Pirates of the Caribbean: Ultimate Trilogy Collection Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Pirates of the Caribbean: Ultimate Trilogy Collection Blu-ray Movie Review

An excellent release... at least for those who don't already own the 6-disc 'Pirates' trilogy.

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown March 9, 2011

Ah, the law of diminishing cinematic returns. In 2007, the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy joined an already notorious company of increasingly misguided franchises. Among them? The Matrix films, the Star Wars prequels,the pre-Nolan Batman flicks, the Alien quadrology, the Die Hard series, the Jurassic Park trilogy and other fan-favorite institutions that seemed to come more and more undone with each passing sequel. Way back in 2003 -- seems like an eternity ago, I know -- The Curse of the Black Pearl hit theaters like a gust of fresh, sweet-smelling sea breeze. It was an unexpected, popcorn-fueled surprise, to make a gross understatement; a crowd-pleasing critical darling brimming with heart, soul, humor, pathos and enough swashbuckling action and ship-stealing hilarity to launch a successful franchise. The waters calmed though in 2006 with the release of Dead Man's Chest, a decent but dour retread of sorts that attempted to capture the magic of its predecessor but failed to do much more than rake in a hefty pile of box-office cash. It wasn't a bad film, not by my estimation, but it lacked the spark, sizzle and contagious spirit of The Curse of the Black Pearl. In 2007, to my restrained relief, At World's End honed in on the light-hearted whimsy of the original. But, as much as it righted the franchise's sophomore wrongs, it still suffered whenever it scrambled to tie up the nigh untameable, embarrassingly convoluted story introduced in Dead Man's Chest.

"Funny ol' world, in'it?"

What then causes a franchise to fizzle? Why are sequels such dangerous propositions? In my mind, the answer is simple: there is no double-edged sword as sharp or as deadly as success. When George Lucas struggled to scrape by, had to prove his worth on a daily basis, was motivated to create an entire galaxy with nothing but a dream and a team of daring craftsman, Star Wars sprung to life, capturing the imagination of the world and becoming a global phenomenon. But with billions of dollars, a vast studio and limitless CG at his disposal, his films became as stale and stagnant as the sweat that once hung heavy on his wiry '70s frame. Likewise, The Matrix blew minds, broke records and changed the face of cinema overnight. The Wachowski brothers weren't just trying to cash in though, they had invested their blood, sweat and tears, their very careers, into a passion project. Reloaded and Revolutions weren't passion projects, they were flat and uninspired paychecks born from carte blanche and studio mandate. Great art comes by way of great adversity; the more money a franchise earns, the easier it is for its filmmakers to indulge in time-consuming production design, infinitely more complex CG and overcrowded storylines. Pacing falters, exposition overwhelms everything it touches, performances meander and any fire a franchise once had in its belly flickers and grows dim.

Thankfully, the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy -- while based on an amusement park ride, of all things -- doesn't flounder and flop as much as the Star Wars prequels or the Matrix sequels. I'll admit The Curse of the Black Pearl is, without a doubt, superior to Dead Man's Chest and At World's End, both of which are too long, mire in too many subplots, introduce too many new characters and race to resolve too many loose ends. Black Pearl, on the other hand, is as close to perfect as high-spirited, high seas action-adventure films come. It knows when to surge and when to relent, knows when to change directions and when to hold course, it even knows how to team a laugh with a gasp or follow a cheer with a gut-punch. Be that as it may, the second and third installments still bring enough established wit and charm to the table to entertain, even if their slower, more bloated strides make it more difficult to revisit each one as often as the original. If anything, screenwriters Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio's sequel scripts would have benefited from another pass, preferably by someone ruthless enough to trim the blubber from their sprawling tale. Still, like The Curse of the Black Pearl, Dead Man's Chest and At World's End benefit from a bevy of scene-chomping villains (Geoffrey Rush, Bill Nighy, Jack Davenport and Chow Yun-Fat, among numerous others), audacious action sequences, a sense of grand supernatural adventure, masterclass special effects, hilarious banter and, of course, Captain Jack Sparrow.

