Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
So matey, what is the price of your soul? Aye, that’s what I said, how much is your soul worth? For you see, that is the question Jack Sparrow (excuse me, Captain Jack Sparrow) must answer in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. In fact, that’s a question we all must face at some point, but a more pressing question is whether or not this Pirates sequel is any good.
Well, let’s examine the facts. First of all, it’s a movie based on a theme park ride. Second of all, it’s a sequel to a movie based on a theme park ride; so does it really have any right to be any good? No. But it is. Much like it’s predecessor, Dead Man’s Chest may surprise a lot of people. I’m not saying that it’s the best film ever made, mind you, nor is it necessarily better than the original, but it’s really much better than it has any right to be.
The entire crew has returned for this outing - from director to writers to producers to stars to co-stars; even the dog with the keys - and they all seem very comfortable in their roles. Of course, the character that holds everything together is Captain Jack Sparrow, and once again Johnny Depp does a marvelous job with this original rogue. However, everything in this second outing of Pirates has a darker and more serious edge to it. Whereas the first adventure was light and fun and never really took itself too seriously, this time around the adventure is still there, the action is big and fun, the humor is still around, but there’s more at stake, the themes are more serious, and the villains much darker than last. This also true of Sparrow. Although he’s as goofy, sly, deceptive and bit off as ever, he also displays a more serious and contemplative side as he struggles with a very personal conflict in Dead Man’s Chest. This change may be disappointing for fans, and I’m still not sure what to make of the more serious tone of this sequel. I enjoyed the film, but missed the much simpler, lighthearted, swashbuckling ways of the first. Still, Pirates does work as a more serious adventure, it just feels like a different film from the first which never really took itself too seriously.
Part of the reason Dead Man’s Chest is darker and more serious is because of the key to the plot. This time around, the pirates aren’t after treasure like in the first (cursed treasure to be sure, but still merely treasure). No this time Sparrow is on a quest for freedom. Not the freedom one finds with a ship, but freedom from a debt that he owes; a debt he owes to Davy Jones, the debt of his soul. Sparrow tries to swindle, con, buy, manipulate and otherwise pay or manage this debt on his own terms, and as these efforts make up the bulk of what takes place in the movie, I won’t go into any more detail about those efforts except to say they reflect the efforts of us all. We all owe a debt to evil. Just like the crew of Davy Jones, we owe a debt of servitude to evil that we have to pay. However, we won’t be able to talk our way out of it, even if we are as sly or slick as Captain Jack Sparrow, and all the gold of the seven seas wouldn’t be enough to even make a down payment on it. Your soul is priceless, the most valuable item in all the cosmos, which is why evil wants it so much. The good new is, however, that although we may never be able to pay the price we owe, God paid it for us. In fact, the Bible says when Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave for us, He paid double what was owed on our behalf. That’s how much God loves you, and just how valuable you are to Him. So stop looking for a way out of the debt you owe on your own terms, and just accept the gift of freedom that God has paid for your. I think you’ll find life in the service of righteousness to be far preferable to an eternity of servitude on the crew of Davy Jones and his evil minions.
Despite the darker, serious tone of Dead Man’s Chest, I still found it to be one of the best movies I’ve seen this summer. Granted it runs a bit long, and the lighthearted, let’s-not-take-this-too-seriously fun of the first Pirates is missed, Pirates 2 is still a lot of fun. The action is spectacular, and in a summer that’s thus far been filled with some pretty amazing special effects, the effects in this movie have impressed me the most. The make-up and effects done for Davy Jones and his crew is so good you don’t even notice it, and the creature effects for one of the biggest action scenes is absolutely stellar. Industrial Lights and Magic have really outdone themselves this time around. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest has everything you’d expect from a sequel - bigger action, more Jack Sparrow - and few things you wouldn’t - more serious tone, much darker edge to it. It’s really the Empire Strikes Back of the series. In fact, it pretty much follows the plot outline for that movie verbatim. While it may not be any sort of milestone in film history (as most of the reviews have illustrated thus far), it’s still much better than many have given it credit for, and it’s much better than any sequel to a movie based on the theme park ride should. Like the ride, it’s a lot of fun and good time, but this time it really wants to be taken as a serious adventure. While Pirates does work as a more serious film, I miss the let’s-just-have-fun attitude of the first. Still, I’m looking forward to how this wild ride will end next year when our heroes journey to The Ends of the Earth. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead’s Man Chest ups the ante in every way possible for a sequel and throws in a few new twists, turns and wrinkles as well. So is say, go ahead and sign on for second tour with Captain Jack Sparrow’s crew; I don’t think you’ll regret it.
