My review of "Pirates III"

[Rayne]

Most of the reviews I've heard on this one involve the words, "messy" or "plot hard to follow", "Movie should have come with cliff notes...."etc.
Not true.
This was a GREAT movie! Best movie I've seen all year, to be exact.
The plots were easy to follow IF you saw the first 2 movies.
And if you actually paid attention. If you skipped 1 of the first 2, or fiddled with your cell phone - you probably got lost in the sauce.
The writers did a nice job of carrying over the plot lines from #2 and moving them forward until they reached the climax - where there's an unexpected ending. (Wont give it away). The actors turned in terrific performances all the way around - even Keith Richards (yes, THAT Keith Richards) as Jack Sparrow's father. Johnny Depp's charcter is a lot more fun to watch when you realize that he based his character on "Keith Richards and my favorite drag queen".
Kiera Knightly fought hard to get her part turned from "Damsel in distress" to "action hero" and she carried it nicely. She proved herself to Jerry Bruckhiemer when she did "King Arthur" - so he opened up this part a lot in the second "Pirates" and even more so in this one.
There were a LOT of characters they had to work into the story lines - and if you don't do it right, or try to do to much, you can end up with "Mortal Combat II". There were at least 8 lead characters, with as many supporting characters, and they balanced them and wove them together to perfection - letting the story tell itself.
They even left if open for "Pirates 4" - but I doubt we'll ever see it. Usually 3 is about the limit on movies, and actors are reluctant to play the same role a 4th time for fear of type casting.
All in all - WONDERFUL movie. 5 stars out of five, 2 thumbs up, a full bag of popcorn and a bucket of coke.
PS...Kiera Knightly has a nice "leg shot" at the end. Woo-hoo!

[Danno]

Ah, thank you for this review, Ghost.I had heard many mixed feelings on the movie since it came out. Alot about it being too long and such, but its good to hear some nice words from another pirate fan. I feel much better about going to see it now.

[Rayne]

You're welcome. I got the feeling that some of the people that gave this movie bad reviews, hadn't seen the first two.
Kinda like sneaking in to see, "Return of the King" when you hadn't seen the first two LOTR movies.

[RUN.RUDI.RIGHT.]

It was a good movie with some good comedy as well...my only problem with it was that it was VERY long!!! But hey...if you're goin' with your girlfriend...more time to...YA KNOW!!! LOL

[bengal95]

i think it's a very good move and i liked the comedy in it to.

[bleedorange]

Most of the reviews I've heard on this one involve the words, "messy" or "plot hard to follow", "Movie should have come with cliff notes...."etc.
Not true.
This was a GREAT movie! Best movie I've seen all year, to be exact.
The plots were easy to follow IF you saw the first 2 movies.
And if you actually paid attention. If you skipped 1 of the first 2, or fiddled with your cell phone - you probably got lost in the sauce.
The writers did a nice job of carrying over the plot lines from #2 and moving them forward until they reached the climax - where there's an unexpected ending. (Wont give it away). The actors turned in terrific performances all the way around - even Keith Richards (yes, THAT Keith Richards) as Jack Sparrow's father. Johnny Depp's charcter is a lot more fun to watch when you realize that he based his character on "Keith Richards and my favorite drag queen".
Kiera Knightly fought hard to get her part turned from "Damsel in distress" to "action hero" and she carried it nicely. She proved herself to Jerry Bruckhiemer when she did "King Arthur" - so he opened up this part a lot in the second "Pirates" and even more so in this one.
There were a LOT of characters they had to work into the story lines - and if you don't do it right, or try to do to much, you can end up with "Mortal Combat II". There were at least 8 lead characters, with as many supporting characters, and they balanced them and wove them together to perfection - letting the story tell itself.
They even left if open for "Pirates 4" - but I doubt we'll ever see it. Usually 3 is about the limit on movies, and actors are reluctant to play the same role a 4th time for fear of type casting.
All in all - WONDERFUL movie. 5 stars out of five, 2 thumbs up, a full bag of popcorn and a bucket of coke.
PS...Kiera Knightly has a nice "leg shot" at the end. Woo-hoo!


I rewatched 2 last week and saw 3 Friday. If anyone sees 3 without seeing the second installment then they would be lost. I liked 3 very much. One tidbit stay til the end of the seemingly endless credits and get a glimpse of the future with that short footage. Seems to set up maybe a Pirates 4.

[Whatever]

I went into Pirates III expecting the worst after hearing a week's worth of bad reviews,but it turned out to be a great movie,IMO. It was definately a lot better than Spider-Man III. It was a lot better than II,and on par with the first. Personally,I didn't feel like it was too long,at all. There was enough going on to justify the length.
As far as Pirates IV,I've heard Johnny Depp has said that he'd keep doing them as long as they can keep coming up with good storylines.

