The Movieland Report

I couldn’t help but be a little disappointed last year when Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest came out. It lacked the heart of 2003’s Curse of the Black Pearl and tried too hard to make up for it with special effects.

So going in with lower expectations to the third installment, At World’s End, I wasn’t disappointed, actually pleasantly surprised. While this movie doesn’t have the good natured overtone of the original, the acting and special effects make up for any shortcomings.

Back are all the actors from the last film and also returning is Geoffey Rush’s Captain Barbossa, who was resurrected at the end of Dead Man’s Chest to lead Elizabeth Swan [Keira Knightley] and Will Turner [Orlando Bloom] in their quest to save Captain Jack Sparrow [Johnny Depp] from Davy Jones’ Locket.

A 2:45 minute marathon put together by director Gore Verbinski follows with twists and turns that will make you wonder who is on whose side. Depp is back in form as Sparrow and Keith Richards, who Depp based the character on, has a cameo as his father. Knightly seems to be in form as the strong Swan, while Bloom looks maybe a little less interested in Knightly, but more in saving his father Bootstrap Bill [Stellan Skarsgård].

Chow Yun-Fat also appears in as Singapore pirate Sao Fung.

The real scene stealer, though, is Rush. After being brought back to life, it’s his acting that drives the film. You never know what his intentions are and wait to see if he will turn on the heroes.

Fighting the pirates are Davy Jones [Bill Nighy] and Lord Cutler Beckett [Tom Hollander] of the East India Trading Co., who controls Jones’ heart and therefore his ship, the ghostly Flying Dutchman.

Moviegoers won’t be disappointed with the last half hour of the film that may have some of the best battle sequences ever filmed. And the strength of the acting keeps the viewer interested up until the final battle starts. Since they started making this film before the script was finished, it does show with a mish-mash of twists and turns, which would have been taken out if there was more time for a script review.

No matter. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End is a fitting conclusion to the trilogy, which will leave fans bittersweet at the end as Captain Jack and company sail off to the sunset.

Rating: ***

Any movie that follows up Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2 will have big shoes to fill since the first two flicks in the series may be the two best comic book epics of all-time.

So fans may be right to be disappointed with Spider-Man 3, not because it’s a bad movie, but since it’s not as good as the last two.

No matter. The third episode is a good movie in its own right and should be judged on its merits, not of its predecessors. Director Sam Raimi is back as is all the past cast members.

The story starts off with Peter Parker [Tobey Maguire] finally happy with himself. He is doing well in school; his relationship with Mary Jane [Kirsten Dunst] is progressing and, of course, everyone loves Spider-Man.

But after Harry Osbourne [James Franco] tries to take revenge as the New Goblin and ultimately has amnesia as a result of the fight with Pete, an alien presence takes hold of Spidey’s suit and changes Parker’s personality to somewhat of a jerk.

At the same time this is going on, Flint Marko [Thomas Haden Church], Uncle Ben’s real killer, escapes from prison and while being chances falls into a particle emitter changing him into the Sandman.

After not being happy with himself, Parker eventually rips the alien off of him and it finds a home with Eddie Brock [Topher Grace] - a rival photographer, who Pete ruins – and he become the evil Venom.

It’s a learning experience for Parker, who eventually has to meet-up with Harry again after he remembers everything.

The movie is long and complex - it runs 2:20 - but that doesn’t mean it’s not entertaining. The battle sequences at the end are fabulous and worth the wait.

Maguire and Dunst were better in the past Spider-man movies, but Franco shines here and Harry and he carries the end of the flick.

Overall, Spider-Man 3 closes the chapter on this portion of the series with hopes for more in the future.

Rating: ***