Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End | Joe Szadkowski saw, Action | ENTERTAINMENT

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

December/05/07 10:44 PM Filed in: Joe Szadkowski saw | Action
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Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, from Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Rated: PG, $23.95 to $34.95. Johnny Depp continues to channel Keith Richards as the prancing, affable Captain Jack Sparrow in the potentially final ode to Disney's swashbuckling Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Kiera Knightly as the tempestuous Elizabeth Swann joins Mr. Depp’s smoldering rendition while Orlando Bloom offers a good-boy, Will Turner, to play against good ole’ Captain Jack.
 
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
The Goods: This two-disc Blu-ray set delivers a digital audio and visual reproduction worthy of the Blu-ray revolution. Detail down to Mr. Depp's pores is vividly uncovered from a 1080p fueled screen. Introductions to the menus by a skull and crossbones rascal name Jolly Roger help set the mood for the fun film
 
The Bads: At about 42 minutes too long, the story drags. A bigger disappointment is that Keith Richards’ historic appearance as Captain's Jacks pop is neither very long nor as energizing as it could have, or should have, been.
 
The mandatory extras: A first disc as dry as Davy Jones' surreal Locker greets viewers looking for bonus content, delivering only five minutes of lame bloopers, which are really not bloopers in the truest sense. I would think that with the talent assembled for this film there should have been some very engaging behind-the –scenes hijinks, hilarities and/or history.

The second disc is not much more spectacular with an assortment of behind the scenes featurettes that combined offer only about 90 minutes worth of information. I could have used an optional commentary track or cast interviews somewhere along the way me maties..

What I learned? Edgar Allen Poe popularized the Norwegian word maelstrom back in 1841. Use that at an office party.
 
Above and beyond: All of the extras have been reproduced in 1080p, a welcome sight for the grumps always grousing about high def releases lazily unloading their DVD equivalents extras in 480p transfers.
 
Fuel the disc revolution: Although the interactive tour of the soundstage, used for the climactic final battle, Enter the Maelstrom, tries hard to make Blu-ray magic, the multimedia moment is merely a bunch more feaurettes (about 30 minutes worth) accessed by clicking icons that pop up over a six minute, time lapse segment of the set's construction. It could have easily been a less labor-intensive documentary with the same impact.
 
Whatever, it is clearly not as interesting as the Liars Dice game found on the "Dead Man's Chest" Blu-ray release nor as impressive as the Scoundrels at Sea interactive resource found on the "Curse of the Black Pearl."

— Joseph Szadkowski