It's hard to imagine Pirates of the Caribbean without Johnny Depp. (I assume it would be fun but a tad forgettable, a less-than-ideal combination. But I don't intend to waste much time on conjecture.) Director Gore Verbinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer were smart to lure the eclectic leading man into the fold nine years ago and give him such free reign of what could have been an expendable, all-too-conventional antihero. In fact, had the original film revolved solely around Orlando Bloom's Will Turner and Keira Knightley's Elizabeth Swann, I don't know that it would have lived long enough to even become a trilogy. Much has been written about Depp's capricious creation, the actor's bizarre but brilliant blend of Keith Richards and Pepe le Pew, and the Captain's rock-star charisma. Even more has been penned about the studio's initial resistance to his instincts, the emergence of Captain Jack as a household name and Depp's foray into summer blockbusters. But Depp's achievement and Jack's subsequent allure doesn't rest in his eccentricities, although those certainly help. No, it's the manner in which he reacts to the films' vindictive villains and undead monstrosities -- with reckless spontaneity and ever-calculating deliberation -- that makes him the source of constant amusement, the unpredictable force and the endearing scoundrel that he is.

Not that the rest of the cast phones it in. Quite the contrary. Bloom and Knightley may fill the thankless roles of straight shooters among an endlessly colorful cast of characters, but their unflinching conviction grounds even the films' most ludicrous developments in some manner of reality. Rush, Davenport, Nighy and their fellow ne'er-do-well's make the most of every backstab, betrayal and hearty pirate laugh in their classically trained repertoire, oozing sinister glee no matter how bogged down their individual stories and motivations become. Their supporting actors are just as memorable, regardless of how much or how little screentime each one is afforded. Every gruff henchmen, bumbling guard and slack-eyed first mate suggests a greater untold tale is just out of reach, making all three Caribbean films more epic in scope and scale than they might otherwise seem. Paired with Verbinski's jaw-dropping sets, creaking warships and stunning visual effects (both practical and computer generated), the films nearly burst at the seams. But that same spirit of fun and adventure Depp infuses into Jack's every gesture permeates both the films' strongest and weakest scenes, keeping the franchise ship plowing ahead despite whatever flaws threaten to drag it below the waves.

All things considered, the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy is far from perfect and even farther from the giddy, genre-skewing near-perfection The Curse of the Black Pearl attains. But with so many talented filmmakers, actors, artists, effects wizards and crewman visibly sinking their all into every scene, it doesn't seem right to disown the entire franchise simply because its second chapter plods along on occasion and its third chapter has some problems bringing it all to a close. For me, The Curse of the Black Pearl earns an unapologetic 4.5, Dead Man's Chest nets a decent 3.0 and At World's End nabs a solid 3.5, making my final Trilogy average a respectable 3.5. Here's hoping On Stranger Tides, due in May, is a breezy return to Black Pearl form.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Ultimate Trilogy Collection Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"Do it right the first time." Growing up, they seemed like my father's favorite six words on the planet; a polished little nugget from his own childhood he'd often dispense with a furrowed brow and a bemused grin. Now I know there are cynics among you. Filmfans who will assume the 1080p/AVC-encoded Pirates of the Caribbean video transfers, now four years old, are somehow inadequate. But I'm here to assure you, Disney did it right the first time. The Blu-ray editions of Curse of the Black Pearl, Dead Man's Chest and At World's End dazzle with spectacular high definition presentations, flooding the screen with rich colors, striking primaries, breathtaking blacks, vibrant contrast, wonderfully refined fine details and pristine, remarkably proficient technical encodes. Pearl's picture isn't as crisp as that of either series sequel, but a variety of factors -- production dates, budgets, cameras, artistic intentions and technological advances among them -- are the cause, and even then the inherent, wholly aesthetic differences don't detract from the quality of Pearl's outstanding transfer. Not in the slightest.

Individual hairs, the tiniest frayed threads and the smallest scraps of splintering wood are rendered with exacting care. Every barnacled nook and cranny on Davy Jones and his henchmen's briny armor is intact, every texture that graces Penny Jones' costumes is given its just due, and every last gnarled bit of shrapnel and bone-chilling ricocheted raindrop pops on-screen. Moreover, a clean, consistent, altogether filmic veneer of grain is present at all times but never becomes intrusive, milling about within each frame without drawing any unwarranted attention to itself. And, aside from some entirely negligible instances of source-born ringing and crush (each of which appeared in the films' original theatrical presentations), the encodes are immaculate. Significant artifacting, banding, smearing, aliasing, aberrant noise and other oddities are nowhere to be seen, and the few blips that do slip through the cracks tend to trace back to the productions and their special effects (and will only catch the eyes of those studying every last shot for the most fleeting imperfections anyway).