Well, let’s examine the facts. First of all, it’s a movie based on a theme park ride. Second of all, it’s a sequel to a movie based on a theme park ride; so does it really have any right to be any good? No. But it is. Much like it’s predecessor, Dead Man’s Chest may surprise a lot of people. I’m not saying that it’s the best film ever made, mind you, nor is it necessarily better than the original, but it’s really much better than it has any right to be.
The entire crew has returned for this outing - from director to writers to producers to stars to co-stars; even the dog with the keys - and they all seem very comfortable in their roles. Of course, the character that holds everything together is Captain Jack Sparrow, and once again Johnny Depp does a marvelous job with this original rogue. However, everything in this second outing of Pirates has a darker and more serious edge to it. Whereas the first adventure was light and fun and never really took itself too seriously, this time around the adventure is still there, the action is big and fun, the humor is still around, but there’s more at stake, the themes are more serious, and the villains much darker than last. This also true of Sparrow. Although he’s as goofy, sly, deceptive and bit off as ever, he also displays a more serious and contemplative side as he struggles with a very personal conflict in Dead Man’s Chest. This change may be disappointing for fans, and I’m still not sure what to make of the more serious tone of this sequel. I enjoyed the film, but missed the much simpler, lighthearted, swashbuckling ways of the first. Still, Pirates does work as a more serious adventure, it just feels like a different film from the first which never really took itself too seriously.
Part of the reason Dead Man’s Chest is darker and more serious is because of the key to the plot. This time around, the pirates aren’t after treasure like in the first (cursed treasure to be sure, but still merely treasure). No this time Sparrow is on a quest for freedom. Not the freedom one finds with a ship, but freedom from a debt that he owes; a debt he owes to Davy Jones, the debt of his soul. Sparrow tries to swindle, con, buy, manipulate and otherwise pay or manage this debt on his own terms, and as these efforts make up the bulk of what takes place in the movie, I won’t go into any more detail about those efforts except to say they reflect the efforts of us all. We all owe a debt to evil. Just like the crew of Davy Jones, we owe a debt of servitude to evil that we have to pay. However, we won’t be able to talk our way out of it, even if we are as sly or slick as Captain Jack Sparrow, and all the gold of the seven seas wouldn’t be enough to even make a down payment on it. Your soul is priceless, the most valuable item in all the cosmos, which is why evil wants it so much. The good new is, however, that although we may never be able to pay the price we owe, God paid it for us. In fact, the Bible says when Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave for us, He paid double what was owed on our behalf. That’s how much God loves you, and just how valuable you are to Him. So stop looking for a way out of the debt you owe on your own terms, and just accept the gift of freedom that God has paid for your. I think you’ll find life in the service of righteousness to be far preferable to an eternity of servitude on the crew of Davy Jones and his evil minions.
Despite the darker, serious tone of Dead Man’s Chest, I still found it to be one of the best movies I’ve seen this summer. Granted it runs a bit long, and the lighthearted, let’s-not-take-this-too-seriously fun of the first Pirates is missed, Pirates 2 is still a lot of fun. The action is spectacular, and in a summer that’s thus far been filled with some pretty amazing special effects, the effects in this movie have impressed me the most. The make-up and effects done for Davy Jones and his crew is so good you don’t even notice it, and the creature effects for one of the biggest action scenes is absolutely stellar. Industrial Lights and Magic have really outdone themselves this time around. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest has everything you’d expect from a sequel - bigger action, more Jack Sparrow - and few things you wouldn’t - more serious tone, much darker edge to it. It’s really the Empire Strikes Back of the series. In fact, it pretty much follows the plot outline for that movie verbatim. While it may not be any sort of milestone in film history (as most of the reviews have illustrated thus far), it’s still much better than many have given it credit for, and it’s much better than any sequel to a movie based on the theme park ride should. Like the ride, it’s a lot of fun and good time, but this time it really wants to be taken as a serious adventure. While Pirates does work as a more serious film, I miss the let’s-just-have-fun attitude of the first. Still, I’m looking forward to how this wild ride will end next year when our heroes journey to The Ends of the Earth. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead’s Man Chest ups the ante in every way possible for a sequel and throws in a few new twists, turns and wrinkles as well. So is say, go ahead and sign on for second tour with Captain Jack Sparrow’s crew; I don’t think you’ll regret it.
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