I’m late getting to the flurry of summer threequels and just saw the latest Pirates movie. I enjoyed both of the first two movies, including the ridiculously over-the-top fight scene near the end of the second movie where Davy Jones’ crew of fish mutants engages the motley crew in swashbuckling of all types. Key to these movies is the tongue-in-cheek humor and the wink-and-a-smile that Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) almost gives straight to the audience to reassure us all that it shouldn’t be taken too seriously. Sadly, that seems to be exactly what the third installment does. In place of deeds of daring-do and meticulously choreographed swordfights there is instead a lot of expository dialogue and a generally morose tone. Romance and sexual tension are completely absent as both Elizabeth (Keira Knightley) and Will (Orlando Bloom) spend most of the movie giving each other the silent treatment, even after Will learns that Elizabeth didn’t really have the hots for Captain Jack in the last movie after all. It’s odd, and adds a downer dimension to the movie. The final climactic battle is a dark affair as well, both figuratively and literally as the fight between two ships takes place in a raging storm. If there’s ever a fourth Pirates movie, I hope they go back to a simpler story embellished with visually imaginative and amusing battles and not worry so much about the fate of the world.