The Task: Watch and write about every movie on my shelf, in order (Blu-rays are sorted after DVDs), by June 10, 2015. Remaining movies: 26 Days to go: 21
Movie #414: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End
Jiminy Christmas, these movies get longer with each successive one. Good thing I don’t own any more of these or I’d be here for all eternity.
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End is the last movie in the series that I own, and it also serves as a succinct (well, not succinct, but satisfying) end to the overall conflict represented over the course of the franchise between the pirates and the British. In this regard, At World’s End is like an existential and fantastical look at the historical growth and ultimate all-encompassing power of the British navy. They were a force that couldn’t be overcome, and they did, in fact, rid most of the area of pirates over time. The actual events no doubt really involved mass hangings and the like, but probably not supernatural sea witches or otherworldly ships meant to usher the dead from the land of the living.
At World’s End is not the worst movie in the world. A lot of it is really funny and enjoyable, actually. But the last like twenty minutes of it is setting up the fourth movie, which, as it doesn’t involve Will (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth (Keira Knightly), it’s irrelevant to me.
Yes, once again, I am only really here for the continuing saga of will Elizabeth and Will ever finally hook up? They’ve been in love for two movies, engaged for one, and finally — FINALLY! — get married at the end of this one. It occurs in the midst of an epic sword fight, though, so maybe not the most romantic nuptials. And, of course, there’s the problem of Will being killed by Davy Jones (Bill Nighy), who will then stabs the heart of, taking over as captain of the Dutchman and only being allowed to set foot on land to see his wife once every ten years. These lovers, it seems, will never fully be together. But they do get that one day, and as Will implies, if that one day is special enough, it can kind of make up for the other 3649 or so. I mean, they finally have their wedding night before Will’s first tour begins, and in a lovely epilogue we see that Elizabeth has a son with her ten years later for Will’s return. Plus, it’s entirely possible that she’s still raking in booty from piracy, as it’s never made clear if she gives up the title of King of the Brethren Court.
Elizabeth’s time as captain of her own ship, and her appointment as king, is another highlight of the film for me, along with pretty much everything to do with her, as she’s my favorite character. But possibly the most memorable stuff in the film is when Jack (Johnny Depp) has to be rescued from Davy Jones’s Locker, which as far as I can tell is like being inside a hallucination. He sees multiples of himself and little crab rocks everywhere, and there must be residual effects, since he’s still seeing his multiples well after they’ve brought him back to the living. I guess you never quite get over being dead.
In all, the movie isn’t great, but it’s fun enough, and, like I said, it makes me laugh quite a bit from scene to scene with its jokes and throwaway callbacks and visual gags. However, it’s way too freaking long, and it’s the last one of these I’m going to own.
Viable Option 