Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End adds nothing very exciting to the third franchise formula.

I really had trouble following along with no basic idea of what's at stake or whom I should root for.

Don't get me wrong, I still have a soft spot for traditional pirate films. But this one didn't work for me.

Anyway, here goes: too darn long, not many laughs, and a way too confusing plot to understand.

I think they tried too hard.

It's obvious after viewing this movie that Gore Verbinski has no idea what made the first Pirates film work.

Trying to top last year's already confusing Dead Man's Chest, At World's End spends so much time trying to dazzle us with big-name stars and over-the-top CGI effects that it fails to be an entertaining movie.

Yes, it has its moment, but it suffers from the trilogy curse of just too much.

Still, Geoffrey Rush gets a chance to do what he does best, act, and he does it quite well.

The movie is a long two hours and 47 minutes of debts owed to others, curses, and betrayals which leave us hampered because they don't pay off.

The story is so twisted and coiled together, it's impossible to grab hold of.

This third part sequel has more conflicts and problems than the previous two installments combined.

Just about every character in this film comes with his or her own agenda, and the picture grows top-heavy as we attempt to keep track of who's trying to accomplish what.

There's not enough lively or cheerful nonsense, and there is far too much sad and mournful scenes that make no sense.

In other words, a messy, jumbled flick.