A few years ago Disney did something unheard of, they made a film based around one of their theme park rides "Pirates of the Carribbean". It was unheard of because usually the rides follow the films and not the other way around. The result was an unanticipated success, and the birth of what could easily become a new film franchise.

Johnny Depp reprises his role as permanently enebriated pirate, Jack Sparrow. Following his successful retaking of the 'Black Pearl', he and his motley crew go off in search of more plunder, leaving Elizabeth (Kiera Knightly) and Will (Legolas) in Port Royale where they face charges for having aid in his escape.

The happy couple aren't the only ones under threat of a death sentence though, due to an agreement with Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) Jack has just days to repay his debt before the Cragen (a mythical sea monster) takes his life by force.

All the main characters return in this epic of sequels, even our comic relief badies return (having apparently found faith!) The film flows easily from the last with little need to fill in any blanks. The reappearance of some characters does sometimes feel a bit tacked on, but plot developments later on do quite easily account for these. This film wasn't just thrown together, its cleverly written and well thought out.

The action scenes are brilliant, especially one scene where Sparrow, Turner and Naudington battle on an escaped water wheel. Even Miss Swan's character is developed as she rather pathetically throws rocks at them as they battle, feeling a tad left out.

The first movie featured skeletons and the undead, but managed to keep it lighthearted and fun. This movie's villains are part man, part aquatic animals, with Bootstrap Bill surfacing covered in barnacles and a starfish. Though they don't seem so menacing as the skeletons I must admit.

Anyway, This is a great movie and one for all the family. Light hearted swashbuckling action

see also:
Spider-man 3, Spider-man, Spider-man 2, Iron Man

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photo © Walt Disney Pictures.