By Edwin Hopkins
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There hasn’t been a gathering like this in our lifetime,” boasts Captain Barbosa referring to the rogue assembly of buccaneers in Gore Verbinski’s action packed threequel Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. It could well have been titled “Pirates of the World Unite.” Whereas Curse of the Black Pearl and Dead Man’s Chest may have given you the impression that “Captain” Jack Sparrow was the only pirate on this earth, At World’s End resonates with all genders, colors and nationalities.“

With a running time over 2 ½ hours, Pirates 3 felt shorter than it’s predecessors simply because of it’s fast pace, sporting few dull moments. It actually reminded me of Ang Lee’s Hulk taking a full forty minutes to launch the action, yet engaging me while I waited. And when Jack finally appeared, it was more a sense of relief rather than impatience.

Despite Jack Sparrow’s rougish duplicity toward nearly everyone he knows, you can’t help but to like him. And to have anyone except Johnny Depp in his boots would be like sailing the Black Pearl off the edge of a giant waterfall. Jack hasn’t changed a bit. He maintains that amusing, effeminate swagger that I don’t find that offensive because it’s compensated by his cleverness and sword fighting skills. Whatever he does, you can be sure it’s to suit his own purposes.

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Exceptional Asian thesp Chow Yun-Fat is on board as Singapore buccaneer SoaFeng. Other than Richards, he is the most prominent of newcomers with a distrustful attitude towards those who would like an audience with him. It quickly becomes apparent that he and Jack have had a not to favorable past. Feng hates him and wants him dead.

Orlando Bloom’s Will Turner surprised me most of all, expressing a “Jack Sparrowesque trait I’m sure most of the audience could scarcely believe. His motives may confuse you at first, but you’re always willing to accept them since he’s still in love with Elizabeth Swann.

Scripters Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio know the importance of consistency in a winning franchise ,bringing in new elements that enhance, not dampen, the spirit of the ongoing story. ( I.e- Barbosa returning from the dead and a rip roaring ocean battle in the midst of a swirling whirlpool) They also bring more depth to Keira Knightley’s Swann, Naomie Harris’Tia Dalma and Bill Nighy’s ruthless Davey Jones.The only problem for some will be the multitude of plotlines that certainly weren’t there in Pirates 1 or 2.

Visual fx by Industrial Light & Magic, highlighted by Hans Zimmer’s valiant score, are superb as always. While you’re enjoying them please, please, please( I hope I’ve said that enough) remember to stay after the credits roll for one last scene that has nothing to do with fx or music, but you’ll still be glad you waited.