Reviewed by Max Foizey.

Release Date: May 25, 2007
Directed By: Gore Verbinski
Starring: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley
Rating: PG-13

There are two good "Pirates of the Caribbean" films, and this is one of them. The worst thing about "At World's End" is it has to follow up on the cliffhangers from "Dead Man's Chest," a confusing and lifeless sequel to one of the best adventure films of all time, "Curse of the Black Pearl."

After all the tiresome mugging for the camera, "Dead Man's Chest" turned slightly darker towards the end, and '"At World's End" starts in downright pitch black territory. The first scenes involve accused pirates and their sympathizers being lead to the gallows. We're talking men, women, and children. Harsh stuff.

Meanwhile Will Turner (Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Knightley) have teamed up with a fresh-from-the-afterlife Captain Barbossa (the always excellent Geoffrey Rush) to save Captain Jack Sparrow (Depp) from 'Davy Jones' Locker.' DJ's Locker seems to be some sort of surrealistic purgatory, and Depp is clearly at home in this environment.

With Capt. Jack, there is no doubt Johnny Depp has created an enduring screen treasure, and he still looks like he's having the time of his life with the character. But perhaps the element that instantly makes "At World's End" more enjoyable than "Dead Man's Chest" is the welcome return of Geoffrey Rush. He chews the scenery like a river rat, and courts the audience's affections away from Captain Jack.

Following the events in the last film, Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) is under the control of Lord Cutler Beckett (Tom Hollander) of the East India Trading Company. Beckett (or as I like to call him, Bland Blanderson) doesn't seem to be the slightest bit freaked that he's in league with a SQUIDMAN, but that's cinema for you. Blandy wants to eradicate the world of piracy, much like the RIAA these days.

Our pirate pals decide to round up the world's Pirate Lords to fight back, which leads them first to Singapore, where we meet Sao Feng (Chow Yun-Fat). Sao is more of a pirate than anyone else in this trilogy, not above raping, pillaging or murdering anyone in his way. Feng is a great addition to this series, and Yun-Fat plays him to the hilt.

We learn that Davy Jones was cursed because of love gone wrong (isn't that always the way?) with the Goddess of the sea, Calypso, who is now bound in human form. So just who is Calypso? Hmmm, let's see - there are basically only two females in these films, Liz Swann and Tia Dalma (Naomie Harris), the Voodoo Priestess responsible for bringing Barbossa back. So yeah. One of them is Calypso. Ok.

This doomed love between Lypsy and Davy is built up for most of the movie, but sadly has little pay-off, besides a short sequence that could have been lifted from "Attack of the 50ft. Woman."

Orlando Bloom isn't very exciting on screen when he's not playing an Elf, but I'm happy to say I finally enjoyed his character Will Turner in this movie. Obsessed with saving his father Bootstrap's (Stellan starfish Skarsgård) soul from Davy Jones, Will does some surprising things, and Bloom pulls it off.

One of the most exciting things about this movie is the constant shuffling of allegiances. Everyone is double-crossing everyone else, and no one is to be trusted.

Keira Knightley can do no wrong as far as I'm concerned, and no other character has gone through such a drastic arc in these films as hers. I'd be happy to see a fourth "Pirates" film if the focus was on Lizzy Swann.

But if there is a fourth "Pirates" (and there certainly are enough plot threads to pick up from this trilogy) I hope they go back to the model of the first film, and keep things simple. More high seas adventure, less supernatural mumbo-jumbo.

This chapter features amazing visuals, from the vast expanses of sea (the ice drifts being a personal favorite) to Davy Jones' supernatural fishman crew. The final whirlpool battle is a sight to behold on the big screen. The violence, at times, is pretty graphic for a PG-13 rating, with bullets through foreheads and death abundant. So avast, all ye who enter, you’ve arrived “At World’s End.”

In addition to hosting 'Max on Movies' on Sunday nights at 7pm on 97.1 FM Talk, Max appears weekly on the Dave Glover Show Fridays at 5pm. A member of the Saint Louis Gateway Film Critics Association, Max has written about film and theatre for various print and Web media, and appeared as guest critic on various nationally syndicated radio shows. Max lives in Missouri and is a diehard Miami Dolphins fan. Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards shows up in a scene as Captain Jack Sparrow's father in "At World's End" and it's probably the best cameo ever. Keef doesn't even have to do anything besides show up and offer Depp some sage words, and he's already the most badass pirate ever. Yo Ho Ho, what an X-Pensive Wino.