DVD Challenge #8: PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
2007
PG-13
Run-time: 2 hours, 49 minutes

Directed by: Gore Verbinski
Starring: Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Yun-Fat Chow, Tom Hollander, & Bill Nighy


The third and then-final chapter in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise may have garnered the worst critical reviews of the original trilogy, and it may have been the least-understood and least-loved installment of the films to that point, but I for one have always rather enjoyed it. Sure, I'm a bit of a Pirates fanboy, and I have no qualms with admitting myself to be as such. I can see where some may have been put off by At World's End - it's twenty minutes longer than Dead Man's Chest, making it the longest film in the series, On Stranger Tides included. At nearly three hours long, it definitely feels it at certain moments. But I still find it to be a romping ride into pirate mythology and lore.

As I mentioned in my write-up of Dead Man's Chest, the second and third films in the Pirates franchise held relatively true to the basics of pirate mythology. I didn't learn any of this until after seeing the third film in theaters. At the time, I was as confused as everyone else with all of the goofiness of Davy Jones' Locker in the film and its continuation in the film's reality. In addition, the concept of the goddess Calypso got a lot of people scratching their heads as well. As far-fetched as it sounds, it all holds true to the mythological basis of many a supernatural pirate story. And as we saw in The Curse of the Black Pearl, the filmmakers had no problem delving into the supernatural.

And so, if you can suspend your disbelief for the epically long adventure, you're in for quite a treat. Yes, there's a bit of pirate politics involved, and at points, the film moves a little bit slower than the previous films in the franchise. However, it all serves as quite a bit of exposition which may have been better served to be spread out throughout the franchise. We get it all here, as it were, and for those of you who are able, there's a lot to be had. I know that the screenplay offers quite a bit to digest, and I think the sheer magnitude of information we're given pushed a lot of viewers away when the film hit theaters back in 2007. There's so many intertwined storylines that it's a little bit difficult to follow at times, but multiple viewings definitely allow a better understanding.

As usual, we get a slew of legitimate performances. Johnny Depp is Jack Sparrow once again, delving into a bit of a weirder portrayal of him as he battles the doldrums of Davy Jones' Locker. The return of Geoffrey Rush to a starring role is also a welcome sight as his absence in the second film definitely caused me to miss him. We even get a cameo from famed Rolling Stones rocker Keith Richards, whose screen presence is so dominant that it's hard to take your eyes off him.

So although there's many an individual who wasn't fond of this ending to the trilogy, I for one love it equally and find it a legitimate finalé. Had the series ended on that note, I would have embraced the trilogy as it held. Fortunately for everyone, On Stranger Tides hits U.S. theaters tonight at midnight, so we shall see where the winds will take us. I couldn't be more excited.

Previous DVD Challenge: PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST (2007)

DVD Challenge #7: PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST

Pirates of the Caribbean:
Dead Man's Chest
2006
PG-13
Run-time: 2 hours, 31 minutes

Directed by: Gore Verbinski
Starring: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy, Tom Hollander & Jack Davenport


As we in the United States get closer to the opening day of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, I've decided to watch the original trilogy in preparation. Some of you may have seen my "DVD Challenge" for the first film, but now we're getting into the central film in the original three. I know there's many an individual who isn't terribly fond of the second and third films in the Pirates franchise, but I myself am a bit of a fanatic when it comes to the Jack Sparrow saga.

I think a lot of people got a little too mired in the eccentricity of the storylines in the second and third films. Whereas it took very little imagination to suspend our disbelief for the original flick, adding the concept of Davy Jones and his "pet beastie" the Kraken asked for a little bit more of belief suspension. Originally, I was also a little put-off by the creatures on the Flying Dutchman, but after taking to some reading, I found that the latter Pirates films actually held true to basic pirate mythology. But more of that conversation will come after I re-watch At World's End.

Basically, we get another fantastic performance from Depp, although it's not quite as close to the Oscar-nominated portrayal he gives in the first film. Bill Nighy also does quite well with our villain this time around, bringing a real believability to the computer-generated Davy Jones. And as I stated in my post about my favorite Pirates characters, Jack Davenport brings another facet to his character Norrington.

