Review - Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)

         Hey guys, Chuck here. The ending of Dead Man's Chest set up for the third movie to wrap up the story that began in Dead Man's Chest. This third film from Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, would see all of the key players from the previous films return, including Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Jack Davenport, Jonathan Pryce, Kevin R. McNally, Naomie Harris, Stellan Skarsgard, Bill Nighy, and Geoffrey Rush, with one major newcomer being Chow Yun-Fat. Gore Verbinski returns to direct, with Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio writing once again. 

        So, At World's End opens in Port Royal, where several individuals convicted of piracy or assisting those convicted of piracy are being hanged. One of those being hanged, a little boy, holds a coin in his hand, and begins singing the song "Hoist the Colours," joined by everyone else in the courtyard. Apparently, this singing was exactly what Cutler Beckett was waiting for. The song is ended with the hanging, and we cut to Elizabeth Swann, rowing a small boat to a dock in Singapore, where she is confronted by pirates loyal to Captain Sao Feng, who is the Pirate Lord of Singapore. Elizabeth, along with Barbossa, is taken to Sao Feng, where we learn that his men caught a thief attempting to steal the Navigation Charts, which can lead to a path to Davy Jones' Locker. The thief, Will Turner, is revealed, and Barbossa reveals why the Charts are needed. Because the song has been sung, it's time for the Brethren Court to convene, and as one of the nine Pirate Lords, Sao Feng must heed the call. Also, Jack Sparrow, who is trapped in the Locker, is one of the nine Pirate Lords, and he never passed his Piece of Eight on to a successor before being taken into the Locker. 

        Sao Feng attempts to kill a man, believing him to be with Barbossa. However, he's revealed to be working with the East India Trading Company, and Mercer leads an attack on Singapore. The crew of the Pearl, along with Sao Feng's crew, fends them off, and Will cuts a deal with Sao Feng for the Charts, a ship, and a crew. So, it's off to the way to the Locker. Meanwhile, Davy Jones and the crew of the Dutchman are pretty much on an unstoppable rampage, much to the chagrin of Beckett, who controls the heart of Davy Jones and ordered Jones to kill the Kraken. Fed up, Beckett and his men take over the Dutchman, with now Admiral Norrington in command. To ensure Jones'cooperation, Beckett has the Dead Man's Chest, with Jones' heart inside of it, under heavy guard in the Captain's cabin on the Dutchman. 

         So, Barbossa and co. traverse through waters that go through some ice floes, as well as an uncharted path leading straight for a waterfall. The ship heads over the edge of the waterfall, and it's off to Davy Jones' Locker. And, it's here where we see Jack on the Pearl, having clearly lost it because he's seeing hallucinations of, well, himself. Eventually, he gets tired of everything going on, and says "I wash my hands of this weirdness," jumping overboard onto the salt flats below. Jack tries to drag the Pearl towards water, but to no avail. A bunch of white crabs, that initially appear as rocks, ultimately get the job done, leaving Jack to have to chase after his own ship. 

         Barbossa, Will, Elizabeth, and the others are on the beach, wondering where to find Jack, but Tia Dalma remarks he's "closer than you think." Eventually, they see the Pearl coming up over the sand dune, slide down across the beach, and back into the water. Jack rejoins everyone, but passes them all of as hallucinations as well. But, after seeing Elizabeth, reality finally sets in for Jack. And I think my favorite part was Jack's reunion with Barbossa, remarking how long it had been, with Barbossa reminding him "Aye. Isla de Muerta, remember? Ya shot me," to which Jack brushes off with "No, I didn't." Again, just to show how full of himself Jack Sparrow really is. It's hysterical. 

        Anyway, it's off along trackless sea in Davy Jones' Locker, and at night, they witness spirits of those who died at sea, to which Tia Dalma remarks how the spirits are supposed to be in the care of Davy Jones himself. Apparently, the sea goddess Calypso gave him a duty: ferry the souls of those who died at sea to the afterlife, and after ten years he could return to shore and be with the woman he loves. Unfortunately, he became a corrupt, heartless, monster and is forever changed because of it. Among the souls of the dead is Governor Swann, whom Elizabeth wants to bring back with them, but he doesn't budge, instead offering to "give your best to your mother." Not only does this imply that Governor Swann is now at peace, but his wife died years before. 

