Pirates Of The Caribbean: At Worlds End?
Okay, I’ll admit, using the question mark gave the illusion that I didn’t like the movie; that’s not the reason I put it after the word “End”, but you’ll have to see the movie to understand why I did that.
Actually, yes, I did like “At Worlds End”, but I am the type of guy that is fascinated by these types of shows… you know, “Star Wars”, “Indiana Jones”, “Star Trek” and others that are the swashbuckling heroic type shows. Although, as in “Pirates”, the hero is not always clearly defined; I mean, think about it, Han Solo, of Star Wars, and Captain Jack Sparrow are actually scoundrels at best, but, somehow, become our heroes… of sorts. I suppose, like most men, I, in some ways, envy that spirit of reckless disposition and necessary savvy to survive in the underworld of life.
Okay, back to the movie. To start with, let me put this in prospective; “The Curse of the Black Pearl” is, by far, the best of the three. “At World’s End” would rank second, and “Dead Man’s Chest” is last, remember, though, “Dead Man’s Chest”, as in many trilogies, was a bridge from the first to the third and generally the second one always leaves you hanging; wanting more.
At Worlds End
The plot of “World’s End” is simple and complicated at the same time. Lord Cutler Beckett now has control of Captain Davy Jones and his ghost ship, the Flying Dutchman, and he, Lord Beckett, is trying to bring piracy to an end; which, you’d think, would be a good thing, but it’s not, old Cutler has a greedy heart and he is holding Davy Jones’ heart hostage to feed his own greed. Got that? Well, neither did I, all I was sure of is that Beckett was the evil doer and Davy Jones was the bad guy.
While the Flying Dutchman is at sea destroying all the pirate ships it can find, Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann and Captain Barbossa team up and head to the South China Sea, Singapore to be exact, in search of the Chinese pirate Captain, Sao Feng. It appears that Feng has charts, and a ship, that will help them to find the ends of the Earth, where, they hope; they will find Davy Jones’ Locker and rescue their friend, (their friend? I thought they tried to kill him), Captain Jack Sparrow.
Well, there is a reason for this rescue. The Pirates, it seems, have to assemble the, duh da duht ta daaa, (I hope you got that), Pirates of the Round Table! Well, actually, they called them the Nine Lords of the Brethren Court… and the table was oval. Anyway, these nine Pirate Captains have to assemble and decide what to do about Beckett, Jones and the Flying Dutchman. But, one of the nine is missing; who you ask? Why it’s our lovable, touched in the head, Captain Jack.
And the search is on. And the fun begins.
At this point, ladies, the question arises; just how many Johnny Depps would you like?
The biggest problem the Pirates have is that, they need one another but… they can’t trust each other. There is betrayal upon betrayal as the Pirate Captains quarrel amongst them selves, battling for position; who gets what and who’s in charge; especially between the two Captains of the Black Pearl, (Barbossa and Sparrow). The most surprising betrayal is between Will Turner and Captain Swann, (Captain Swann? Oh yeah, the beautiful Captain Elizabeth Swann. You’ll have to see the movie to see how that happens).
During the meeting of the Lords the argument of whether to run and hide or face the Flying Dutchman, and the British fleet, head on; this is where the King of the Pirates, Captain Teague, is called upon to settle the dispute.
Captain Teague, as it turns out, is Captain Jack’s daddy; even Jack’s mum makes a cameo appearance.
Anyway, Captain Teague is ousted in favor of a new Pirate King, (by one vote); the new King, (or Queen as it were), is Captain Swann; and the decision is made, the fight is on. During this little discussion Captain Teague sits down and plays a guitar and, hey, he’s not half bad.
Personal agendas are put aside and final alliances are made; the Pirate armada is formed and heads out to sea to face the Flying Dutchman and the British fleet. It’s a must; the freedom-loving way of the Pirate life is at stake.
It is high noon and the face off is immanent… No wait that would be a western.
The time has come for a final showdown; the Black Pearl and the Flying Dutchman circle each other as the skies turn stormy, (what else you ask?), and a whirlpool in the ocean threatens to suck them under, (that’s what else). Captain Jack takes on Davy Jones in a fierce and, (as always with Sparrow), acrobatic battle. The Pirate’s last hope disappears in a shower of crabs, (who the hell was Calypso anyway?). In the midst of battle, combatants are swinging from one ship to another and helmsmen struggle to keep their ships afloat, Will Turner proposes to Captain Swann and Captain Barbossa marries them, (HUNH?). The comic pair of British seamen, of course, adds humor throughout the stormy fight.
As that battle ends, (and the storm ends), Davy Jones locker takes on a new identity, and the two ships come side to side and face off the British fleet, (with the other pirate ships behind them). Who wins that fight? Go see the movie.
I did have some questions during all this excitement, and it was exciting… (To me that is; the wife wanted more tenderness and kissy-kissy, she didn’t care about all the battle scenes). During the final scene of “Dead Man’s Chest” Captain Jack Sparrow’s dental situation was disgusting, then, in “At World’s End”, except for a few gold crowns, he had pearly whites! Hmm, musta had some dental work in Davy Jones’ Locker.
And who, exactly, was Calypso? Well, later, I looked her up. Calypso was a sea goddess imprisoned in human form; the Pirates, somehow, freed her in hopes that she would aid them in battle. Well, that did answer the question of where all the crabs came from at Davy Jones’ Locker!
I did question the rating; my opinion is that small kids shouldn’t see the movie. A lot of battles, killing, nightmarish characters and… aw hell, they probably watch the news every day so…
My opinion? Great fun, go see it. Oh, if you haven’t seen the other two yet, rent them first, it will make “At World’s End” all the better. I will rate 3½ clouds out of 5.
I won’t tell you the finale except that Captain Jack Sparrow is left without a ship… again. And, so ends the “Pirates of the Caribbean” series… Or does it?
