PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END

NYTIMES REVIEW

Back to the Bounding Main

“The immaterial has become material,” announces the East India Company’s scheming Lord Beckett (Tom Hollander) early in “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.” He could be referring to the recent resurrection of the pirate Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), flush with life and his expanded role in the trilogy. Or he could be speaking of his newfound dominion over the Flying Dutchman and its squid-faced captain, Davy Jones (Bill Nighy), whose excavated heart is now in Beckett’s possession.

More likely, though, the words are a subliminal reassurance from the director, Gore Verbinski. After the bloated shenanigans of the previous entry, “Dead Man’s Chest” — perhaps the only pirate movie to see the need for a Ferris wheel — Mr. Verbinski is reminding us why we should ever trust him again

(Full Review)

(JEANNETTE CATSOULIS for NYTIMES)


WASHINGTON POST REVIEW

The saga of Captain Jack Sparrow comes to an end (or does it?) in this third installment of the Disney action franchise

Funner, biggerer, brighterer, bolderer, "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" is not only okay, it may even be close to good. A lavish spectacle illuminated by Johnny Depp's swishing pirate captain, the movie has its dull moments, but not many.

Our hero from films one and two, Capt. Jack Sparrow (Depp), is dead. Not to worry. This is a movie based, after all, on a theme park ride, not a story, so there are no rules and no reason why he can't be fetched from the grim land he now inhabits.

(Full Review)

(Stephen Hunter for WASHINGTON POST)


HOLLYWOOD REPORTER REVIEW

Avast -- as in a vast improvement over the soggy previous installment

For what it's worth, the trilogy-capping "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," represents a considerable step up from the soulless "Dead Man's Chest."

Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow's in fine flighty form and the enterprise as a whole has reconnected with some of that fun stuff that made it such a pleasant excursion when it first set sail back in 2003.

(Full Review)

(MICHAEL RECHTSHAFFEN for HOLLYWOOD REPORTER)


VARIETY REVIEW

The third voyage in the "Pirates" trilogy could be touted as "the biggest, loudest and second-best (or second-worst) 'Pirates' ever!" -- not necessarily a ringing endorsement, but honest. "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" clocks in at more than 2¾ hours, but, unlike last year's bloated sequel, at least possesses some semblance of a destination, making it slightly more coherent -- if no less numbing during the protracted finale. A bountiful opening is assured. The running time could diminish this swashbuckler's staying power, but Disney would likely leap at "Pirates IV" in a heartbeat if the principals would enlist for another tour at sea.

(Full Review)

(BRIAN LOWRY for VARIETY)


USA TODAY REVIEW

'Pirates' goes down with the ship

The pirate ship has hit foul waters, and even the sharp wit and charm of everyone's favorite buccaneer can't save it.

One longs for more scenes featuring Captain Jack Sparrow, Johnny Depp's indelible and beloved character in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (* 1/2 out of four), and less of everything else in this bloated, overwrought and convoluted three-hour misfire.

(Full Review)

(Claudia Puig for USA TODAY)


ROLLING STONE REVIEW

The good news first: Keith Richards totally rocks it playing pirate daddy to Johnny Depp's Capt. Jack Sparrow. The deep rumble of his voice and those hooded eyes that narrowly open like the creaky gates of hell make him what the rest of this three-peat is not: authentically scary. It's fun to see Richards swagger, even sitting down. Watch him stage a macabre reunion for Jack and his dear old mum. Don't worry, I won't reveal her secret.

(Full Review)

(Peter Travers for ROLLING STONE)


LOS ANGELES TIMES REVIEW

Third 'Pirates' long on spectacle, short on sense

The third 'Pirates of the Caribbean' has plenty of . . . It's possible that someone, somewhere, has put together a flowchart or diagram tracking the many plots, subplots, digressions, divagations and flights of whimsy in "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," which, depending on your tolerance for Byzantine complication for complication's sake, might have been alternately titled "At Wit's End."

The third in a series that appears to be hinting at immortality in more ways than one, "Pirates 3" demands intimate knowledge of the first two installments, not to mention a sterling memory and attention span. In other words, it pays to be prepared. Seriously, this thing is a stern master — walk in casually off the street and you risk nearly three hours of very high-octane confusion.

(Full Review)

(Carina Chocano for LA TIMES)


SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE REVIEW

'Pirates' takes on a lot of water in its 3rd voyage. Not even Keith Richards can keep this dud afloat

The competition is enormous, but with "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," a case could be made for "Pirates" as the worst film series since Thomas Edison got the wacky idea that pictures could move. "Hellraiser," the previous titleholder, looked as though it might hold onto its crown, thanks to its disgusting effects. But the makers of "Pirates" cleverly diminished that advantage with gross undead seamen and lots of rotting teeth. And now it overtakes "Hellraiser" through sheer length and by a novel new effect: The story is so convoluted and impenetrable, so impossible to grasp hold of, that viewers sit there wondering if they've had a stroke.

(Full Review)

(Mick LaSalle for SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE)