By Jeff Swindoll Monsters and Critics

Captain Jack returns for one last go round in the Pirates franchise.  This final entry (well, you never know) seems to be somewhat bloated, but does feature some glorious set pieces that will make you forgive what slows the film down. Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) has been marooned in Davey Jone’s locker.  So his friends Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), Elizabeth Swann (Kiera Knightley), along with the newly revived Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) have to journey to Singapore to get the mystical map that leads the way to the locker so that they can free Jack from his prison.  However, the map is possessed by Captain Sao Feng (Chow Yun-Fat) and he’s not about to give it up without a fight. 

The sinister Lord Beckett (Tom Hollander) is doing the devious business of the Company and has the Flying Dutchman and its captain, Davey Jones (Bill Nighy), under his control.  Once Jack has been freed from the locker, the nine pirate kings have to converge on Shipwreck Cove and come to some agreement as what should be done about the Company, which has decided to wipe out the pirates.  

At close to three hours, that’s a very basic summary of what is going on in the film.  Needless to say there’s quite a bit going on.  In fact, some of it isn’t exactly explained well at all (I don’t remember any indication at the end of part two that Jack was going to the locker).  Because of that, it appears that some characters get short shrift. 

At the end if felt as if Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow seemed to have a bit less screen time (he doesn’t pop into the film until about 30 minutes into it).  However, the filmmakers have made up for the lack of Jack quality with quantity, as he’s given multiple versions of himself to interact with as he hallucinates in the locker.  These scenes are quite funny (and were my kids favorite parts – especially the “Flying Dutchman” Jack). 

As I said, there’s quite a bit going on and this leads to some slow parts and as I watched the film I began to have varying opinions as to how I’d be rating it. Then came the Maelstrom and I’d have to say that sequence sold me on the film – in spades.  It’s one of the most fantastic sequences and gives all of our characters a moment to shine (but I’d have to say that the mad Captain Barbossa was a highlight of mine). 

Unfortunately, I have to go back down a little since I didn’t feel that the film provided a suitable ending to the series.  Meaning that the film ends on an unknown note and that there were still unanswered questions.   Some grand sequences do make up for it, but I wouldn’t say that this was a satisfying ending to the series (although I could watch that Maelstrom sequence again and again). 

I’ve always had the opinion that the first film wasn’t expected to explode the box office and the trilogy was made out of whole cloth and that sometimes the seam tend to show.  

At World’s End is presented in anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1) and is enhanced for 16x9 televisions.  A single disc version is available separately, but I’ll be giving you a run down on the two-disc edition.  Disc one contains only one special feature – 5 minutes of bloopers. 

Sadly, that’s all.  Where’s the commentary? There’s not one, but the Blu-ray edition has an exclusive in-depth, interactive look called “Enter the Maelstrom.”  I guess that might be in lieu of a commentary, but only for Blu-Ray players.  Disc two starts off with the 4-minute “Keith and the Captain” which is about Keith Richard’s cameo in the film.  The 19 minute “Anatomy of a Scene: The Maelstrom” examines the fantastic scene from the finale. 

The 4-minute “Tale of the Many Jacks” takes a look at how they duplicated Johnny Depp.  Next are two deleted scenes (“I Like Riddles” and “Two Captains, One Ship”) with optional commentary by director Gore Verbinski.  They don’t amount to much, but the one with the two captains is quite funny.  The 4-minute “World of Chow Yun-Fat” focuses on the iconic actor.  The 10-minute “Pirate Maestro” focuses on composer Hans Zimmer. 

The Masters of Design section focuses on some of the items in the film and those responsible for designing them (James Byrkit: Sao Feng’s map (6 minutes), Crash McCreery: The Curse Crew (5 minutes), Rich Heinrichs: Singapore (5 minutes), Penny Rose: Teague’s Costume (3 minutes), and Kris Peck: The Code Book (5 minutes)).  The 4-minute “Hoist the Colours” looks at the composition of the song.  Finally, “Inside the Brethren Court” is an interactive look at the nine pirate kings and their keys.  

As with the film, the two-disc limited edition seems to have a bit less than those that preceded it.  However, it’s a good time if you can get over the slow or confusing bits.  That maelstrom scene is worth the price of admission alone.  I’d have to say that the film rates three stars and the special features, though light, still bump the overall rating up one point.