Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy Blu-ray

Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy

 (2003-2007)

Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy Blu-ray delivers truly amazing video and audio in this exceptional Blu-ray release
No synopsis for Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy.

For more about Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy and the Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy Blu-ray release, see the Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy Blu-ray Review

Starring: Johnny Depp, Johnny Depp, Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Geoffrey Rush
Directors: Gore Verbinski, Gore Verbinski, Gore Verbinski


This Blu-ray release includes the following titles, see individual titles for specs and details:

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Blu-ray    Disney / Buena Vista | 2003 | 143 min | Rated PG-13 | Region free | May 22, 2007 Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Geoffrey Rush star in this Disney swashbuckler based on the theme-park's rides. When Elizabeth (Keira Knightley), the daughter of Governor Swann (Jonathan Pryce), is kidnapped by Captain Barbarossa... Action / Adventure / Fantasy

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Blu-ray    Disney / Buena Vista | 2006 | 150 min | Rated PG-13 | Region free | May 22, 2007 Charming rogue pirate Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is back for a grand, swashbuckling, nonstop joyride filled with devilish pirate humor, monstrous sea creatures, and breathtaking black magic. Now Jack's got a blood... Action / Adventure / Fantasy

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End Blu-ray    Disney / Buena Vista | 2007 | 169 min | Rated PG-13 | Region A (locked) | Dec 04, 2007 Heroes Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann are allied with Captain Barbossa in a desperate quest to free Captain Jack Sparrow from his mind-blowing trap in Davy Jones Locker; meanwhile, the terrorizing ghost ship, the Flying... Action / Adventure / Fantasy

Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy Blu-ray Review

Grab the rum, hoist the colors, and enjoy Blu-ray at its best.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman, October 5, 2008

You are, without a doubt, the worst pirate I have ever heard of.

The opening minutes of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl play out almost like one would expect from a film that is a serious, unforgiving, bathed-in-harrowing-realism period film. It sets a foreboding tone, but by the time the credits roll, the film has transformed itself, quite effortlessly, into what is to be the thematic basis for the series: that of a high seas adventure replete with plenty of action and drama, but with a serious sense of humor tossed in, a nearly perfect amalgamation of cinematic gold resulting in one of the most lucrative movie franchises of all time. Unfortunately, the two sequels fail to live up to the lofty standards established by Curse of the Black Pearl. Overly long and complex, introducing new and less interesting characters, featuring acting that becomes stiffer and far less organic, and a script that just tries too hard, the series is ultimately a disappointment. Make no mistake about it, however, each film is an entertaining watch with a treasure trove of special effects and grandiose action sequences. The series simply lost its charm and fluidity somewhere along the way.

Even Jack Sparrow is stunned by the high quality of these discs.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Rating: 4.5/5

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is a rousing adventure film set during the height of piracy and the British Empire. As the story begins, we meet a young Elizabeth Swann who comes into possession of a golden coin, salvaged from the wreckage of a ship that also produces a young Will Turner, and an attraction between the two is palpable. As the film skips ahead several years, Elizabeth (Keira Knightly, King Arthur), daughter of a British aristocrat, is being nudged to marry a man she doesn't truly love, a young Captain (soon to be Commodore) by the name of James Norrington (Jack Davenport, The Wedding Date). She still has her eye on the dashing young blacksmith, Will Turner (Orlando Bloom, Troy), however, and the feeling is a mutual one. When the scruff and infamous Pirate "Captain" Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street) "lands" at Port Royal, he rescues Elizabeth from drowning but is sentenced to hang nevertheless for his crimes as a Pirate after he is captured during a daring escape attempt and a confrontation with Turner. Before his execution can be carried out, a Pirate ship, the Black Pearl, lays siege to the Port town in search of Elizabeth's golden coin, a coin that, as legend has it, will lift a particularly nasty curse that has been placed on the Pearl's crew. Elizabeth is kidnapped, and Sparrow and Turner team up to rescue her by seizing the HMS Interceptor and assembling a makeshift crew. Meanwhile, Norrington pursues both the Interceptor and the Pearl, but only Turner's love for Swann and Sparrow's cunning as a Pirate will stand a chance against the Pearl, her crew, and her wicked Captain, Barbosa (Geoffrey Rush, The Tailor of Panama).

