May 2007 has been an unprecedented month for blockbuster sequels. So far, they haven’t been very good. With the arrival of AT WORLD’S END, the studios appear to have gone 0 for 3.
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD’S END begins with a long line of pirates being sent to the gallows. With The Flying Dutchman under the control of the British Royal Navy, the Crown has established a no-tolerance policy towards piracy. Those who survive an encounter with Davy Jones and crew are brought in to die by the hangman’s noose. Who will come to the rescue of this defenseless lot? I only hope the same fate will befall the thieves behind a movie that made an estimated $125 million in its opening weekend. But I digress. Okay then. There you go, filmmakers, you have renewed our compassion for the pirates. I daresay Captain Jack Sparrow would be a fine choice for Pirate Hero, but wait a minute. They sent him off to Davy Jones’ locker at the end of DEAD MAN’S CHEST. Well, what then?
The mysterious Peter (Michael Shannon) drags the pathetic Agnes (Ashley Judd) inexorably down the short, dark tunnel of his bloody and bug-ridden schizophrenic delusions. Hilarity ensues.
Adapted for the screen by Tracy Letts from her own play and directed by the legendary William Friedkin, BUG builds tension upon tension to what should be a real screamer of a climax, but ultimately delivers a flatulent letdown that had the audience booing and hissing as the credits rolled.
You've gotta be concerned when an ad campaign has to go back more than 30 years to cite a director’s biggest successes. But the ploy seemed to work, considering the majority of moviegoers (including myself) don’t have the retention capabilities to remember such stinkers as JADE, THE GUARDIAN or THE HUNTED.