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I think some of the magic wore off here because you definitely feel the length. It worked with the first film because the script, directing, and performances were all brilliant. Much like the first film, Dead Man's Chest is a bit overlong and has too many moving parts. Luckily, Nighy is an absolute joy to watch on screen, thanks in large part due to the groundbreaking special effects of Jones & various other characters and creatures. If you thought the original film takes advantage of the over-the-top side to the series, the second one doubles down. Jones', the main antagonist, is essentially a supernatural pirate with the ability to also control a large sea creature called, the Kraken. That's not necessarily always a bad thing, but I would have preferred each film to stand on its own a little bit more.Īlthough we don't get Geoffrey Rush's maniacal Captain Barbossa, we are treated with equally invested performances from Bill Nighy as Davy Jones and Stellan Skarsgard as Boostrap Bill. Most of the story beats are drawn out in what could be only one film's worth of story, but we don't get the payoff for any of it until the 3rd adventure. In many ways, this film only exists to set up the third film. However, when the story and characters are second fiddle to the set pieces and grand action sequences, that's where you have the problem. And Dead Man's Chest wastes no time trying to top the spectacle and scope of that film. There's nothing quite like that first adventure with Jack Sparrow, William Turner, and Elizabeth Swann. I'm not sure there will ever be a Pirates film as good as the first one.
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Whether it be because I had fond memories of them when I was much younger, or because there just wasn't quite a spectacle like them in the mid-2000's, either way I still find Dead Man's Chest to be an admirable part of the franchise. For whatever reason though, I really get a kick out of these Pirates adventures. Sometimes it's really hard to see past a film's flaws. Minor gripes aside, Dead Man's Chest is a worthy sequel, even over a decade later. This leads to an emotionally resonating ending, something most blockbusters lack. The central theme here is what it means to be a good person: and Captain Jack is put to the test. I thought this was a great way of keeping things energized, considering the film clocks in at 140 minutes before credits. Another thing that may turn some off is the shift in tone about halfway through the movie, going from silly and over-the-top to more serious. So many things are happening at once, it's oftentimes hard to focus on them all. Where Dead Man's Chest falters is the mildly over-bloated plot. The soundtrack, like the first, is booming and strong, punctuating the scary and elevating the intensity. Bill Nighy's Davy Jones is a menacing and worthy villain, partly in thanks to the unbelievably good special effects (effects that are even better than 2017's Dead Men Tell No Tales). Depp is at the top of his game arguably even funnier than the first.
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Dead Man's Chest returns bigger, bolder and louder. In my eyes, this couldn't be farther from the truth.
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 2 FULL MOVIE REDDIT SERIES
The most common outlook on the Pirates series seems to be the belief that the first movie is the only good one, and that they deteriorate from there on.
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