Not one person applauded at the end!!! - Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End Reviews

My daughter and I went to see Pirates 3 on the first Friday after opening at 10:00 PM. The theater was very full, but NOT sold-out, which was my first hint of a problem. We actually came to the theater to see another movie, but finding the theater for Pirates only 1/3 full a mere twenty minutes before showing, we went to Pirates instead. By the time the movie started, the theater was fairly full, and in spite of this, the most telling thing I can share with you is this: at the end of the movie not one... NOT ONE PERSON... in the entire theater clapped. No applause at all. This, to me, said it all. I originally wrote a long review, but I think most of what I have to say can be found in other reviews, so I'll keep it short and simple: ? I was disappointed. The film fell flat. I felt let-down at the end. ? The plot was confusing, convoluted, often difficult to follow and frequently explained itself long after you stopped caring. ? I didn't care about or relate to any of the characters. We've come to expect Jack Sparrow to switch allegiances and loyalties to suit his immediate needs, but when everyone in the film does it, it caused confusion. I didn't know who to root for which left me feeling like I was missing out on something. ? After all the build-up, Calypso and the Pirate Lords ended up having a minor affect, if any, on the climax (I was disappointed with Calypso's ultimate role.) ? Not much fun. It was not as light-hearted, whimsical and FUN as the first Pirates. I was too busy trying to wade through the complicated plot, mish-mash of myths, and trying to figure out where each character's loyalties and motivations were at that particular moment to have fun. I seriously think I laughed out loud only a couple of times along with a few half-hearted chuckles (the entire theater audience was awful quiet through most of the film.) ? There were too many Jack Sparrows and not enough JACK SPARROW. In the first film, it was clear that Depp created and added depth and dimension to the character Jack Sparrow, but in this film, it is apparent that the writers took over ownership of Jack Sparrow and suffocated him in the process. ? Too much of Elizabeth Swann especially since the writers failed to make me care about Elizabeth Swann. Granted, there are some good parts to this movie, and there is plenty of action, but overall I was disappointed. Yes, go see the film, but don't expect it to be the same joyful, fun ride we had in the first Pirates. And, yes, they've left room for a Pirates 4 if "it makes good business sense."