‘Pirates’ sequel full of computer animation
DVD special festures give in-depth look behind the scenes
By Will Fawley, contributing writer
Posted on December 7, 2006

Fans who liked the first “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie will be pleased with its sequel, “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.“ The movie delivers even more swashbuckling pirate action that made people fall in love with the original.

Essentially the storyline is the same, with Barbossa and his pirates replaced by Davy Jones and his crustacean crew. But the special effects are what really make this movie so impressive. Davy Jones’ beard is a braided mess of intertwining tentacles that move about independently. They are so well animated, that he can even play the organ with his tentacle-beard.

Seafaring special features fill the two-disc special edition. The usual behind-the-scenes and blooper reels are included, but there are a few special features that make this DVD worth the extra cash for hardcore fans.

One of the most interesting of the features is a look at the “Pirates of the Caribbean” ride in Disneyland that spawned the popular movie franchise. The feature begins with a shot of the old ride, and then goes on to show how it has evolved to accommodate the popularity of the movies.

Another interesting special feature is “Meet Davy Jones: Anatomy of a Legend.” The special effects behind the amazingly detailed animation in the movie are shown, revealing how much effort went into this sequel. Later, the animation of the Kraken, the sea monster in the movie, is explained. The computer animation blends almost seamlessly into the action as the giant beast smashes the ship in two with its massive tentacles.

An in-depth look at the character of Jack Sparrow (played by Johnny Depp) will excite fans of the well-loved pirate. This section of the DVD mainly focuses on Sparrow’s costume, but also explores other elements of his character.

The second film in the series seems to be a little overambitious and the plot even feels forced at some points. But overall, it delivers more of what moviegoers enjoyed in the first film: pure, unadulterated swashbuckling action. The epic, adventurous atmosphere of “Dead Man’s Chest” adds a welcome excitement to the series as the pirates battle on rolling wheels, swing in cages made of bones, and are attacked by the massive Kraken. But these same aspects that make the movie exciting also seem a bit too far-fetched and randomly placed in the movie. The dialogue often gives the impression that it has been forced into the character’s mouths to move them from one island to another.

Like its predecessor, “Dead Man’s Chest” can’t be taken too seriously. Its goal is to provide the viewer with a fun adventure, and it succeeds.