With a whopping $140,000,000 budget, is it really any surprise that Disney hit the first Pirate film out of the (theme) park? Raking in more than double its enormous budget just in the domestic market, the credit for the film's success lies with no one entity. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl's success is a group achievement, from the director on down. Skipper Gore Verbinski, whose body of work prior to coming aboard included two moderately successful films (Mouse Hunt and The Mexican) and one major hit (The Ring), earned a good $55,000,000 less than the first Pirates film's combined domestic gross. In Pirates, his attention to detail is astonishing, and the film practically comes alive with amazing visuals awash in wonderful color; he directs his characters with precision; his action sequences are harrowing, thrilling, and flat-out fun all at once; and his pacing keeps the movie moving along at breakneck speed for its full two hours and twenty minutes. Likewise, the acting of not only the primaries, but the secondary and even tertiary characters, such as a pair of bumbling Redcoats or two of Barbosa's men, both pairs serving as the comic relief from both sides of the combatants, is simply perfect. While Depp, Rush, Knightly, and Bloom shine in their respective roles individually, they play off one another as a collective quartet wonderfully. The audience is not just told through the script that Sparrow and Barbosa are longtime enemies, or that Turner and Swann share a forbidden affection, we are made to believe, and effectively so, that these are real individuals with expansive backgrounds and feelings whose destinies intertwine in a larger-than-life swashbuckling adventure.

The line of success continues for Curse of the Black Pearl. The film features a wonderful array of special effects, notably those that create the crew of the Pearl, a crew that, under the bright moonlight, gives a whole new meaning to "skeleton crew." The transitions between human form and skeletal wreck are impressive and, most importantly, seamless. The film's set design is second-to-none, and as is the case with the entire trilogy, the attention to detail is oftentimes astonishing. It creates a world of amazing contrast, between the impeccably groomed and clean-as-a-whistle Brits and the dirt-laden, scurvy-ridden Pirates that inhabit the film. Likewise, the contrast between the Pearl and the HMS Interceptor is startling, and while I cannot claim altogether "realistic" as I have never set foot aboard a Pirate ghost ship, the respective designs hit all the right notes and these two easily distinguishable ships become characters, and small worlds, of their own. Last but not least, the film's brilliant score, composed by Klaus Badelt (Rescue Dawn) is the perfect amalgamation of action movie music, heroic themes, perilous notes, and classical Pirate-centric melodies. As with the remainder of the film, it effortlessly melds into the entirety of the experience to create one of the great Pirate movies, this one an adventure with a plethora of laughs, romance, and drama, making it an almost universally lauded and beloved film.






Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Rating: 2.5/5

As the film begins, Elizabeth Swann and Will Turner find themselves under arrest and under the threat of execution, at the hands of Lord Cutler Beckett (Tom Hollander, The Company) for their alliance with and assistance of Captain Jack Sparrow during the events of Curse of the Black Pearl. Turner is offered a pardon should he track down Sparrow and recover a compass with power far greater than simply pointing northward. Meanwhile, Sparrow finds himself in search of the key that will open the Dead Man's chest, but must contend with Captain Davy Jones (Bill Nighy, Underworld), who has come to claim the 100 years of servitude owed to him by Sparrow. Jones keeps the key Sparrow seeks, and Will Turner boards Jones' vessel, The Flying Dutchman, encounters his father "Bootstrap" Bill Turner (Stellan Skarsgård, Beowulf & Grendel), and plots to steal the key for Sparrow, in exchange for the compass Cutler desires.

Unfortunately, Dead Man's Chest fails to incorporate anything that made the first film so memorable and endearing. The primary characters all return, and a few new ones debut, but the film is sorely lacking in the intrigue, charm, originality, and fast pace of Curse of the Black Pearl. The story feels haphazardly assembled, forced, and lacking cohesion, and the result is a film that drags on for far too long without offering much substance. The goal of the picture, one might presume, was to outdo the first in scope and scale, in special effects and wit. In this respect the film falls short. Rather, it only succeeds in showcasing mind-boggling special effects, particularly the incredibly rendered creatures that make up Davy Jones' indentured crew. While the film revels in wonderful make-up and CGI, it does manage to return the intricately designed and photographed set pieces, and if nothing else, Dead Man's Chest is often stunning to behold, visually. The film proves itself to be a case study in two extremes. First, it is a fine example of a film that wonderfully captures varied looks, from bright, sunny, and dry island locales to dark, damp, and frightening rain-soaked nights aboard a cursed Pirate ship. Nearly every frame comes alive with vivid imagery that shows the painstaking attention to detail the filmmakers strove for. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Dead Man's Chest is a classic example of style over substance; the story seems an afterthought, sometimes nudged, sometimes brutally forced into the look, feel, and effects of the film. Even the cast seems bored with the material. The vitality and charisma exuded by the actors in Curse of the Black Pearl gives way to tedium that seeps into every frame. Only Bill Nighy's performance as Davy Jones, and Stellan Skarsgård's portrayal of "Bootstrap" Bill Turner seem even somewhat inspired, with Skarsgård in particular acting at a high level. Dead Man's Chest is a disappointing follow-up to a fantastic picture, one that does all the secondary and tertiary things right but fails in offering a movie's most important attributes.






Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Rating: 3.5/5

With Jack Sparrow trapped in Davy Jones' "locker," and Jones and Lord Beckett teaming up to rid the waters of nefarious pirates like Sparrow, the future of piracy, and that of Elizabeth Swann and Will Turner, is bleak. In a valiant rescue attempt, Swann, Turner, the mysterious Tia Dalma (Naomie Harris, Miami Vice), and an old adversary (no spoilers!) team up to rescue Sparrow and travel to the ends of the Earth to do so. His presence is needed at the meeting of the Brethren Court -- a gathering of the nine Pirate Lords -- to decide a further course of action against Jones and Beckett, including the proposal that the sea goddess Calypso be released from human form to wreak havoc on the seemingly unstoppable fleet.

Like Dead Man's Chest before it, At World's End is too long and too involved for what should be a laid back adventure film. Complex plot lines, drawn out dialogue sequences, and too much meaningless exposition replaces the charisma and audience-friendly plot of the first film. No doubt about it, like Dead Man's Chest before it, At World's End is a grand spectacle, an epic film in scope, with incredible set pieces, jaw-dropping special effects, and cinematography that begs to be witnessed at only the largest of magnifications. At World's End, despite its problems, is still a more cohesive, palatable film than was its predecessor. The action feels more robust, the acting more up to par with what audiences came to expect from the first film, and plot lines are fleshed out and finalized in far better detail here. It's still not in the same league as Curse of the Black Pearl, but considering the mistakes it remedies from the second entry, it easily settles into the role of the middle film of the trilogy insofar as overall quality is concerned. One thing that becomes clear by the time this third film is finished is that the Pirates movies are not about Jack Sparrow -- these are Will Turner's and Elizabeth Swann's films. Depp may command top billing, and Sparrow may very well be the series' most instantly recognizable character, but Turner's and Swann's destinies are the most involved in the series, and their character arcs the most fascinating as they turn from affable, love struck, and reluctant seafaring soul mates in Curse of the Black Pearl to full-fledged pirates by the third. Jack Sparrow is more of the glue that holds the pictures together. He's the recognizable hero, the comic relief, and the face of the franchise. In a way, he is the Han Solo of the series while Turner and Swann represent the Luke and Leia of the trilogy. Just don't expect to find out they're really brother and sister at some point during the series.

Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy Blu-ray, Video Quality

 

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Rating: 5/5

Before we begin the video review of The Curse of the Black Pearl, please note that Disney has included the correctly framed version of the film in this set. This 1080p, 2.35:1-framed transfer is nothing short of astonishing, and is an excellent representation of what Blu-ray is all about. Fine detail and depth on display throughout the film are extraordinary. Colors are sharp and bright, but always true. It's amazing how realistically detailed the film is, as mentioned earlier. That hard work to lend the film its amazing visuals translates perfectly to Blu-ray. The wooden side of a ship; the filthy, threadbare clothes worn by the Pirates; the adornments scattered through Sparrows hair; the wharfs; the brilliant blue water; faces; stone building facades; and flags -- all make for stunning high definition material, and represent only a small fraction that is the endless parade of staggering images displayed throughout the film. Daylight scenes are simply extraordinary with incredibly rich color on display, from the red coats of the British soldiers to the wondrous blue of the sea, and the film offers a splendid variety of colors to behold. The image is practically three dimensional in every frame, jumping off the screen and coming to life like few movies I have seen at home. Even the darker scenes, like that in Turner's blacksmith shop early in the film, or the cave that hosts two major sequences, offer unbelievable clarity sure to wow anyone who has yet to see these discs. Grain is present over the film, and the print features no abnormalities. Flesh tones are also excellent in appearance, and black levels are solid and true. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl remains one of Blu-rays most striking transfers.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Rating: 5/5

