Not to be overlooked is the strong support of the cast around Johnny Depp. Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom seem to have developed (since the first film) a great chemistry which shines through in their on-screen personas. They add the appropriate amount of romance and drama to offset Depp's antics, but without being either morose or mushy. And what would a great hero (or anti-hero in the case of Sparrow) story be without a devious and scary villain? Bill Nighy plays the role of Davy Jones to a T; his ability to convey the conflicted emotions of a villain who yearns to feel comes through even beneath layers of make-up an computer generated flesh. His addition to this series is a welcome one, and it creates an even greater balance between good and evil than the first film.

The only disappointment in Dead Man's Chest does not arise until the very end. And don't worry, I am not here to spoil it for you. I believe that everyone should see it for themselves and pass judgment accordingly, but the film felt almost like half of a movie. It sort of just drops off, making us thankful that there is going to be a third installment in this now powerhouse movie franchise.

But despite a few shortfalls at the end of its tale, Dead Man's Chest is a delightful movie theater experience. It has every element that we have come to love from great summer movies of the past; heart-pounding action, expert comedic timing, and characters that we will not soon forget. In short, this is one of those films that you absolutely must experience in the theater, as it is just that much fun.

Final Grade:
The most entertaining film of the year, hands down. One of those movies you can't just wait to see on DVD!