Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

3 Popcorn Kernels

"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" is a perfect example of why cinematic setting is of the utmost importance.

Although this third and (not likely) final installment of the "Pirates" trilogy serves up hearty thrills and eye-popping special effects, it is too convoluted and plot heavy to really penetrate an audience.

The result is an empty summer blockbuster that will probably make far more money than it actually has any right to.

The movie picks up where the trilogy's second installment "Dead Man's Chest" left off. Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow is somewhere between the lands of the living and the dead, also known as Davy Jones' Locker.

Elizabeth Swann (Kiera Knightley), Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) set out to rescue their friendly foe to restore peace among the Pirate Lords.

Once their mission is complete, the team meets with the other Pirate Lords to develop a plan to defeat Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) who is now under the control of an abusive government. Their plan is not well-received so, of course, a fair dose of treachery, lies and deceit is offered up -- adding to the overall confusion.

This all leads to the final showdown between Sparrow and Jones. Their sword fight is set on the high seas during a storm of Calypso's creation.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth, Will and Captain Barbossa carry on with battles of their own, against fishy soldiers and other villains.

Fans of the franchise certainly will be entertained but they will not necessarily know what is going on. Moviegoers of all ages will become bored by the talky second act -- it feels like an eternity for the action to finally pick back up.

When that action does hit, there is no definite sense of place and it is hard to identify the good guys from the bad guys. Therefore, the visuals deliver but the emotion is absent making for a fun yet forgettable ride.

Depp is still a joy to watch and Rush's return is a leap in the right direction. However, Knightly and Bloom have little to do in "At World's End." Their one big scene together comes across as corny rather than romantic.

As usual, the supporting characters steal each scene. Whether it is that strange pirate with the fake eyeball or a monkey also named Jack, these people make the movie bearable. Even Keith Richards' brief appearance as Captain Jack's father is amusing, despite being ultimately pointless.

Disney simply tried too hard with "At World's End." As is the case with a number of the 2007 summer flicks, the filmmakers injected too much into one movie. The nearly three-hour running time of this latest "Pirates" movie reflects a false sense of self-importance.

Staying after the closing credits gives you the opportunity to see a hidden scene which may be a tease of the next installment, which has yet to be confirmed. Depp has expressed interest in reprising his role so the box office receipts will probably be the determining factor.

None of the "Pirates" movies were really as fantastic as some people lead themselves to believe, but this latest attempt does nothing more than walk the plank.

Still, I doubt many moviegoers will be able to resist the urge to see "At World's End."

Bug

3 1/2 Popcorn Kernels

Billed as a horror, "Bug" may leave fans of the genre scratching their heads. Then again, there is not a moviegoer out there who can confidently say they know what the truth is behind this feature film.

"Bug" is filled with blood and torture but it is ultimately a psychological thriller. Whether or not there are in fact bugs is the central idea here.

"Bug" stars Ashley Judd as Agnes White, a lonely woman who meets an unusual character named Peter Evans, portrayed by Michael Shannon.

The two get to know each other and make it adamantly clear that neither one wants a significant other in their life. Instead, they form a friendly bond in which they share emotions and, eventually, secrets.

Agnes' ex-boyfriend Jerry Goss (Harry Connick Jr.) enters the frame and we begin to think Peter will be Agnes' knight in shining armor. He comforts her and their friendship leads to something more -- including an oddly slimy fit of love making.

Before morning, Peter wakes up and shows Agnes a rash of bug bites on his wrist. He shuffles through the sheets to find the perpetrating "aphid" but Agnes cannot seem to see it at first. She hardly cares about this, either.

Soon, Agnes begins seeing the insects and the duo determine the apartment is crawling with them. In fact, Peter claims they are in his blood, care of an egg sack implanted in a cavity in his tooth by army researchers.

However, doctors cannot see the bugs and neither can Agnes' friend. Paranoia sets in within Peter and Agnes hops aboard for the dangerous ride.

Based on a play, "Bug" probably works much better on stage than on screen. However, director William Friedkin does an excellent job at instilling terror in the audience.

A number of elements fail to add up and appear to be nothing more than extra pieces to the puzzle, but the movie keeps you guessing while cringing and turning away from the bloody action.

"Bug" is a better character study and exercise in acting than it is a plot-based flick. Judd and Shannon are spectacular and carry the film from start to finish.

It feels like a waste of time but "Bug" will work its way under your skin and leave you feeling strangely satisfied -- if not a little itchy.

Waitress

4 Popcorn Kernels

"Waitress" is an awfully feminist flick but the humor will have both genders hungry for more.

The movie is sweet enough to satisfy the cravings of most audiences, although the ending will work the nerves of some -- especially men.

Fortunately, the talented cast of actors, including Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion, Andy Griffith and Cheryl Hines, are highly entertaining and make the loose ends less noticeable.

Russell plays Jenna, a country girl working as a waitress at a pie shop owned by a man named Joe (Griffith). Jenna is stuck in the middle of an emotionally abusive marriage.

Things get worse when she discovers she is pregnant. She wants to keep her job so she can earn enough money to enter a pie competition. Jenna constantly thinks up new pie recipes with unique names to match her mood or circumstance.

Then she meets her new doctor Dr. Pomatter (Fillion) and his kindness wins her over. They forge a bond and begin cheating on their respective significant others. Jenna is torn over the ethics of her behavior and finds herself critiquing her friends for doing the same things she is doing.

Jenna's confidence is low and her husband only makes it lower. He forces her to promise she will not love her baby more than she loves him. This is an easy task for Jenna, who despises her husband and does not want to have a baby.

Joe and Dr. Pomatter tell Jenna she is better than that, though, and try to convince her to take steps to improve her life.

"Waitress" is fun, cute and almost too positive. Despite being squeaky clean, the movie succeeds in winning over moviegoers' hearts through optimism, quirky characters and a catchy song about pies.

Writer/director Adrienne Shelly is far from being professionally skilled, but she apparently knows how to please an audience. Again, women are likely to favor "Waitress" more than men, but the movie provides enough universal entertainment for everyone.

It is the kind of movie you can bring your girlfriend to and score huge points. Even better, bring your mother and make up for forgetting Mother's Day a few weeks ago.

"Waitress" is an improvement over other feminist flicks (can any guy forget "The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood?") and serves up warm, chewy goodness. Even the crust is tasty!