expanding thoughts

I have a bit to add about Pirates (and kudos, Owen, for the Almost Famous reference about Depp).

I saw it on Friday night at the 9:45 showing. I might recommend the film, but I wouldn't advise that viewing time. Its 2.5 hour runtime makes for a late night.

It was fun, it had crustacean people with tentacles sprouting from their faces, and Keira Knightley got to kiss both Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom. These are the highlights. It's not that it was a terrible movie, it just wasn't as strong as the original. The original succeeded beyond all expectations, as it was a movie based on a theme park ride, but in doing so, it set up too much hype for this sequel.

One interesting role in this film was played by Naomi Harris, who played the mystical Tia Dalma, an ex-flame of Jack Sparrow. She was creepy and seductive at the same time and seemed almost worth adding the extra minutes to the overall length of the film. Look for Harris later this year in Miami Vice.

The movie could have been better, and the early scenes with the cannibalistic tribe seemed to be thrown in to make for a cool trailer, but it wasn't awful. I just hope they trim down the third one. Keith Richards is rumored to be making a cameo in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, so as long as they don't clutter the third film with too many other cameos and subplots, maybe it will be worthwhile.

And if you do see the second film out now, let me know if you find the ending scene as surprising as my friend did.