Release Date: 12/4/07

The Film

It’s funny how things work in Hollywood. One day, pirate movies are supposedly a dead genre, and the next day, captain Jack Sparrow’s face is on everything from coffee mugs to lunchboxes, catapulting Johnny Depp onto the A list of celebrities. Who knew that the first movie of the series would spawn such hype and excitement that the studio executives would decide to film two sequels back to back. Now available on DVD, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – 2-Disc Limited Edition is ready to grace DVD players around the world for a little swashbuckling fun. AARGH! However, as the second film took a more grandiose approach to action sequences in the, this third film took things to another level, and unfortunately, it was a mixed bag of awesomeness and head-scratching confusion.

Everyone’s back this time for the third, and hopefully last, installment of the series: Jack Sparrow (Depp), Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley), Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), Davey Jones (Bill Nighy), and Lord Beckett (Tom Hollander). Everyone who’s died is back, and everyone presumed to have died is alive and well to wage war on the seven seas. This time, however, we’re given a taste of the Brethren Court, made up 8 pirate clans led by 8 loonier pirate lords, as they all struggle to unite and preserve the pirate way of life. Unfortunately, this is simply an exercise in placing a bunch of thieves in a single room and extricating the thieves’ code as all the pirates are simply looking to backstab each other.

If that were simply the plot of the film, I’d say that I’d be able to enjoy this theatrical romp. However, we get 3 hours of convoluted plotlines full of double and triple backstabs, the movie is simply stretched thin between all the factions waging war. But with pacing problems pushed asde, the film does manage to continue its great trend in choreographing exciting and breathtaking action sequences.

The DVD

The main menu contains a short intro and transition scenes featuring the map found throughout the film. The film’s score plays in the background, making for one very nice looking menu system. What really makes things sweeter is the great backgrounds found on the submenus that feature great bits of animation.

The video is offered in 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen Format. While the transfer looks extremely nice, there are some very spare moments where all is not good in the Caribbean. Some of the darker scenes come off as slightly murky. However, the CGI has been perfected and it sticks out quite not as much in the first film. Also, while the picture may look a tad soft at times, it doesn’t really matter because the action is so well done, you’ll barely notice.

The audio is offered in English Dolby Digital 5.1 and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1. Overall, the movie sounds great with a powerful score and well-mixed dialogue. Directional sound gets its fair share of exercise, and the bass does a very fine job. Turn this one up and your neighbors may mistake your home for the grounds of a pirate battle! Subtitles are available in English and Spanish.

The Extras

The 2-disc set comes in a standard Amaray case that is inside a great looking reflective cardboard slipcase. A disc guide insert is found inside the case.

The first disc contains a 5-minute Blooper Reel. However, what’s more interesting is the lack of an audio commentary feature.

The second disc contains the brunt of the bonus materials which include: Keith & The Captain: On Set with Johnny Depp and the Rock Legend (4:40), Anatomy of a Scene: The Maelstrom (19:24), The Tale of the Many Jacks (4:49), 2 Deleted Scenes with optional Director commentary from Gore Verbinski, The World of Chow Yun-Fat (4:14), The Pirate Maestro: The Music of Hans Zimmer (10:30), Masters of Design, Hoist of Colours, (4:40), and Inside the Brethren Court. Quite extensive, the entire second disc comprises of various pieces that mainly focus on the production, but also takes us backstage on various shoots, plenty of interviews with the cast and crew, the scoring of the film, and also post-production bits of special effects magic.

Final Thoughts

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – 2-Disc Limited Edition will be an easy purchase for fans of the film and collectors of the trilogy of films. However, for those uninitiated with the series of films, this is a rental as the film just went absolutely haywire with an over-the-top plot and story that went in far too many directions at once. However, as a DVD, this release is head and shoulders above the rest.

- Morris Tang