Once again presented in 1080p high definition and framed at 2.35:1, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest looks as sharp as a tack and never fails to impress as much, if not more so, than the video offering from the previous outing in the series as described above. Fine details shine through in every frame. A stone walkway atop of which we see a prisoner being dragged away on a dark, wet night in chapter two is a prime example. Nearly every scene in the movie, in fact, features an abundance of awe-inspiring detail, the result not only of a well-photographed and intricately-designed set, but a stunning Blu-ray transfer that is incredibly sharp and clear. Old chests, clothing, heavily used maps, rum bottles, and the wooden planks that make up the decks of various ships, all offer striking realism and represent only the tip-of-the-iceberg as far a list of the practically countless set pieces and props that look so marvelous. The colors during the film's well-known island sequence where Jack plays a god and, subsequently, a main course for a group of natives stands out form the crowd with its astonishing color reproduction, vitality, and depth. Every scene during this part of the film practically leaps off the screen and makes for extraordinary demonstration material. A subtle layer of grain is seen over the image. Black levels are stupendous, appearing incredibly inky and true, and flesh tones appear accurate throughout. Dead Man's Chest, simply stated, offers viewers reference quality video from the first shot to the last.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Rating: 5/5

Before we begin the video review of At World's End, please note that Disney has printed the correct resolution on the back of the case. Initial pressings incorrectly stated that the film was presented in 1080i high definition; the edition included here correctly states the film is presented in 1080p high definition. It should come as no surprise that At World's End is as equally as stunning and impressive on Blu-ray as its predecessors. The film's dark opening sequences in Singapore are filled with intricate detail even under moderate lighting conditions and dark sets. The costumes are ornate but not to the point of distraction, and every nuance truly shines through. The scene where Sparrow returns to the land of the living, a dreamlike sequence featuring white-hot and dry desert sands, multiple Jack Sparrows fiddling about the ship, and rock-like white crabs, comes to vivid life, and the sequence only looks better once Sparrow is returned to the "real world" and to his crew. The bright light of the sequence allows for the image to appear three-dimensional and incredibly detailed and textured. The sandy beaches, the clothing, the caked-on filth present atop every character, and the subtle film grain, all work in harmony to create a stunning moment in a film that is excellent throughout. As expected, black levels and flesh tones are rock solid, too. As with the other releases, time and space permit only so many points of recognition for the wealth of stunning imagery seen throughout this picture. It's just another fine looking Pirates movie, and it's almost easy to take for granted how wonderful all three films look. Disney should be proud, as the films represent three of the elite among all Blu-ray releases in terms of visual reproduction.

Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy Blu-ray, Audio Quality

 

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Rating: 5/5

Arriving with a thunderous PCM 5.1 uncompressed soundtrack, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl sounds about as good as any other disc on the market today. Full, rich, and immersive, this is high definition audio, and PCM in particular, at its best. We'll hear slight breezes blowing around the soundstage, the creaking and cracking of old wooden ships, water being displaced by the ships, and plenty more, all of which creates the perfect atmosphere for this seafaring adventure. Action sequences sparkle with powerful lows, crisp highs, and everything in between making for some exciting segments in the film. The clanking of swords; the explosions upon impact of cannonballs; the sound of cannon balls screaming through the air; screaming voices during bloody hand-to-hand combat -- all of it is precisely played out to wonderful effect, bringing each and every action scene alive. The sound never fails to be engaging elsewhere, such as during a terrible storm at sea as heard in chapter 8 with plenty of booming thunder, rain, and wind blowing all around. The battle between the ships in chapter 11 is a sonic marvel, as the only thing missing are projectiles flying through your living room. Dialogue is perfectly crisp and natural, and the film's wonderful score is a sonic achievement as it effortlessly fills the entirety of the soundstage with audible precision. Make no mistake, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is Blu-ray audio done right.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Rating: 5/5

Again sporting a PCM 5.1 uncompressed soundtrack, Dead Man's Chest sounds great and is plenty loud enough to wake the dead. From the opening shot, audiences are treated to a realistic rainstorm (and are privy to another one in chapter 12 that is somewhat harder, more pronounced, and equally impressive). Drops fall all around as every speaker is utilized to bring the effect to life, effectively placing audiences in the midst of the storm. Subtle yet deep bass rattles with the score while sound effects and music flow from the front speakers. Meanwhile, dialogue is crisply rendered through the center channel. The track also continues in the tradition of the first film where we hear every creak of the ship and subtle background noises of an old ship at sea, all of which come together to create a rich environment during onboard ship sequences. Bass is not just reserved for subtle effects as hinted to above. Waves crash down on shore in chapter 7, the heavy footsteps of Davy Jones walking about the Dutchman, and various scenes featuring attacks by Kraken rattle with power and precision. Surrounds are used to excellent effect as well, creating not only the seamless environments as eluded to earlier, but come alive during the film's power-packed action sequences. Dead Man's Chest offers another winning PCM soundtrack.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Rating: 5/5

