Movie Review: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
MARCUS KEELY Sentinel Writer

Who knew pirates could be so long-winded? At a whopping 168 minutes (that's two hours and 48 minutes if you do the math), the third installment of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" trilogy succeeds in making the viewer feel like he or she has been castaway at sea for much too long. Perhaps the hard-core fan will enjoy sitting through the endless cycle of action sequences, however, it seems that the "average" viewer's anticipation will wane as the minutes wax.

But if patience isn't a problem for you, and/or you didn't just chug down a two-liter of Coke before heading to the theater, then "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" may just be the summer blockbuster you've been waiting all winter and spring to see. Like any summer hit nowadays, "Pirates" is eye candy to watch. Director Gore Verbinski infused this third, and supposedly final "Pirates" flick, with stunning special effects that successfully blur the line between what is real and what is computer-animated. It seems that not a single frame of the film passes in which a computer generated background, character or lighting effect cannot be seen. From where I was sitting (the third row from the front), everything popped out at me in such a way that I felt absorbed by all that was taking place on the screen. A friend who was sitting next agreed, describing to me afterwards how she felt like she had become part of the movie. If good effects make for a good movie, "At World's End" should at least be nominated for an Oscar come March of next year.

To be sure, without the aid of multiple special effects wizards, this action-packed story could never be told. However, the plot of the movie is weakened by all of the glitz and glamour on the screen. It appears as if Disney whispered in the writer's ears "pack as much action and stunning visuals into this thing as you can, even if you have to write a storyline that makes no sense." If "Pirates" is ever made into a book, well…heaven forbid. But don't get me wrong, "At World's End" features some hilarious one-liners courtesy of the fanatical Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), and a somewhat intriguing romance between Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and the strong-willed Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley). I even found myself laughing (a rare occurrence when watching a movie) at some of the absurd things that came out of Mr. Sparrow's mouth. As for the rest of the story though, it doesn't seem to hold much water.

Characters are running all over the place, trying to do who -knows-what in an attempt to save pirates around the world from extinction at the hands of the East India Trading Company. One thing is for sure, if you're planning on keeping up with all the twists and turns, you might want to wait for the DVD to be released. Being able to pause the movie and think through what just happened is a godsend when dealing with movies like "Pirates." Here's an even better idea, try watching the movie backwards. Maybe then it will make more sense. My advice is: don't go see this movie if you're expecting a thought-provoking and wellconceived narrative. You won't get one.

If you absolutely love Johnny Depp and big-budget special effects make your jaw drop, then please, by all means, go see "At World's End." It could be the most exciting thing you do all summer. Be warned though, 168 minutes of non-stop explosions and a next to non-existent plot could very well turn your pirate "aaaarrrrs" into exhausted "zzzzzzs."

To comment on this article, email Marcus at keelma6@wfu.edu.