         So, everyone is still trying to figure out how to get back, and Jack sees something on the Charts that gets his attention: "Up is Down." Upon realizing what it means, Jack tries to flip the Pearl over, so it's upside down. The green light flashes, and the water changes, and the Pearl returns to the world of the living. Now with everyone back from the Locker, Barbossa tells Jack that the Brethren Court is gathering, and the two of them are going, no arguments about it. Jack, however, remarks that he is going to argue the point as "if pirates are gathering, I'm pointing my ship the other way." After a standoff, with pistols aimed everywhere, unfortunately no shots go off, as the gunpowder is all wet. Whoops. 

        Anyway, Barbossa and Jack lead a shore party to resupply, where they run across the Kraken lying dead on the beach. Another person is found dead, and Pintel recognizes him from Singapore. Unfortunately, Sao Feng has arrived and overtaken the Pearl, with help from Will. Yeah, Will turned on everyone, as he needs the Pearl to free his father from the Dutchman. Sao Feng ALSO betrays everyone, having made a deal with Beckett, who arrives aboard the Endeavour. And what does Beckett want? Information from Jack regarding the Brethren Court: meeting place, who they are, and the importance of the nine Pieces of Eight. Jack manages to negotiate a deal, and makes a miraculous escape. Meanwhile, Barbossa confers with Sao Feng, claiming that he has the sea goddess Calypso herself, bound in human form. Initially, Sao Feng believes that Elizabeth is Calypso, and takes her aboard his ship, and takes off in the opposite direction of the Pearl. Beckett decides to pursue the Pearl, and sends the Dutchman after Sao Feng. 

      Back on Sao Feng's ship, he speaks with Elizabeth in regards to the story of Calypso. Apparently, the first Brethren Court chose to bound the goddess into human form, which was a decision Sao Feng would have opposed, believing that Calypso shouldn't be less than what she truly is. Unfortunately, the Dutchman attacks, and Sao Feng is killed. Before his death, he names Elizabeth as captain, and tells her to go to Shipwreck Cove. Unfortunately, Elizabeth and her crew are taken prisoner aboard the Dutchman, where Norrington reveals he believed that Governor Swann was sent back to England, not that the Governor was dead. Whoops. Anyway, it's in the brig that Elizabeth meets Bootstrap Bill for the first time, and he initially gets excited at the news that Will is okay and is coming to save him. However, Bootstrap takes a step back, and he tells Elizabeth that if it comes to a choice between her or his father, Will will choose her instead of his father. Bootstrap then tells her to tell Will it's too late, as he's already "part of the ship." But, later forgetting this, Bootstrap remarks that Will is, indeed, coming for him as they made a promise. Norrington helps Elizabeth and her crew escape, at the cost of his own life. Unfortunately, Mercer assumes command of the Dutchman, as he has Jones' key.

        Will, meanwhile, escapes the brig of the Pearl, and is leaving a breadcrumb trail for Beckett to follow. Jack catches him one night, and busts his chops over the ordeal. Jack tosses him overboard with his compass, shouting "My regards to Davy Jones!" Will is eventually picked up by the Endeavour, and Jones is summoned. And here, I say again, HERE is where we get some truths: first, Calypso was the woman Davy Jones fell in love with, and on the day he came to be with her after ten years, she was gone. So, HE showed the Brethren Court how to bind her into human form. Also, on the Pearl, we learn that Tia Dalma is Calypso, and has been the entire time, and that SHE was responsible for bringing Barbossa back from the dead. 

         Okay, so we get the meeting of the Brethren Court, and we meet the Pirate Lords: Ammand the Corsair of the Black Sea, Captain Chevalle of the Mediterranean Sea, Eduardo Villanueva of the Adriatic Sea, Mistress Ching of the Pacific Ocean, Gentleman Jocard of the Atlantic Ocean, and Sri Sumbhajee of the Indian Ocean. Jack is the Pirate Lord of the Caribbean, while Barbossa is the Pirate Lord of the Caspian Sea. Each of them surrenders a knicknack that stands as their Pieces of Eight, and Elizabeth arrives, and informs the Brethren that Sao Feng is dead, having fallen to the Dutchman. So, now for what the Brethren Court must do: Elizabeth suggests fighting against Beckett, Jones, and all of the Brethren's enemies, whilst Barbossa suggests freeing Calypso from her human bonds. As for Calypso, she and Jones have a reunion, where we see Jones in human form for a brief moment. 

