Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)

This trilogy-capper is a step up from the previous film, with Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow back in fine form and some entertaining sequences. It still lacks the zip of the first entry and has a convoluted plot.

The film largely succeeds in returning to the high-seas adventure and fun of the first installment after the excesses of the second. The resolution of plotlines brings a sense of relief and energy to the characters.

The critic describes it as a hulking, cumbersome beast of a movie overloaded with plot, characters and bureaucracy. He singles out the spectacular rescue sequence from Davy Jones's locker as the most visually impressive part.

The plot is a trippy, twisty mess and far too long, but it looks fantastic and makes some bold choices. Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow saves the day once again amid the chaos.

The film adds nothing very exciting to the franchise formula but spins out familiar elements with enough energy and inventiveness to justify its running time. Lavish set pieces provide entertainment value though they lack the impact of the previous instalment's new creations.

The film is tedious and weighed down by convoluted mythology and excessive exposition that fails to clarify the story or allow room for fun slapstick. It highlights the perils of bloated blockbuster filmmaking.

This third entry is the biggest and loudest but only second-best in the series, offering some coherence and whimsy after the prior film's bloat while still suffering from numbing action and diminishing returns. Johnny Depp remains the main asset.

The third instalment is sporadically exciting with great visuals and effects but the plot is nonsensical and a rehash. Acting, including Depp's, is less special than the effects.

The movie is an overlong, incoherent mess that pummels viewers into submission with its length and lack of focus. The standout element is a monkey's performance amid the chaos.

The critic finds the plot incomprehensible without prior knowledge of the previous film and describes the action as messy, repetitive and lacking stakes. The story is seen as a collection of unfathomable compacts and betrayals that fails to engage.

The film is more of the same cacophonous action and paper-thin drama as its predecessor, with a muddled, overlong plot driven by corporate demands rather than narrative need. It features bland performances and recycled imagery in a dreary spectacle.

The critic calls it a bloated, incoherent mess with arbitrary plot twists and broken oaths that tests patience at nearly three hours. He notes some nice CGI set-pieces like a giant made of crabs as a highlight amid the flaws.

The critic finds the third film a confident, entertaining conclusion that avoids the usual trilogy slump. Spectacular action sequences and strong performances, especially from Geoffrey Rush and Bill Nighy, are singled out for praise, though the runtime is noted as excessive.

The film is seen as an improvement over the previous sequel, with a stronger story hook and an epic climax worth the price of admission. The convoluted plot and lack of emotional investment in certain characters are noted drawbacks.

The reviewer finds the film messy and confusing with a bloated plot and wasted supporting cast, but prefers it slightly to the second film and admires the epic scale of the final battle sequences, finding it moderately entertaining overall.

The film is a chaotic mess that is pretty dire, with a confusing plot full of fighting and one-liners; it also criticizes the lack of moral compass as the pirates become too likeable and the ending is unsatisfying.