As expected, At World's End serves up an incredible sonic experience via yet another PCM 5.1 uncompressed mix. The singing of Hoist the Colours at the film's beginning during the hangings literally fills the room with the voices of the condemned, sounding as rich and full as anything yet in the series. Subsequent action sequences, beginning with the confrontation in Singapore, offer magnificent use of the back speakers, solid bass, crisp sound effects, and fine imaging, all making for reference-quality sequences. In the next scene, the Flying Dutchman emerges from beneath the sea to lay waste to other vessels. Every thump of its cannonade rings remarkably powerful and crisp, the segment becoming just another in an ever-growing series of reference moments throughout the series that don't let up until the credits roll at the end of this film. Take another scene, where the Pearl flips over and comes back right-side up to get it and the crew back on track. Listeners may never experience such rumbling, effective lows as they do here. The foundation-shaking experience seems on par with actually being there, if not better, for the risk of drowning and a skyrocketing dry cleaning bill are greatly reduced. Of course, no review of At World's End would be complete without mention of the film's climactic "Maelstrom" sequence, and that is all that is required, a mention. One can surmise that it sounds fantastic, in line with, if not better than, anything else in the series. If it seems the descriptions of the three films are becoming a bit redundant, it's because they all share similar traits and are all equally impressive from start to end.

Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy Blu-ray, Special Features and Extras

 

All three films in the Pirates trilogy offer an incredible amount of bonus material, so let's dive straight in.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Rating: 4.5/5

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl comes as a two-disc set, and several extra features are to be found on disc one. Three audio commentary tracks begin the supplementary material. The first features director Gore Verbinski and actor Johnny Depp. This is a most relaxed commentary as the pair discuss their initial reaction to the idea of a Pirate movie, various effects shots, some of the perils of shooting and the dangerous moments on the set, and more. Despite the laid-back, somewhat monotone nature of the track, it's a solid listen. Track number two features producer Jerry Bruckheimer and actors Keira Knightly and Jack Davenport. The actors appear separate from the producer, and their track is lighthearted and breezy yet still offers listeners plenty of pertinent insights in between the all-in-good-fun jabs these participants take at one another. Bruckheimer doesn't appear until almost seven minutes in. His comments are to-the-point, as always, and he comes across as intelligent and well-informed. The track features plenty of dead spots which makes it a rather hard listen overall, and is for the most dedicated Pirates fan only. Track number three features screenwriters Stuart Beattie, Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, and Jay Wolpert. Fast paced, interesting, and with all four participants contributing a wealth of information, this track stands up very well next to the Depp/Verbinski track and makes for a solid listen. Scoundrels of the Sea is a customizable trivia track where some of the facts are presented with a golden coin icon. Clicking on the coin will add it to your booty, and at the end of the film, all of the coins you clicked on will merge into a feature that expands on the facts each coin accompanied. Lastly, Movie Showcase is a set of three scenes that best demonstrate the audio and video qualities of the film.

Disc two of this set contains a plethora of additional supplemental features. An Epic At Sea (480p, 38:09) is an eight-part feature that delves briefly into various aspects of the filmmaking process, including, but not limited to, a brief look at the stars cast in the film and their thoughts on the characters they portray, a discussion of the ships seen throughout the picture, and behind-the-scenes footage of the film's premiere. Fly on the Set (480p, 35:17) is, again, a series of eight featurettes that provide to us a glimpse of the making of various scenes throughout the film. Next up is yet another set of 8 featurettes, these under the label of Additional Featurettes. These pieces, presented with no "play all" option, unlike the previous two, take a slightly more detailed look at the film, including a piece featuring Johnny Depp discussing his character, an introduction to "Levi," the monkey that played "Jack" in the film, and two pieces that look at the theme park ride that inspired the film. Next are 19 deleted and alternate scenes (480p, 19:03). Concluding the supplements is a series of eight more features, titled, again, Additional Featurettes. Presented in 480p standard definition, these features include a blooper reel, image and photo galleries, Below Deck -- An Interactive History of Pirates where users may learn more about the various aspects of a Pirates' life, and more.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Rating: 4.5/5