These may be the same video transfers Disney released in May of 2007, but when you do something right the first time, there simply isn't a need to do it again. All three Pirates of the Caribbean films remain among the most striking presentations on the market. No fan, casual or diehard alike, will be anything but overjoyed by the results.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Ultimate Trilogy Collection Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Maybe Dad really was onto something. The Curse of the Black Pearl, Dead Man's Chest and At World's End don't have any newly produced lossless mixes. No DTS-HD Master Audio monsters, no Dolby TrueHD beasts. What each film does have is a sternum-thumping 24-bit uncompressed LPCM 5.1 surround track which, as any audiophile worth their sea salt will tell you, is just as good -- if not better than -- the more familiar alternative. (How could it be better than the alternative if uncompressed and lossless tracks are capable of the same flawless quality, you ask? Most lossless mixes are 16-bit. Simple as that.) And it all sounds amazing. LFE output is fierce, ferocious and formidable, transforming the krik kraaack of a firing cannon, the ship-splitting roar of a towering sea creature, the thunder of a raging whirlpool and the rum tum tum of Hans Zimmer's timpani into sonic marvels. The rear speakers follow suit, aggressively attacking every ambient effect, every orchestral cue and every crowded locale that comprises the films' already enveloping soundfields with the utmost precision. Directionality is dead on, pans are smooth and fearless, and dynamics are impressive to say the least.

All the while, dialogue never falters. Shouted, whispered, growled, wheezed, barked, screeched, quipped or burdened with the heaviest Seven Seas accent, voices remain bright, perfectly grounded in the mix and clear as a warning bell. Every line and joke keeps its head above the fray, and dialogue is never drowned in ensuing chaos, no matter how unruly said chaos becomes. Sound effects are just as buoyant and smartly prioritized. Drunken punches, rolling cannonballs, shattering glass, crackling flames, drawing pistols, clashing swords, billowing sails, lapping waves, rustling brush, scurrying animals, wriggling tentacles, shuffling feet, bustling seaports... it all comes into being with remarkable clarity and jaw-dropping fidelity. It isn't often that I dole out such high praise, but it isn't often that three audio tracks elevate their accompanying films to such sonic heights. Long story short, Disney's trio of 24-bit uncompressed audio tracks make it all too easy to dive into the world of Captain Jack and his fellow pirates. Enjoy.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Ultimate Trilogy Collection Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Less of an exciting new box set and more of a repackaged bundle (with an extra disc thrown in for good measure), the 7-disc Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy release is best reserved for those who don't already own the Caribbean Blu-rays that have been on the shelf for almost four years now. The set itself consists of an embossed outer box, Disney's pre-existing 2007 2-disc releases, and a permanently attached cardboard sleeve that houses the touted seventh disc. Only the most devoted need apply though. The extra disc offers an hour of content, sure, but it's limited to deleted scenes (albeit with optional commentary) from Dead Man's Chest and At World's End. And unless you adore the Pirates sequels, you won't find much value in any of it. Don't get me wrong, as box sets go, this one is fantastic. The original releases are teeming with special features, enough to make the Trilogy a true temptation. But again, the only ones who will be thrilled with their purchase are those who didn't already count the Pirates films among their collection.

Trilogy Box Set Exclusive Bonus Disc

No lengthy On Stranger Tides production overview, substantial interviews or additional documentaries? Nope, nope and nope. Seeing that a 4-Movie box set will inevitably arrive alongside the On Stranger Tides Blu-ray release next winter, an hour of commentary-laced deleted scenes -- as appreciated as they are -- isn't going to cut it for anyone who already owns all three previous Pirates releases. Its Disney Movie Rewards code gives members access to a Movie Voucher for On Stranger Tides though, so that's a plus.