         Back with the Brethren Court, Jack decides to side with Elizabeth, in that the Brethren should fight. Barbossa, however, reminds of how, according to the Pirate Code, only a Pirate King can declare war on behalf of the Brethren. And it's here where we meet the Keeper of the Code: Captain Teague, father of Jack Sparrow. And can you guess who played Captain Teague? Yep,. Keith Richards, who Johnny Depp took inspiration from in his portrayal of Jack Sparrow, is playing the father of Jack Sparrow. That is awesome. Anyway, Teague reveals that Barbossa is correct, and so a vote is called for to elect the next Pirate King. One problem though, as every Pirate Lord votes for themselves. Whoops. Jack, being a crafty son-of-a-bitch, votes for Elizabeth. Initially, the other Pirate Lords get mad at him, but relent and accept Elizabeth as the new Pirate King, and she declares that they go to war at dawn, which Sri Sumbhajee confers. And, I will admit, I didn't expect Sri Sumbhajee to have the voice of a chipmunk. Weird. And, we get a father-son moment between Jack and Teague, where Teague tells his son "It's not just about livin' forever, Jackie. It's about livin' with yourself forever." 

        The next morning, the pirate fleet sees the fleet of the East India Trading Company, and it's off to the Sandbar of Parley, where Elizabeth, Barbossa, and Jack meet Beckett, Will, and Jones. And, of course, Beckett reveals that Will was merely a tool of betrayal, with Jack as the architect. Elizabeth suggests a trade: Will for Jack. Beckett agrees to it, and Barbossa takes Jack's piece of eight. It's back to the Pearl, where Barbossa performs the ritual to free Calypso. However, although he says the words, it initially doesn't work due to his tone. Ragetti, however, uses the right tone, and the ritual succeeds. Will then reveals the true identity of the one who betrayed Calypso by telling the first Brethren Court how to bind her into human form: Davy Jones. Enraged by this heartbreaking betrayal, Calypso grows large, bursts into a bunch of crabs, and returns to the sea. 

        However, Elizabeth believes that there's still a fight, and she gives a rousing speech to rally the pirates, and the Pearl heads off to lead the charge, while the pirates all "hoist the colours." Beckett signals the Dutchman to proceed, and "give no quarter." And the epic fight takes place: the Black Pearl vs. the Flying Dutchman. Davy Jones vs. Jack Sparrow. Jones' crew, along with the Company's men vs. the pirates. And, all of this is taking place in the middle of a rainstorm AND in the middle of a massive maelstrom, both summoned by Calypso. In the heat of battle, Will asks Elizabeth to marry him, as it may be their only chance. Barbossa, despite being busy with fighting against bad guys, agrees and performs a wedding ceremony. And just saying, the idea of a wedding taking place in the heat of an epic battle is actually pretty kickass. And, of course Barbossa pronounces Will and Elizabeth as husband and wife, and says "You may kiss--! You may kiss--! Just kiss!" Will and Elizabeth kiss, signifying their marriage, and the fight goes on. 

        Will and Elizabeth make their way to the Dutchman, where Jones kills Mercer and reclaims his key, Jack escapes his cell and is fighting against Jones, and Will end up in a scuffle with Bootstrap, Elizabeth tries to fight off Jones, and Will stabs him in the chest. But no heart there. Whoops. Jack has the heart and a broken blade in his hands, and Jones stabs Will in the heart. Broken from his daze, Bootstrap sees what's happened, and fights off Jones. Jack puts the broken blade in Will's hand, making it so Will stabs Jones' heart, finally killing the captain of the Flying Dutchman. Jack and Elizabeth escape, and the Pearl heads out of the maelstrom. As for the crew of the Dutchman, they grab the Dead Man's Chest, gather around Will, and repeatedly chant "Part of the ship. Part of the crew." Bootstrap cuts his own son's heart out, remarking how "The Dutchman must have a Captain." 