Overall, we get a movie that's a little bit goofier than the original but still entertaining and engaging enough to be considered a success in my eyes. It doesn't come close to reaching or matching the original film, but it serves well as its immediate successor. It's terribly difficult to create a sequel that outdoes the original, so anyone hoping for something grander than The Curse of the Black Pearl set their standards a little too high. Dead Man's Chest is a fun and energetic film that sets up the final piece of the trilogy well. And the ending of this film still gives me chills every time I see it.

Previous DVD Challenge: PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL (2003)

Movie Review: HANNA

HANNA

2011
PG-13

Hanna is a 2011 action film directed by Joe Wright. The film opens on a young girl named Hanna (Saoirse Ronan) as she hunts an elk in an icy wilderness. After making the kill, she is "ambushed" by her father Erik (Eric Bana) and a subsequent fight ensues. We quickly learn that Erik used to be some sort of special agent, and he is training his daughter for a mission to kill a woman named Marissa Wiegler (Cate Blanchett), who killed Hanna's mother. When Erik believes Hanna to be ready, he gives her the option of taking that path in life. After spending some time contemplating the decision, Hanna chooses to take the risk and calls for Marissa to find her. Within a day, Marissa's team scoops Hanna and brings her back to a secret base, from which she soon escapes and believes she's killed the real Marissa and has successfully completed her mission. Hanna begins her journey to Berlin, where she is to meet her father, but a series of roadblocks stand in her path. She befriends a similarly-aged girl named Sophie (Jessica Barden) and her family, but the friendship ultimately puts Sophie's family in peril as well. As Hanna continues her journey, she must fight to stay alive and put together the pieces of the puzzle that solve the riddle that is her life.

I know the above synopsis sounds a little convoluted, but it's the best I can manage considering the circumstances. In all reality, the screenplay is rather original and very inventive, but it's not necessarily going to blow you away. Still, we're given a solid story that's more or less straight-forward. We're thrown a twist here or there, but for the most part, the screenplay is very linear and doesn't deviate from it's course once it's set. I can honestly say that Hanna is the first smash action thriller of the year, even after giving Source Code a glowing review last week. From the opening scene, you're hooked into the film, and it never gives you the opportunity to back out. We've got a ton of pulse-pounding action that'll keep you on the edge of your seat.

The acting ensemble is probably the best we've been given thus far in 2011, and it's spear-headed by the young and ferocious Ronan. For those of you who haven't heard of this acting wonder, you need not look past her 2008 Academy Award nomination for her supporting role in Atonement. Although I wasn't drawn into all that hype, she definitely delivered for me this time around. We very well may have the makings of a new female action star here, but that's neither here nor there for the moment. Ronan brings a strong performance of duality, fluidly switching from tough-as-nails killer to scared-and-defenseless teenager on the fly. This constant changing provides us a broad spectrum for her Hanna, and it makes her performance all the more believable and gives the audience the ability to relate to the character. So kudos, little one, on a fine acting performance.

That's not to say that the supporting characters don't pull their weight. Bana and Blanchett bring their typical greatness to the screen, so there's not much to say there (although, I'm still not sure how I feel about Blanchett's Southern accent, but I won't get into that now). We also have some very good smaller roles from the likes of Olivia Williams and Jason Flemyng, who play the aforementioned Sophie's parents. And Tom Hollander, who most of you will recognize from the second and third installments of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, portrays a very creepy villain that's sure to give you some chills.

I'd also like to tip my hat to the Chemical Brothers for producing a very emphatic musical score for the film. Although it's a little bit out there, it finds a way to fit Hanna perfectly, and it should definitely be commended.

Overall, Hanna might not be a must-see, but it's pretty darn close. If you're itching for some mile-a-minute action, then this is easily your best bet this weekend. Throw in some great performances, and you've got the makings of a very, very good film. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did.

Movie Review Summary:
Grade: A-
1.5 Thumbs Up