• Dead Man's Chest Deleted & Extended Scenes with Optional Commentary (HD, 29 minutes): Director Gore Verbinski is on hand to dissect eighteen cut scenes -- "Steady As She Goes: Jack Staggers Below in Search of Rum," "East of India: Beckett Summons Will," "Lizzy Gets Her Gun: Omitted Carriage Dialogue," "What of You and Jack?: Elizabeth Threatens Beckett," "Never Mind: Jack and the Bone Cages," "Six Became Five: Trapped in the Gorge," "Cutlery: Extended Edit of Jack's Fall," "Where's My Profit?: Jack Learns of the Letters of Marque Part 1," "Tortuuuuga: A Haunted Dress and a Hungry Crew," "If You Believe Such Things: Up River," "Manual Labor: Letters of Marque Part 2," "Married to the Ship: The Deleted Dice Game," "Every Man for Himself: Kraken Attack," "Salvation: The Story of Isla Cruces," "For Whom the Bell Tolls: The Missing Priest," "Pot Kettle Black: Three-Way Sword Fight" and "The Map is Finished: Beckett Promotes Norrington and Jones Reports for Duty."
• At World's End Deleted & Extended Scenes with Optional Commentary (HD, 27 minutes): Verbinski digs through another twenty cuts for At World's End and, if you can believe it, they're far more convoluted than the film itself (a fact Verbinski admits early and often). Exorcised scenes include "The Canaries: Tia Dalma's Introduction," "A Pox on Us All: Barbossa and Sao Feng Discuss the Brethren Court," "You're a Pirate: Singapore Fight Sequence," "You Weren't Supposed to Get Caught: Escape from Singapore," "It's a Two-Part Plan: Murtogg & Mulroy Introduction and Extended Governor Swann Scene," "Swann Song: If You Stab the Heart," "Kraken Slayers Part 1: Even More Pintel and Ragetti," "Kraken Slayers Part 2: Still More Pintel and Ragetti," "It's Just Good Business: Jack and Beckett Full-Length Scene Part 1," "Legendary: Barbossa Persuades Sao Feng," "The Thing You Want Most: Jack and Beckett Full-Length Scene Part 2," "Grammatically Incorrect: Sao Feng and Elizabeth," "Choices: Jack Cons Will," "The Devil's Throat: The Pearl Enters Shipwreck Cove," "Honest Streak: Gibbs Questions Jack," "Her: Jack's Ulterior Ulterior Motive," "Poppycock: Wyvern Jack and the Triplets," "The World We Know Ends Today: Barbossa Takes Control," "I Miss Him Already: The Return of Chicken Man" and "Ring Around the Capstan: Jack and Jones Weirdness."
• On Stranger Tides Revealed (HD, 3 minutes): Nothing exactly new here. Treat yourself to an extended preview of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, albeit via the same mini-featurette that's been making the rounds for some time.

The Curse of the Black Pearl 2-Disc Set

Three commentaries, an interactive in-movie experience, more than three hours of production documentaries and featurettes, twenty minutes of deleted scenes... it doesn't get much better than this. It might be the exact same Black Pearl release as before, but that isn't a bad thing at all. Its individual supplements score? A well-deserved 4.5.

