'PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN’
The last thing we saw of him was the soles of his shoes as he dove straight down ... well, so he did. Must not spoil it for both people who haven't seen the movie.
Director Gore Verbinski has sewn together quite a cliffhanger with part two of this film trilogy. It is maddening that we must wait until 2007 for the exciting conclusion.
But wait we shall, and content ourselves with "Dead Man's Chest," again, when it debuts on DVD this week.
Ah, we had such hopes for Elizabeth and Will. As the film opens, they're so close to their wedding, except for the heavy-handed meddling of the ambitious sawed-off Lord Cutler Beckett (Tom Hollander) who'd rather see them hanged for aiding and abetting a pirate.
To slip the noose, Will agrees to fulfill Beckett's quest that involves a key in the possession of one Davy Jones (a delightfully squid-faced Bill Nighy), the chest that contains Davy's deepest secret and a magical compass that points to whatever it is you desire most.
Captain Jack, after some depraved misfortunes with cannibals, wants the contents of that chest too. With it, he can save his beloved pirate ship, The Black Pearl, and get a vengeful Davy Jones (captain of the undead Flying Dutchman, don't you know) off his back. Seems Jack mortgaged a very steep premium to Davy Jones for the Pearl - his soul. And it's time to collect.
The story just grows - getting bigger and better with the lap of each wave against the bow. Davy Jones commands a massive, ship-crushing octopus called the Kraken. There are meaty battles with this sea terror. There are also battles between Jack and Will, Will and Elizabeth's one-time suitor Norrington (Jack Davenport); Norrington and Jack; Norrington, Jack and Will together (a memorable scene on a massive windmill wheel); all three against Jones's undead army; and on and on.
Will even encounters his long lost father, Bootstrap Bill (Stellan Skarsgard) - an uncomfortable bit of business for him.
Have you ever ridden the Pirates of the Caribbean theme ride at Disneyland? With this movie, you could check virtually every encounter on the ride against a similar scene in the movie - the bayou, the pirate village of pillage and depravity, the dude with the jail keys in its mouth, the ship battle .... Talk about product placement!
And Disney being Disney, there's a treasure trove of extras on the two-disc edition. among them, a commentary by the screenwriters Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio; bloopers, an hour-long documentary on the production of the movie; a featurette on Jack Sparrow; another on sword fighting; a featurette on Davy Jones; and several more.
ALSO THIS WEEK
"Miami Vice" (Universal, 2 stars) It's not 1984 any more but Michael Mann is game to try his groundbreaking TV drama series on the big screen. The place is still Miami and stopping ruthless drug dealers is still the biggest kick for detectives Sonny Crockett (Colin Farrell) and Ricardo Tubbs (Jamie Foxx). Lots of good action and music, of course, but zero chemistry between the two stars.
"How to Eat Fried Worms" (New Line, 2 1/2 stars) A great one to rent for your kids while you're upstairs wrapping my present. Billy (Luke Benward) is the new kid in the fifth grade who finds himself accepting a bully's dare to eat 10 worms in one day. Some first day of school. Based on the popular kids' book of the same name by Thomas Rockwell. Extras include commentary track by the director and cast members, deleted scenes, a gag reel (pun intended?) and two features on the film.
"The Architect" (Magnolia, 2 1/2 stars) Anthony LaPaglia is Leo Waters, a respected and idealistic Chicago architect who - with no small assistance from community activist Tonya Neely (played by Viola Davis) - must confront the prospect that his design for a low-income inner-city house project was deeply flawed. Neely is campaigning to have the place torn down and badly wants the signature of Waters on that petition.
"Pulse" (Genius Products, 1 star) Co-eds, lead by "Veronica Mars" star Kristen Bell, save the world from evil, loosened on the world by a bad wireless Internet connection (no, not the Smoking Gun Web site ... ). Lifted from the Japanese horror film "Kairo."
FROM THE VAULTS
"The Premiere Frank Capra Collection" (Sony) People who say Capra made sentimental, sappy movies aren't looking at them closely enough. They are filled with insightful and biting critiques on the American Way and invariably end happily enough. In this collection: "American Madness" (1932); "It Happened One Night" (1934); "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" (1936); "You Can't Take It With You" (1938); and "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." (1939) A steal, priced under $60. Each film is remastered and comes with a commentary track and much more, including the documentary "Frank Capra's American Dream," hosted by Ron Howard.
"Saturday Night Live: The Complete First Season" (Universal) You want this eight-disc box set with all 24 original 90-minute episodes under your Christmas tree. Comes with a booklet on the groundbreaking live comedy show and the cast that - some say - has never been bettered in the show's long run.
"1900" and "The Conformist" (Paramount) Two key films from director Bernardo Bertolucci's oeuvre. "The Conformist," from 1970, includes a recently discovered scene and a new conversation with Bertolucci and his cinematographer Vittorio Storaro. Likewise, the director and cinematographer discuss the 1976 film, "1900" which stars Robert De Niro and Gerard Depardieu.
"The Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton Film Collection" (Warner) I remember chuckling when Burton once said his soul burned like phosphorescence every time Taylor walked into a room. Then I met her and realized what a simple fool I was. Then I got older and longed for that kind of passion in my life. Well, this collection will have to do: "The V.I.P.s" (1963); "The Sandpiper" (1965); "The Comedians" (1967); and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" (1966). The last includes a commentary by director Mike Nichols, as well as Steven Soderbergh and cinematographer Haskell Wexler and three new features on the film.
"Rocky" (MGM, 1976) The film that so captured the nation's imagination that Philadelphia put a statue of Sylvester Stallone (as Rocky, of course) at the top of the stairway he used to train for the big fight against the world heavyweight champion. No coincidence that a sixth "Rocky" film is due in theaters shortly. Extras include a 90-minute documentary, new featurettes, deleted scenes and a commentary track by Stallone. Also this week is the repackaged "Rocky" anthology - the five films in a slimmer box set.
"New Year's Day" (1989); "Tracks" (1976); and "Someone to Love" (1987) (Paramount) Three titles from iconoclast film maker Henry Jaglom, who is perpetually exploring modern life and love and why they don't live up to our expectations. In "Tracks" Jaglom tries his hand at a psychological drama staring Dennis Hopper as a troubled Vietnam veteran.
IT CAME FROM TV
"The Ron Clark Story" (Echo Bridge) Matthew Perry does an excellent job in this reality-based story of a small-town teacher to takes a job in one of Harlem's most challenging schools and through passion and innovative teaching makes a big difference in the lives of his students. Inspirational stuff.
"24" (Fox, season 5) Contains an inside look at the 100th episode, commentary tracks, deleted scenes and a peek at season six.
"Mission:Impossible" (Paramount, season 1) Now that Tom Cruise owns the theatrical franchise, take a look at the original TV series from 1966, starring Barbara Bain, Greg Morris, Peter Lupus and Martin Landau - but not Peter Graves. He came along in season two.
Also this week: "Survivor: Vanuatu."
DVD RATINGS
4 stars: Don't miss: rent it/buy it
3 stars: Worth the risk: rent it
2 stars: On the tipping point: if nothing else is available
1 star: Don't bother: wait until it's in the $1 bin
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