I was slightly disappointed in AWE even though my expectations weren't high. It was obviously too long, too much time was spent on lame subplots that no one cared about. The middle part was kinda boring before the action kicked in. It wasn't confusing, just pointless. The screenplay lacked the energy and the spark of the original making it even seem too serious in comparison. The final 40 minutes or so were great though, exactly what I would expect from a Pirates movie, some really awesome moments that almost made up for total mediocrity before that. So I would say the movie overall is probably decent, but nothing compared to the first one. 5/10

B-

I didn't really know what to make of it.
On one hand the entire movie was messy, confused and difficult to follow - and i never usually have trouble on that front.

But on the other, the visuals like Davy Jones' Locker, and the Maelstrom at the end - were just astonishing and logistically mind blowing. It is a true testament to the power of cinema in the digital age - anything really is possible in film now, and the $300m budget shows.

The characterization was an issue for me though. Orlando Blooms character was one minute duplicitous, the next minute heroic and ends up with an incredibly stupid character twist that i hated. The issue there is that they never clearly define his arc in this movie, so he just seems like a shifting idiot.

Keira Knightly, pouty as ever, is at least on form. She is actually one of the better performances in the film. Her character though could have transitioned to head of the Pirates more satisfyingly. I think they botched her arc too.

By far the biggest flop of the film was Jack Sparrow. He went from fun, flighty and interesting to a boring confused mess in this one.

The biggest mistake in these two movies is that they made them too much about mythology, darkness and supernatural in their attempts to capture the epic feeling they wanted, but it would have functioned much better if they'd kept things light and fun. The cinematography is better suited to a pretentious arthouse drama and the only real saving grace was the visual effects and action sequences along with impressive performances from supporting cast members.

All in all. Confused. Overlong. Quite dull at times. Yet also addictive, fantastic to look at and exciting at others. It's a mixed bag which pales in comparison to the first film, but is about on par with the second. It's a shame, because the story they had could have had more potential, and only the studio and creative team are to blame here.

The beautiful visual effects and action sequences are what forces this into positive territory, without them this is a cold C, with them its a solid B-

Oh and the conclusion of Will and Elizabeth's story was one of the most vastly unfufilling endings in Hollywood history.

Verbinski should know better than trying to give things a "different" twist. When you make a blockbuster basically poking fun at those before it and having a laugh in the spirit of summer fun, ending your trilogy on a bum note where the two love interests in a figurative limbo apart from one another is not a clever idea.

Your take on the ending is accurate.

Why force something that should be light and fun to get all heavy and serious? It's maddening and insulting and shows the filmmakers had no idea why the first one worked so well.

Since I have it on DVD I already watched it twice and it improved for me. There are still a lot of flaws but I surprisingly enjoy watching it more than I thought I would after the disapointing theater experience. But the Jack entry to the film is still as bad as it was before.

B


I looks like I have never reviewed this one here, so I will just go ahead and do it now. I saw it twice in theatres (not because I wanted to the second time, just went in for company). It is certainly the worst of the trilogy. While Dead Man's Chest still had moments that were equal to anything in the first film, this one definitely pales in comparison. Verbinski seems to have sucked most of the fun out of the franchise with this flick. Aparently he forgot that what made the first pirates so great, next to Depp's great turn, was the fact that it was a lighthearted, adventurous, funny and entertaining thrill ride. Being dark works for some films, like Harry Potter or Batman. Pirates just ain't one of 'em. At World's End tries to be grad and epic and mostly fails at that.

Of course there are still ingridients that make this a solid blockbuster. The final showdown between the Flying Dutchman and the Black Pearl is just great. The visual effects are once again top notch and Johnny Depp (while not as good as in the first two films) is still very good. It never really bores and certainly delivers some great eye candy. But it is also never as much fun asthe first two movies. It might have more action, but for that it lacks in humor. Jack Sparrow's entrance here is definitely worse than in the other Pirates flicks and the whole surrealistic scenes with him and the crabs as well as his other personalities just weren't funny and didn't work for me.

No one else has really much to do here. Knightley looks good and that's about it. Bloom is as bland as ever, Jack Davenport's role is too short. The only exceptions are Geoffrey Rush whom I've missed in the second film and Tom Hollander who makes for a very despisable villain. The scene of his demise is probably one of the most beautiful ones in the entire film. The plotline of the movie, however, is simply too complex for its own good. I mean it's everyone betrays pretty much everyone, but actually only a few are really traitors...the hell? As I mentioned before, the first Pirates film worked so well because it was great lighthearted fun and the makers of this film seem to have forgotten that. It's still an eye-catching, huge, action-filled blockbuster, but it doesn't have the heart of the first installment and lacks some of the fun of the second too.

Way worse than the fantastic original, way better than the horrible follow-up. Right in the middle.

B

As good as the original. Highly entertaining, with an interesting (although slightly confusing) story, amazing visuals and action sequences, great acting and humor...the perfect summer blockbuster.

A

First you love Atonement and then you agree with me on this one as well. You are awesome

I honestly don't remember the plotline in this movie... AT ALL. All I could tell you is that they find Jack in that retarded beach squence, sail for a while, meet Keith Richards and Chow Yun Fat, Norrington dies, then the climatic final battle.

I think I recall being pissed that like 70% of this movie them just sailing around quipping at each other, there's so much aimless wasted time here.

Junk.

The fact I gave this like a D+ was horrible, its a clear F. Vile waste of eyeball exposure.

Ugh, I can't believe I gave this movie ***1/2, I should really change it to...nah, actually this movie is still pretty awesome in a random, crazy, no-hold-barred epic sort of way.

*Keeps Grade at ***1/2 *

This movie is pretty bad, and I'm a semi-apologist for DMC!

I hate what they do with Knightley's character... it would've been so awesome if she stayed a Pirate. But no, stay at home house mommy.

Sorry, I still think this one's fantastic

Worst of the three.
DMC was fantastic and so was Curse of the Black Pearl. This was too messy. Still better than anything the incredibly overrated SpiderMan franchise made.

I can't believe I gave it an A-. This is barely B material.

saw this a second time and went from a B+ to a D.

Really this film makes me mad as all films are made to make money but this just insults you with its storyline.


However its still fun...

B-

My grade has slipped from B- to C
Im becoming a harsher grader these days heh.

if we all become Harsher graders we would not have to suffer through these films.

Im generally quite easy to please as a moviegoer.

This, however, was a tawdry waste of time. Im glad it existed just so I could put the long runtimes of future good movies aka The Dark Knight into perspective.

It took a lot of strength to pull through this 84 hour film.

M.