Disc one features a commentary track with screenwriters Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio. An active and interesting track, the writers discuss their thought process on the writing, how the story adds to the lore of the first film, point out the various difficulties in making the film, and more. Also included on disc one are an interactive game entitled Liar's Dice, where users can play the game featured prominently in the film, and, once again, Movie Showcase. Moving along to disc two, viewers are first greeted by 11 features, some of which chart the course of the making of the film, while others examine even more Pirate-related information. The features are presented in 480p standard definition, and the information presented covers a broad range of topics. First, in Charting the Return, viewers catch a glimpse of "The War Room," the place where the ideas for the final two Pirate movies came alive. According to Plan (1:03:01) is an in-depth, comprehensive journey that follows the process of shooting the film, from the preparations to travel to the Bahamas for the shoot to the cast and crew's thoughts upon wrapping principal photography. Following this piece are several features that look at specific aspects of the making of the film, including an interactive feature where viewers can learn more about Johnny Depp's make-up and attire, the process of creating the Davey Jones character, the film makers' concept and creation of Kraken, and the shooting of the Bone Cage sequence. Also included is a look at the refurbishing of the theme park attraction at Disney World, a Jerry Bruckheimer photo diary, a blooper reel, a look at the film's premiere, and an additional series of still photographs from the set. Moving along, we find Mastering the Blade (480p), a series of three shorts featuring actors Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightly, and Jack Davenport and their preparation for various action sequences. Pirates on Location (480p) takes a closer look at two key sequences in the film -- Cannibal Island and Tortuga Bar Brawl. Moving along, Inside 'Dead Man's Chest' (480p) more closely examines Pirate lore in the film, various locations and sets utilized in the making of the film, and a brief look at the character's motivations and the story line of the film. Wrapping up the supplements are a series of teaser and theatrical trailers for the film from around the world.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Rating: 3/5

Once again, fans are treated to a two-disc set with At World's End. Disc one offers viewers only a series of bloopers (1080p, 5:21); no commentary tracks are available for this picture. Disc two begins with Enter the Maelstrom: The Interactive Experience (1080i). In this feature, producer Jerry Bruckheimer takes audiences through the daunting task of creating the film's maelstrom sequence, "the biggest sequence we've ever attempted to do." Various icons appear on the screen, and selecting them will take you further in-depth through the process. Anatomy of a Scene: The Maelstrom (1080i, 19:25) further examines the crucial sequence. Keith & The Captain: On-Set with Johnny and the Rock Legend (1080i, 4:41) features these two icons of entertainment sharing their memories of working together on the film. The Tale of Many Jacks (1080i, 4:48) is a look at the many antics of Jack Sparrow, focusing on a scene where multiple Sparrows are seen at once. The World of Chow Yun-Fat (1080i, 4:13) examines the contributions of this famous star to the film. The Pirate Maestro: The Music of Hans Zimmer (1080i, 10:31) takes a look at the famed composer's score for this film. Masters of Design (1080i) shows viewers the work of five artists and crafts people who contributed to the film: James Byrkit, Crash McCreery, Rick Heinrichs, Penny Rose, and Kris Peck. Hoist the Colours (1080i, 4:40) examines the writing of this song that appears in the film. Inside the Brethren Court (1080i) is a series of profiles of the various "Pirate Lords" seen in the film. Finally, two deleted scenes (1080i, 2:25) with optional commentary by director Gore Verbinski conclude the supplemental section.

Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy Blu-ray, Overall Score and Recommendation

 

Pirates of the Caribbean is a visually and sonically stunning series full of interesting characters, seamless set pieces, amazing special effects, and plenty of swashbuckling adventure. Unfortunately, the story as told in the second and third films leaves much to be desired; there seems to be in those films an emphasis on special effects and character introduction rather than smart plot lines and character development. They feel rushed, not technically, but through the script and the acting. Both lose the flow, grace, and charm of the first film. The third film, which seems a fairly valiant effort to return the franchise to respectability, is still more about its admittedly amazing visuals than it is the fundamentals of good moviemaking. All the care that went into the production values of all three films, from the sets to the sound design, shine through on these Blu-ray discs. The entire trilogy of Pirates of the Caribbean films is nothing short of spectacular from an audio and video perspective. All three films also pack quite the bonus section, though an ever shrinking one at that as the films progress. This is a landmark Blu-ray trilogy, showcasing the studio that is arguably the format's best friend delivering Blu-ray at its finest. For those that don't already own these films on Blu-ray, The Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy comes with a solid recommendation.

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