I’m finding it more and more difficult to wait for July 7, the date Johnny Depp returns to the multiplex as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. Although I haven’t screened this movie yet, I’m hoping it will offer even more fun than the first Pirates of the Caribbean romp, and I’m happy to report that handsome Orlando Bloom and lovely Keira Knightley, so terrific in the original film, are back to join in the swashbuckling hijinks. Other fine actors in the cast include Bill Nighy, Stellan Skarsgard, Chow Yun Fat, and Jonathan Pryce. Behind the scenes, The Curse of the Black Pearl's director Gore Verbinski and the writing team of Ted Elliott and Tony Rossio are also on board.  

In this eagerly-awaited sequel, Jack Sparrow must deal with the supernatural again. It seems he owes a debt to Davy Jones (Nighy) and will lose his soul unless he can figure out how to avoid it.  He also manages to interfere with the wedding plans of Will Turner (Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Knightley). The film’s rollicking  preview promises lots of comedy, intrigue and special effects. Unlike so many other movie trailers, it’s one I don’t mind seeing over and over.   

Why is Depp’s Jack Sparrow such a memorable movie character?  He’s certainly like no other pirate on film -- and definitely one of Depp’s most entertaining creations (right up there with his squeamish Ichabod Crane in Sleepy Hollow). What an unforgettable entrance! Neither villain nor hero, Sparrow manages to make viewers cheer for him despite (or perhaps because of) his unkempt appearance, slurred speech and mischief-making nature.

In the preview for Dead Man’s Chest, Elizabeth Swann tells the roguish Sparrow, “This will be a moment when you have the chance to do the right thing.” Hearing Sparrow respond with “I love those moments; I like to wave at them when they pass by,” we suspect he’s up to his old tricks. But when he says, “I was nothing more than an almost innocent bystander,” we’re sure of it.   

Happily, a third Jack Sparrow misadventure (Pirates of the Caribbean: World’s End) was filmed back to back with Dead Man’s Chest, so fans can look forward to seeing another sequel sometime next year. On second thought, “happily” may not be the right word here. Another whole year of waiting? Arrrrrrgh!

(Photo: Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.  Copyright © 2006 Walt Disney Pictures. All Rights Reserved.)