.

[Anne Thompson]

I did go—and it was harmless fun. See entry above.

[Echo]

Honestly, folks, has the time come at which we have become so structured, living so "in the box", that we are unable to enjoy a sequence of movies with a strong plot, excellant acting, and all around fabulous creativity? Just because it holds onto your attention and motivates you to see the next one means that it was an unsatisfying conclusion? It's what people in the entertainment business call SUCCESS. Anyway, who DIDN'T miss Captain Barbosa throughout the entire second movie? For those such as myself, it was a rather congenial shock, not to mention a grabber for the next movie. You see the boots...walking down the steps..."who is it?" you ask yourself...and then...THE APPLE. 'Twas a brilliant use of agriculture. Basically: WHAT KIND OF JUDGEMENTAL LOSERS DIDN'T LOVE THIS MOVIE?! CRACK ADDICTS??! IT'S A WORK OF ART!!