         Back on the surface, it's the Pearl against the Endeavour, the latter of which has the former clearly outgunned. However, the Dutchman rises from the ocean, all of the nasty bits breaking off, and the crew returning to a more human appearance. Will, now Captain of the Dutchman, orders his crew to get "ready on the guns." Double teaming against the Endeavour, the Pearl AND the Dutchman blow Beckett and his flagship to pieces, killing Beckett and ending the threat against the pirates for good. Celebrations all around, but also somber reflections, as Elizabeth and Will, now newlyweds, must live apart as per the Curse of Davy Jones: one day ashore, ten years at sea to ferry the souls of the dead to the afterlife. Will and Elizabeth have their one day together, and he gives her the Dead Man's Chest for safekeeping. Will returns to the Dutchman, and it disappears in a green flash. Oh, and Bootstrap offers himself to be on Will's crew. 

       Anyway, back at Tortuga, Jack is reunited with Scarlett and Giselle, promising to take them for a ride on the Pearl, but it's gone again, with Barbossa leaving Jack behind. However, the crew did leave a dinghy for Jack, which is nice. Gibbs was left behind as well, and after a lot of nonsense between Jack, Scarlett, and Giselle, which leads to both women slapping Jack, and Jack slapping Gibbs for no reason whatsoever aside from it being funny, Gibbs walks off with the two women, offering to tell them about sea turtles. Back on the Pearl, Pintel, Ragetti, Marty, Murtogg, and Mullory (the latter two joined the pirates during the battle at Shipwreck Cove) meet with Barbossa, as they all feel guilty about leaving Jack behind again. Barbossa then attempts to show them something on the Navigation Charts: the route to the Fountain of Youth. One problem: no charts. Jack cut the charts out, and is also setting off to find the Fountain of Youth. A post-credits scene shows that, ten years later, Elizabeth and Will have a son, Henry Turner, and he and his mother witness the return of the Dutchman for Will's one day ashore. 

         There's a lot to unpack with At World's End. First off, the idea of the Brethren Court being a governing body for pirates around the world. Believe it or not, pirates were among the first to be truly democratic in that time period. While many societies still worshipped Kings and Emperors as political leaders, the idea of electing leadership, setting jobs, and splitting plunder equally, was all a thing in pirate society. So, this movie getting into that ideology slightly with the Brethren Court was pretty neat. And, it was cool to actually see pirates from other parts of the world with Mistress Ching being from China, Sri Sumbhajee being from India, and Captain Chevalle being from France. Although, I think that last one was implied, as he did refer to himself as the "Penniless Frenchman." Now, I actually learned recently that Mistress Ching was based on a real life figure, a ruthless Pirate Captain named Ching Shih, and that an earlier draft of the film called for the Brethren Court to include the likes of Blackbeard, Anne Bonny, Calico Jack Rackham, and even Captain Hook. But, those four were scrapped from the finished film, and Blackbeard would have to wait until a later film. 

       And, now, the cast. Everyone does exceptionally well in this movie. Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Chow Yun-Fat, Geoffrey Rush, Bill Nighy, Stellan Skarsgard, Keith Richards, Kevin R. McNally. Yeah, everyone does really well. Hell,.two characters that get tons of depth in this movie are Davy Jones and Tia Dalma/Calypso, and I gotta give kudos to both Bill Nighy and Naomie Harris for going that extra mile to show that these were two people that were in love at one point, and still harbor that little bit of love for each other. 

       The action is easily ramped up from Dead Man's Chest, but it's unfortunately saddled only to the third act of the movie. So, all of the action is during the climactic battle in the maelstrom, which is unfortunate, because I like seeing action drawn throughout the movie, not just stuffed into the final battle of the movie. But, again, the sets, swords by Tony Swatton, costumes, and Hans Zimmer's music score are all top notch. And, I really gotta give it to the costume department, because it's pretty amazing seeing costume designs for various pirates from across the globe, bringing each of those cultures to the screen with the costume designs. Just amazing. 

        Now, this was the point in the series were most fans checked out. The battle was over, the story was done. And, had Disney and Bruckheimer left well enough alone, I would say that this movie was a satisfying conclusion to a trilogy that was part of an era that redefined genre film for the twenty-first century. But, because it wasn't the end of the series, I'm knocking the movie down a peg and I'm giving Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End a rating of 4.65/5. 

        Alright guys, this is Chuck signing off, and I'll see you guys tomorrow as we get into the fourth film in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise: On Stranger Tides.