IMHO #1: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest

To make a long story short is impossible as far as this movie is concerned since most of this sequel is a setup for POTC 3. While Johnny Depp does another great job as Capt. Jack Sparrow (all eccentricities are present and accounted for as well as a touch of Buster Keaton-esque slapstick), the story doesn’t really go anywhere until the last half-hour. The sad fact is that this last thirty minutes serves to whet your appetite for the third film.

Note to director Gore Verbinski: Robert Zemeckis did this exact thing – ending film #2 with a “teaser” for film #3 – with Back to the Future 2 & 3. It stunk then and it stinks now. To see how a trilogy should be set up, see Star Wars: Episodes 4-6 and the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Each film can stand alone and fits within a larger story arc.

Final Grade: C+ (for Depp’s performance).