[Joe from Florence]

I agree with you ghost....i saw the movie a week ago...the day it opened and found it easy to follow. It was closer to the first one than the 2nd one. The seoncd one was not very good in my opinion but it felt like this one finally went back to the original concept.
great movie and i'm ready for the next one....they left it wide open for a 4th and can't wait.
as far as it being too long....i agree, but so were the other 2...in priates 1 they actually could of cut it down a good half hour but didn't, they seemed to do the same with this one, but the only problem with them being a little long is because theatre seats are so uncomfortbale and by the time it finally finishes my butt is numb......i think thats why i put in a home theatre at my house, can watch these movies in great comfort when they tend to go long

[34inXXIII]

Agreed. A fine review by all. I probably have a little different perspective on the Pirates trilogy. I hadn't seen any of them until a litte more than a month ago. With number 3 coming out, I finally decided to get caught up. I watched 1 & 2 about a week apart for the first time less than a week prior to #3 being released. As a result, I had a pretty good recollection of the events of those two movies going into At Worlds End. I was pretty impressed with the trilogy, including the most recent installment. I've also grown to really like the character of Captain Jack Sparrow. Depp delivers a entertaining performance of the quirky, eccentric pirate.

I think a part of the problem many have with this movie is that so many people don't want to think when they go to a movie theater anymore, especially for a summer blockbuster. There's no doubt there were plenty of twisted plot lines and I can't honestly say I necessarily followed them all, but I found it fascinating.

I don't really mind the longer movies either so long as it is entertaining, but it certainly was a struggle for the 7 year old we brought along.

[Joe from Florence]

Agreed. A fine review by all. I probably have a little different perspective on the Pirates trilogy. I hadn't seen any of them until a litte more than a month ago. With number 3 coming out, I finally decided to get caught up. I watched 1 & 2 about a week apart for the first time less than a week prior to #3 being released. As a result, I had a pretty good recollection of the events of those two movies going into At Worlds End. I was pretty impressed with the trilogy, including the most recent installment. I've also grown to really like the character of Captain Jack Sparrow. Depp delivers a entertaining performance of the quirky, eccentric pirate.

I think a part of the problem many have with this movie is that so many people don't want to think when they go to a movie theater anymore, especially for a summer blockbuster. There's no doubt there were plenty of twisted plot lines and I can't honestly say I necessarily followed them all, but I found it fascinating.

I don't really mind the longer movies either so long as it is entertaining, but it certainly was a struggle for the 7 year old we brought along.

your 100% right about people not wanting to think at movies anymore...i on the other hand love when movies make you think....thats why i loved pulp fiction...many people said it was too confusing and couldn't follow it (i'm talking about my wife here lol) but i thought it was awesome and could follow it pretty easily.

[ThePekoSquad]

Agreed. A fine review by all. I probably have a little different perspective on the Pirates trilogy. I hadn't seen any of them until a litte more than a month ago. With number 3 coming out, I finally decided to get caught up. I watched 1 & 2 about a week apart for the first time less than a week prior to #3 being released. As a result, I had a pretty good recollection of the events of those two movies going into At Worlds End. I was pretty impressed with the trilogy, including the most recent installment. I've also grown to really like the character of Captain Jack Sparrow. Depp delivers a entertaining performance of the quirky, eccentric pirate.

I think a part of the problem many have with this movie is that so many people don't want to think when they go to a movie theater anymore, especially for a summer blockbuster. There's no doubt there were plenty of twisted plot lines and I can't honestly say I necessarily followed them all, but I found it fascinating.

I don't really mind the longer movies either so long as it is entertaining, but it certainly was a struggle for the 7 year old we brought along.

your 100% right about people not wanting to think at movies anymore...i on the other hand love when movies make you think....thats why i loved pulp fiction...many people said it was too confusing and couldn't follow it (i'm talking about my wife here lol) but i thought it was awesome and could follow it pretty easily.

Ah Pulp Fiction, hands down one of the greatest movies of all time.

[34inXXIII]

Pulp Fiction was outstanding, that's for certain. However, the first movie that comes to mind for me when discussing movies that make you think is Memento. If you like flicks that make your brain work and haven't seen Memento, then do yourself a favor and check it out. In fact, you probably have to watch it twice to truly appreciate it.

Of course, along the same lines, I have to throw in a mention of The Usual Suspects as well.

[Joe from Florence]

Pulp Fiction was outstanding, that's for certain. However, the first movie that comes to mind for me when discussing movies that make you think is Memento. If you like flicks that make your brain work and haven't seen Memento, then do yourself a favor and check it out. In fact, you probably have to watch it twice to truly appreciate it.

Of course, along the same lines, I have to throw in a mention of The Usual Suspects as well.

sixth sense is another, although you really don't start thinking about it alot until you find out at the end what happened....then you re trace the entire movie....pretty cool