• Audio Commentaries: Three worthwhile tracks are available -- a refreshingly reserved, largely anecdotal commentary with Verbinski and actor Johnny Depp, an uneven but informative followup with producer Jerry Bruckheimer and actors Keira Knightley and Jack Davenport (pieced together from separate recordings), and a thoughtful, thorough and meticulous discussion between screenwriters Stuart Beattie, Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio and Jay Wolpert. The trio of tracks adds tremendous value to Black Pearl's Blu-ray release and manage to offer three unique listening experiences without much overlap or redundancy.
• Scoundrels of the Sea (HD): The Curse of the Black Pearl also features an interactive pop-up trivia track with more than thirty optional Pirate Factoid shorts. Segments include "Skull and Crossbones," "Renowned Pirates," "Joining a Pirate Crew," "Pirate Diversity," "Women Pirates," "Pirate Captain's Attire," "Rank on Board," "Typical Pirates," "Swords," "Pistols," "Cannons," "Pirate Ships," "Royal Navy Ships," "Pirate Code," "Parlay," "Compass," "Sea Chanties," "Folklore and Myth," "Pirate Booty," "Pieces of Eight," "Rum," "Parrots," "Monkeys," "Walking the Plank," "The Brig," "Hanging," "Port Royal," "Tortuga," "Magistrates and Officials," "Royal Navy," "Corsets" and "Wigs." The shorts are also accessible from the main menu.
• "An Epic At Sea," The Making of Pirates (SD, 38 minutes): Disc Two opens with a bang with this extensive documentary. Verbinski, Bruckheimer and key members of the cast and crew weight in on every aspect of the film from pre to post-production, delving into "The Actors," "Locations," "Production Design," "Ships of the Caribbean," "Make-up & Wardrobe," "The Art of Sword Fighting," "Special Effects" and "The Premiere."
• "Fly on the Set" Features (SD, 35 minutes): But wait, there's more! Revel in thirty-five minutes of candid, at-times amusing, altogether revealing behind-the-scenes footage for several complex scenes, among them "Town Attack," "Tortuga," "Blacksmith Shop," "The Cave," "Jack's Hanging," "The Dock," "The Tavern" and "The Plank."
• Additional Featurettes (SD, 52 minutes): Next up is a grab-bag of assorted shorts. Follow Depp to the ends of the Earth in "Becoming Captain Jack," learn about Geoffrey Rush's transformation into a high seas villain in "Becoming Barbossa," watch things 'splode in "Thar She Blows," meet Levi the Monkey and his trainer in "The Monkey's Name is Jack," see the genesis of an effects-heavy sequence in "Sneak Attack Animatic," watch a scene in multiple languages in "Pirates Around the World," and learn about the beloved Disney attraction that inspired the film in "Spirit of the Ride" and "Dead Men Tell No Tales, the History of the Attraction."
• Deleted and Alternate Scenes (SD, 19 minutes): Nineteen scenes in all, including "Meet Will Turner," "Carriage Ride," "A Change in the Wind," "Only One Shot," "Peep Show," "All is Well," "Make It Last," "A Bit of a Stick," "It's Begun," "The French," "Not All That Big," "No Truth at All," "Accepting the Proposal," "Peas in a Pod," "Take a Walk," "Let Them Eat Cake," "The Immortal Captain Jack," "Good Luck" and "Happy Endings."
• Further Featurettes (SD, 71 minutes): Step aboard the Interceptor in "Diary of a Ship," join actor Lee Arenberg on a trip behind the scenes in "Diary of a Pirate," take a look at Bruckheimer's personal photographs in "Producer's Photo Diary," chuckle your way through a decent "Blooper Reel," plunge into an interactive history of pirates with Disney's "Below Deck" experience, watch a scene progression in "Moonlight Serenade" and tickle your nostalgia with "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color," an archive documentary about Disneyland.
• Image Gallery (SD, 15 minutes): Last but not least, fans can unearth five videos featuring hundreds of images and photos. Galleries include "Inspiration," "Concept Art," "Storyboards," "Costumes" "Production" and "Publicity."

Dead Man's Chest 2-Disc Set

Dead Man's Chest doesn't deliver as many commentaries, but more than makes up for it with four hours of incredible behind-the-scenes documentaries, featurettes and production goodies. Individual score? Another 4.5.

• Audio Commentary: Screenwriters Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio slink through a hushed but forthcoming chat that unravels the film's story, characters, criss-crossing subplots, narrative subtleties and thematic nuances. To my surprise, they openly address criticism of the film and its twisty tale with humility and honesty, a decision that earned my respect and kept me listening intently from beginning to end. Granted, hearing from Verbinski, Depp or Bruckheimer would have been nice as well, but Elliott and Rossio keep the ship afloat.
• Liar's Dice (HD): Fancy yourself a dice master? Test your mettle against the Caribbean's most devious cutthroats in this interactive game.
• Charting the Return (SD, 26 minutes): This excellent opening volley tracks the sequel's tumultuous development, the issues the production team faced during the film's development and the challenges they overcame while preparing to shoot two sprawling, back to back epics at once.
• According to the Plan (SD, 103 minutes): A massive behind-the-scenes documentary that begins when Verbinski's cameras start rolling and ends when his final edit is locked in. Everything in between is well worth watching, regardless of whether you love or loathe Dead Man's Chest. Don't miss this fantastic doc.
• Additional Dead Man's Features (SD, 52 minutes): "Meet Davy Jones: Anatomy of a Legend" tracks the implementation of Dead Man's chief villain, "Creating the Kraken" reveals the particulars of the big beastie's birth, "Dead Men Tell New Tales: Re-Imagining the Attraction" touches on the overhaul Disneyland afforded its Pirates of the Caribbean ride, "Fly on the Set: The Bone Cage" offers a glimpse at the filming of an amusing scene, "A Producer's Photo Diary" finds Bruckheimer snapping more photographs, "Pirates on Main Street: The Dead Man's Chest Premiere" follows the cast to the film's premiere, "Stills from the Set" is a basic image gallery and "Bloopers of the Caribbean" is exactly what it purports to be.
• Captain Jack: From Head to Toe (SD, 26 minutes): Examine every last detail of Jack's wardrobe, makeup applications, props, weapons and personal effects in this low-key, high-quality introduction to the unsung artists who helped bring Jack to life.
• Inside Dead Man's Chest (SD, 9 minutes): This three-part EPK isn't anything special and doesn't offer any tidbits that aren't covered at far greater length elsewhere).
• Mastering the Blade (SD, 16 minutes): Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley and Jack Davenport train for weeks on end to hold their own with a sword (or two).
• Pirates on Location (SD, 12 minutes): Follow the cast and crew to the locations used for scenes involving Cannibal Island and Tortuga.
• Trailers (SD, 17 minutes): An assortment of domestic and international theatrical and teaser trailers round out the package.

