Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest: Another Feather in Disney’s Cap

Johnny Depp reprised his role as the conniving and untrustworthy Jack Sparrow, captain of the infamous pirate ship, the Black Pearl. Fans of the dreadlocked pirate will not be disappointed. Once again, he dupes his fellow man into paying the penalty for his misdeeds. For those who think that I’m being hard on Jack, I’m not.

With those smoky eyes, innocent smile, and carefully spoken half truths, any decent person would lend him a hand. Also returning, are Kiera Knightley as Elizabeth Swann and Orlando Bloom as handsome Will Turner. A few other cast members from the first film throw in for a new adventure on the high seas as well.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest involves once again, you guessed it-a buried treasure. This time the treasure is a little less shiny than ancient gold coins but of considerably more value. Enter Davy Jones and the Flying Dutchman. Who hasn’t heard of ‘Davy Jones’ locker’? Disney manages to combine two well-known myths into one action-packed plot.

The phrase, ‘Davy Jones’ locker’ refers to the final resting place of sailors who met their untimely end at sea. Davy Jones was viewed as a sort of Devil that ruled the netherworld of the sea, laying claim to the departed souls of doomed seamen.

The Flying Dutchman of legend was supposed to be a Dutch trading ship that met its end in a fierce storm while trying to round the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa in the 1600’s. It was rumored that anyone who caught a glimpse of the phantom Dutchman wouldn’t live for very long.

We all get an up close and personal look at both Davy Jones and the ship in this movie. If you thought the undead mutineers in the first film were gruesome, wait until you get a load of the crusty bunch that crew the Flying Dutchman. Davy Jones himself has the head of an octopus complete with writhing tentacles, a crab claw for a hand, and a peg leg. His crew of pirates resembles a hammerhead shark, a blowfish, a hermit crab, and other barnacle-encrusted creatures, along with a mythical sea monster known as the Kraken that Davy summons at will.

This time, Davy Jones has come for Jack Sparrow, who struck a bargain with the devil of the deep to captain the Black Pearl for thirteen years in exchange for an eternity of servitude when the contract ran out. What does Jack do when his number’s up? He tricks unsuspecting Will Turner who finds Sparrow for his own reasons, to take his place on the Flying Dutchman.

Will must retrieve the key worn by Davy Jones which opens Dead Man’s Chest. Will needs the treasure to save his fiancÃ?©e Elizabeth. Jack wants the treasure to save his own skin. When Davy discovers the theft, it becomes a race to see who will reach the treasure first-Jack Sparrow or Davy Jones.

What occupies the Dead Man’s Chest you ask? You’ll have to find out for yourself. Unexpected plot twists and humorous situations keep the storyline moving along without boredom. This is a must-see summer family film. The surprise ending alone is worth the price of admission.