Depp, Knightley steer ‘Pirates’ ship

“Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” sails into theaters on the winds of success. The third installment of the Disney franchise has garnered mixed responses, but fans are still flocking to theaters. The movie opens with the macabre scene of those accused of piracy awaiting the gallows. Row after row are hanged, finishing with a young boy, who begins a chorus of “Hoist the Colours,” a pirate tune. When he is hanged, it is apparent the series has grown darker.

At the end of the previous film, “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” a search began to find Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) at the edge of the world. Newly ressurected Hector Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) was appointed to lead the crew of the “Black Pearl,” including the murderess Elizabeth Swann (Kiera Knightley) and calculating Will Turner (Orlando Bloom).

The rescuers begin in Singapore with no explanation as to how they ventured from the Caribbean to halfway across the world. Barbossa has arranged a meeting with Pirate Lord Sao Feng (Chow Yun-Fat) to obtain the maps necessary to find Jack.

This film is Knightley’s most action-packed role to date. Elizabeth is far from the fainting damsel audiences saw in the first film. Within the first moments of the film, she is fighting alongside Barbossa and defeating her fair share of adversaries. This toughness drives her throughout the film, giving newfound light to the character.

Elizabeth is not alone in the role-reversal category. Will Turner evolves into a darker character, driven by his need to rescue his father, “Bootstrap” Bill Turner (Stellan Skarsgard) from Davy Jones. Conspiring with Sao Feng, Turner betrays his fellow pirates to free his father, placing them all in danger.

Audiences will delight in Jack Sparrow, who is back in all his pirate glory, albeit slightly nuttier. The time that Jack has spent in Davy Jones’ locker takes a toll on his already altered mind and has him commanding the Black Pearl (which is situated in the middle of a desert) with a crew made up entirely of Jack Sparrows. The glimpses of Jack inside the locker are surreal and leave the question of whether what is seen is real or Jack’s twisted imagination.

Villain Cutler Beckett (Tom Hollander) returns in this film controlling tentacle-bearded Davy Jones (Bill Nighy), making the fierce pirate a puppet for the East India Trading Company. Instead of attacking official merchant and naval ships, Jones is forced to prey on pirates.

The film’s stunning visual effects give this film an unbelievable backdrop. From the gigantic waterfall at World’s End to the maelstrom that sets the scene for the final battle, the visual effects do not disappoint but add to the believability of the pirate world.

This film runs 163 minutes, though not a moment too long for many fans. The plot is complex and at some points slightly confusing, but the twists and turns work themselves out by the end.