Genre: Adventure/Action
Director: Gore Verbinski
Cast: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Geoffrey Rush, Chow Yun-Fat, Stellan Skarsgård, Jack Davenport, Kevin R. McNally, Lee Arenberg, Mackenzie Crook, Andy Beckwith, Reggie Lee
RunTime: 2 hrs 48 mins
Released By: BVI
Rating: PG

Opening Day: 24 May 2007

Synopsis :

In the follow-up to the record-breaking smash 2006 hit PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN’S CHEST, we find our heroes Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) allied with Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) in a desperate quest to free Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) from his mind-bending trap in Davy Jones’ locker – while the terrifying ghost ship, The Flying Dutchman and Davy Jones, under the control of the East India Trading Company, wreaks havoc across the Seven Seas. Navigating through treachery, betrayal and wild waters, they must forge their way to exotic Singapore and confront the cunning Chinese Pirate Sao Feng (Chow Yun-Fat). Now headed beyond the very ends of the earth, each must ultimately choose a side in a final, titanic battle – as not only their lives and fortunes, but the entire future of the freedom-loving Pirate way, hangs in the balance.

Movie Review:


The all-important question is: How does Singapore fare as a location in this second sequel to the wildly successful movie inspired by a Disneyland theme ride?

The not-so-important answer is: Not very well. Viewers probably won’t think much of our tiny island after seeing how it is portrayed as a seedy little fishing village infested by shady baddies in the 18th century.

You see, Singapore is but a small element in this true-blue summer blockbuster that scores high on entertainment value. And like what we said in our review for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest last year, being able to entertain is a must for a summer blockbuster like this.

After anticipating Captain Jack Sparrow’s witty return for almost a year, the wait is finally over. The stirring cliffhanger in the 2006 sequel is adequately resolved in this third chapter of the action fantasy extravaganza. The entire motley crew is back – Johnny Depp’s winning Captain Jack, Orlando Bloom’s charming Will Turner, Keira Knightley’s adventurous Elizabeth Swann, Geoffrey Rush’s beardy Captain Barbossa and Bill Nighy’s creepy Davy Jones.

And how can we forget Chow Yun-Fat’s Sao Feng, the supposedly infamous pirate lord from Singapore who sends chills down everyone’s spines?

Not ours, actually.

Maybe it is due to the fact that we can’t take our eyes off the criss-cross scars on his bald head. Maybe it is due to the fact that we can’t take our eyes off his finely weaved moustache. Or maybe it is just because we can’t stop giggling at Chow reciting a poetic verse in Cantonese.

In any case, credit goes to the production team who has evidently taken effort to make this one of the finest movie franchise ever.

Where else can you see sets so well designed, it makes you feel like a child in an amusement park all over again? Where else can you laugh at perfectly-timed jokes which actually reflect some good writing? And where else can you ogle at stars which look so good despite having dirt and mud splattered on their faces throughout the movie?

Of course, it helps that the well-loved Depp carries the show with his unique persona. Although he has less screen time this time round, it is clear that he appears in the most interesting scenes, and the best one-liners for that matter.

And yes, Keith Richards (the British songwriter and guitarist inspired Depp’s Oscar-nominated performance) does make an appearance.

Compared to the last year’s sequel, what we also have less this time round is the fun factor. The 168-minute movie only picks up speed and energy somewhere during its halfway mark because it attempts to establish relationships and storylines between its various characters.

But we are not complaining, because what is in store is a breathtaking swashbuckling finale, which is literally the best thing we have seen on the big screen in recent years.

And true to the franchise’s spirit, take time to stay back after the end credits for a fitting last scene which wraps up the awesome trilogy nicely.

After cruising on the Black Pearl and braving the dangers of the Dead Man’s Chest, we would like to thank director Gore Verbinski for this awesome ride to World’s End.

Movie Rating:

(It has been one hell of a ride with Captain Jack Sparrow and his motley crew, and this third movie ends it with a spectacular bang)

Review by John Li