Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

[School of Movies 2026] I did not expect to be proudest of this third show on the Pirates Trilogy. While the first was spent delving into the rich details of the many factors that made it a classic as well as an instant success (the two are not always the same thing) and the second was spent finding where the good movie was, hidden between the hindrances of pacing and focus issues. But this third one was revalatory. At World's End always frustrated me deeply, by amplifying all of the problems of the previous two, delivering convolution and dropped threads at the point when things need to be at their most emotionally clear, and drowning the climax in a maelstrom of crowd-pleasing VFX. But through this episode and talking with Sharon, Maya and Brendan I was able to actually find the meaning in this ending that the filmmakers either through lack of preparation or lack of courage to deliver a tragedy with the most expensive film ever (hey, it worked out for Titanic) told a story about the passing of an age without an ending. There is no end to a world where there's always more booty to be had. Alex's Audiodrama: Panther Soul on Bandcamp Maya's Book: Realm of Kings on Amazon Guests: Hollywoo Actress  Maya Souris @Mayasantandrea Brenden Agnew @BLCAgnew of Make Me Watch It This week's After School Club: The Lone Ranger Next week: Predator Badlands