"The enormous octopus, the pirate hybrid of humans and sea creatures, the intricately designed pirate ships, all set to grand and thrilling music, exude an irresistible charm.
The most breathtaking moment is when Davy Jones' massive pet octopus rampages aboard the Royal Navy's Edinburgh, its sheer destructive power truly awe-inspiring."
"Johnny Depp's charismatic performance adds a lot to the film. Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley's interactions are also quite entertaining.
Of course, if the film's producer weren't Gilbert, I doubt the sequel would have turned out this well."
"Director Stephen Sommers accomplished the task excellently, giving the audience plenty of surprises. I think the second installment surpasses the first in every way."
"Without Johnny Depp's performance and the irresistibly charming Captain Jack Sparrow, this film could have easily ended up as another flashy blockbuster with little substance.
However, the plot is somewhat obscure and complex, with a few loose ends left unresolved; additionally, the ensemble of common pirates isn't as entertaining as in the first film."
After the premiere, online media reviews of Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest were quickly released.
This is the advantage online media has over traditional print: rapid response. Nowadays, Hollywood increasingly values online promotion.
Still, they aren't paying enough attention. The Internet isn't just fast; it's a multi-functional entertainment platform.
With Warner and Disney expanding into online platforms, Hollywood will inevitably take the digital space more seriously. By the time Netflix and other services are established, Internet video resources will already be dominated by major Hollywood studios.
Although Gilbert has been pushing Warner and Disney to prioritize streaming platforms, he remains a staunch advocate of the big screen.
Gilbert believes films are meant to be experienced in theaters; cinema is where movies truly come alive.
In his previous life as a director of online films, Gilbert always dreamed of moving to the big screen, but never achieved it, instead having to cater to popularity-driven actors.
Now, with his status, those same actors don't even have the right to cater to him.
Undoubtedly, films like Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest are most exhilarating when seen on the big screen.
In recent years, with the rise of DVDs, online video, and private home theater concepts, some argue that movies can be watched anywhere, making theaters irrelevant.
However, the experience on DVD or a computer is far inferior to that of a cinema, and online viewing is limited by resolution and internet speed.
Private home theaters are also expensive—basic setups cost tens of thousands of dollars, while top-tier systems exceed hundreds of thousands.
By contrast, spending a dozen dollars to watch a movie in theaters is the least burdensome option.
Gilbert believes that as long as cinema as an art form endures, theaters remain the cheapest way to achieve the ultimate viewing experience.
Of course, if one doesn't care about that, DVDs or future online streaming are fine alternatives.
In the highly developed North American market, theaters can continue thriving for a long time and won't fade easily.
In fact, Gilbert once discussed the future of film with Steve Jobs, who believed technological advances might replace cinemas.
For example, the then-popular VR concept could allow viewers to watch films through VR headsets.
But achieving the envisioned experience would require massive investments of time, labor, and resources.
Of course, this is just speculation—whether it can be realized before Gilbert retires is another question.
Following the premiere, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest officially began its midnight screenings.
After blockbuster successes like The Last of Us, Transformers, and Iron Man, the early July release of Dead Man's Chest sparked another wave of audience frenzy.
Doug and Zoe had been long-time fans of Gilbert, following and supporting him since his debut with Shallows.
Now with three children, living a happy life together, the whole family are devoted Gilbert fans.
The Last of Us had some frightening elements in the trailer, so Doug and Zoe watched it on their own. But for Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest, their three children insisted on seeing it, so the parents took them to the midnight showing.
"Wow," said the kids, who had little experience going to theaters but were seasoned fans.
Seeing the packed cinema, all three children expressed amazement.
Doug went to get the tickets, then bought popcorn, fries, and soda to share with the kids.
Before the film began, the family found empty seats and chatted.
Zoe asked, "I saw a giant octopus in the trailer—are you scared?"
Eldest son Jerry said, "No, I'll protect my little siblings."
Doug praised him, "Great! Our Jerry is a real man!"
Younger brother Wilson added, "I'm not scared either. I want to eat the giant octopus."
Little sister Lisa clung to Doug's leg, saying, "Daddy will protect me, so I'm not scared."
Nearby, a bearded man chuckled, "These kids are brave!"
"Haha, yes," Doug replied. "Are you here for the midnight screening too?"
"Of course," said the bearded man, showing his badge. "I'm a senior member of the Los Angeles Gilbert Fan Association. This year I've already watched The Last of Us and Iron Man. After attending today's red carpet premiere, I came straight to the theater."
Zoe admired him, "That's great. We couldn't go to the premiere because of the kids."
"No problem," said the man. "When your kids grow up, you can go. Gilbert will still be making films then."
"That's true."
Generally, fan support for Gilbert-produced films isn't as high, like with the The Adventure of Jackie Chan, Fast & Furious, or Harry Potter series.
These franchises succeed because they each have unique appeal, allowing consecutive sequels.
The Matrix series was special; when it first appeared, it astonished a vast audience.
So even though Gilbert no longer directs personally, fans still support films bearing the name of the first installment. The following two films maintained quality, at least at a good standard.
As Gilbert-produced films keep selling well, not only fans but also general audiences place trust in his name.
This trust isn't arbitrary; it's built over decades of career achievements and countless box office successes—this is box office pull.
Regardless of the film's genre, as long as Gilbert's name is on the credits, a large audience will flock to theaters.
Pirates of the Caribbean 1: The Black Pearl was directed by Gilbert, an original fantasy IP, and achieved considerable box office success.
By Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest, the film is a sequel inheriting the IP, distinct from the first.
Thus, Warner and Disney had high expectations, internally projecting North American box office at $280 million and global over $800 million.
...
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