[martok2112]

Something that really worked well for the Harry Potter movies was that they had several different directors. I think they had the same director for the first two films, and at the third film, a different director was brought in, and the look and tone, whilst consistent with the Harry Potter universe, was completely different from the first two films...directors kept changing up until the last few, when David Yates took the reigns from there.

Sorcerer's Stone and Chamber of Secrets-- Chris Columbus (very similar in look and feel)

Prisoner of Azkaban-- Alfonso Cuaron (different visual style and artistic approach)

Goblet of Fire-- Mike Newell (felt somewhat similar to the first two films, but certainly darker)

Order of the Phoenix, Half Blood Prince, and Deathly Hallows Parts 1 and 2-- David Yates (each film growing progressively darker in tone and look)

Yet, they maintained the consistency with the Harry Potter universe, and each movie grossed massively at the box office, as well as being quality films.

[kevin]

OMG!! This movie was unbelievably atrocious! I finally rented it this weekend and it was the biggest pile of garbage I've seen in years.

Fair enough, plotwise all the films are incomprehensible nonsense but this is pure hell to sit through. Sparrow is completely played out now.

If anyone ever wants to talk about bad films this is right up there!!

[Captain Tom Coughlin]

I've only ever watched the first one, and didnt' come away from that feeling the need to see any more.

[kevin]

I wish I had had that approach!

[Captain Tom Coughlin]

I watched Case 39 (or something like that) the other week, and that was pretty stupid. I feel your pain.

[kevin]

Yes!! That film was a total car wreck as well. Plus it's one of those ones where ANYBODY familiar enough with the genre will have the bulk of it figured out just by reading the synopsis.

That was one I ended up fast forwarding through to get it over with quicker.

[Captain Tom Coughlin]

Now I wish I had your approach!

[kevin]

Never be afraid of the FF button!

[horatio]

"Pirates of the Caribbean" is so successful for two simple reasons. Hollywood has never produced decent pirate movies (unless perhaps some during its Golden Age) and Johnny Depp's character matches the humour of Monkey Island which, despite being a computer game series, has most likely set a benchmark for pirate movies.
That's why the series will go on despite a slight decline in script quality.

[kevin]

I figured it will go on because it's a Bajillion dollar earner for Disney, so despite the massive decline in the already flimsy quality of the series, (I think personally they were never the best written films, bloated is a word that seems to exemplify their nature especially after the first one) I pretty much can see a fifth, sixth...........(one gets the idea).............coming along to schedule.

Well, actually, I do think that will only apply as long as Depp is there. It's kinda his show.

I keep actually meaning to re-rent 'Cuthroat Island' to see if it was as terrible. Because that was the last big Pirate themed film I can recall pre-Depp. My memory says it actually was not as bad as it was made out to be but it was probably 1995 the last I saw it.