At World's End 2-Disc Set

Unfortunately, At World's End doesn't feature any commentaries, a disappointment considering it marked the end of the saga (at the time at least). Even so, there's enough content on hand to keep supplemental junkies happy; just not quite as much as its predecessors. Individual score? A solid 3.0.

• Bloopers of the Caribbean (HD, 5 minutes): No commentary to kick start At World's End properly, just a mildly infectious batch of outtakes courtesy of the cast and crew.
• Enter the Maelstrom (HD): This interactive experience, housed entirely on Disc Two, isn't a Picture-in-Picture track but rather an in-depth, multi-part investigation into the sets, special effects and technical know-how that went into making At World's End the visual spectacle it is. A "Play All Featurettes" option would have been most welcome, but the somewhat cumbersome interface is merely a small hindrance in an otherwise excellent feature.
• Inside the Brethren Court (HD): Delve into the backstories and exploits of the various Pirate Lords in this second (and secondary) multi-part interactive experience.
• Masters of Design (HD, 26 minutes): Five production personnel -- prop master James Byrkit, conceptual artist Crash McCreery, production designer Rick Heinrichs, costume designer Penny Rose and prop master Kris Peck -- discuss their contributions and craft, and hone in on Sao Feng's Map, the Cursed Crew, the Singapore set, Teague's costume and the Code Book.
• Anatomy of a Scene (HD, 19 minutes): Descend into the Maelstrom and witness the tireless efforts that went into making the scene such a standout sequence in the film.
• Keith & The Captain (HD, 5 minutes): Spend a few minutes with Depp and guest star, icon and all-around good-natured rocker Keith Richards on the set of At World's End.
• The Pirate Maestro: The Music of Hans Zimmer (HD, 11 minutes): Composer Hans Zimmer tackles his biggest Pirates score yet and describes his efforts in this solid featurette.
• The Tale of Many Jacks (HD, 5 minutes): Rossio and Elliott split their already eclectic nutter, Captain Jack, into an even nuttier schizophrenic.
• Deleted Scenes (HD, 2 minutes): Two scenes with optional Verbinski commentary are included -- "I Like Riddles" and "Two Captains, One Ship" -- neither of which appears on the set's exclusive bonus disc.
• The World of Chow Yun-Fat (HD, 4 minutes): Meet the martial artist who gave Sao Feng life and take in a brief history of Chinese pirates.
• Hoist the Colours (HD, 5 minutes): Verbinski and Zimmer reflect on the film's opening scene and its music.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Ultimate Trilogy Collection Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Disney's latest Pirates of the Caribbean bundle -- 7-disc, feature-packed Kraken that it is -- isn't primed for those who already own the previously available 2-disc Pirates releases. Its exclusive bonus disc adds an hour of deleted scenes with optional commentary into the mix, sure, but that simply isn't enough to inspire those who already own all three releases to pony up another fifty dollars. However, those who have yet to make the high definition Pirates plunge may find this box set to be as irresistible a value as it is. With a trio of striking video transfers, three outstanding uncompressed 24-bit LPCM audio tracks and a slew of impressive special features, franchise fans will get plenty of bang for their high-def buck.