Pirates of the Caribbean At Worlds End

Employing one of the craziest character explosions since 1996′s Multiplicity, the Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End two-disc DVD gives Johnny Depp fans what they want in their Christmas stockings this holiday season. Director Gore Verbinski has admitted that it’s always a fun challenge to find a way to reintroduce the character of Captain Jack Sparrow with each of the films in the franchise, so if there is a fourth, then it will be interesting to see how they can possibly top this.

While the above-mentioned scene is kooky fun, Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World’s End is actually the most somber of the yo-ho yarns. It opens on a gallows scene (sans gallows humor) and continues on following our beloved heroes Sparrow, Elizabeth (Keira Knightley), Will (Orlando Bloom), and the resurrected Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) on a danger-fraught fight for not only their personal survival, but the threat of their kind’s extinction. Most of their perils, of course, involve huge set pieces and fantastical action. While each is impressive on their own, the three-hour epic feels disjointed when all is said and done.

Yet, the somewhat disorderly story goes down much smoother in the comfort of one’s own home. I saw the movie on the big screen and liked it well enough, but I was relieved to be able to take breaks this time around. I actually watched the epic actioner much like a mini-series–over the course of three days–and I found that I was more caught up in the story and feeling less blitzkrieged. The visuals are stunning, and the acting—even given the expected limitations of the genre—is aces.

The two-disc DVD set offers up a treasure-trove of extras. The first disc contains the movie itself plus a featurette called Bloopers of the Caribbean, which is actually amusing (so many of these are not). Unfortunately, there is no commentary for the film.

Disc Two has Keith & the Captain: On Set With Johnny and the Rock Legend is a puff piece but entirely welcome. One doesn’t see Keith Richards acting every day, and when Depp discusses how he modeled Sparrow on a caricature of Keith, Keith quips, “You should see what I modeled myself on!”

Anatomy of a Scene: The Maelstrom is technical supplement that covers a pivotal scene in the movie but also offers up the layman’s perspective through the eyes of several of the actors. The Tale of the Many Jacks is a quick look at how the many Captain Jacks were created for the scene I referenced in the opening paragraph. It’s actually quite informative.

Also:

Deleted Scene: I Like Riddles
Deleted Scene: Two Captains, One Ship

The World of Chow Yun Fat

The Pirate Maestro: The Music of Hans Zimmer

Masters of Design
- Jim Byrkit: Sao Feng’s Map
- Crash McCreary: The Cursed Crew
- Rick Heinrichs: Singapore
- Penny Rose: Captain Teague’s Costume
- Kris Peck: The Pirate Code Book

Mini-Documentaries
- Hoist the Colors
- Inside the Brethren Court