It's easy to see why "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" is the biggest movie of 2006. It's the quintessential popcorn feature, even more than the first one, throwing in damn near everything but the kitchen sink to appeal to as broad an audience as possible. While it isn't the BEST movie of 2006, it's arguably the best sequel to come along in awhile. Though still not as fresh and amusing as the original, "Dead Man's Chest" is still very entertaining, and Disney has put together a great 2-disc package for its DVD release.

More, more, more must have been the credo of it's creators, most of whom were involved with the original (including director Gore Verbinski). And there's certainly more of everything. More action, more slapstick humor, more elaborately grotesque villains, more special effects, more Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), and a lot more plot. Maybe too much plot. Most of it surrounds the fate of Sparrow, who owes his soul to the ghoulish Davy Jones (Bill Nighy), a monstrous sea captain with a face filled with writhing tentacles. Sparrow is in possession of a mysterious compass which has something to do with locating Jones' fabled treasure chest (although it's not made clear...presumably we'll find out in the next sequel). Others want this compass, too, like Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) & fiancee Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightly); both of them have been condemned to death for helping Sparrow escape from authorities, unless they can bring back this compass. More plot includes escape from cannibals, the fate of Turner's father, three-way swordplay, a voodoo priestess, and a monstrous Kraken that destroys ships at Jones' behest. That's sort of the story in a nutshell, though I'm simplifying things, mainly because the plot itself is convoluted at best, often taking a backseat to the action, special effects and ample screen time given to Depp. And let's face it, those three elements (Depp's performance in particular) were why the original "Pirates" was so successful. "Dead Man's Chest" offers more of the same, and then some. The action scenes are elaborate, amusing and deftly handled (though not always that suspenseful). The special effects are outstanding, even eye-popping at times; Jones' slithery face and the giant Kraken will definitely impress anyone who thinks they've seen it all. As for Depp...he's easily "Dead Man's Chest's" MVP, and he essentially owns this franchise. His Jack Sparrow is easily the most entertaining, dynamic & amusing screen icon since Hannibal Lector, and he's as fun to watch in this film as in the original. Depp could probably have demanded $50 million to do this picture, and the producers would have gladly paid up.

Disney probably does a better job with DVD transfers than any studio out there, and this is no exception. Both the picture and sound are outstanding in every respect. The film is presented in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio, and it looks great, with sharps lines, terrific color hues and impressively accurate black tones. The soundtrack is rendered in 5.1 Dolby Surround, and features superb balance & clarity. My only minor quip might be that Hans Zimmer's terrific, sweeping music score is sometimes overwhelmed during the busiest action scenes.

Lots of great stuff here. Disc one has a blooper reel and an audio commentary by screenwriters Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio, which is sort of ironic when you consider they arguably have less to do with the movie's success than Depp, Verbinski or the special effects team. Disc two is loaded with great stuff, including several documentaries, the best being "According to Plan," which runs over an hour and features the most behind-the-scenes footage and comments by cast & crew. Others include "Fly on the Set," about the elaborate and hilarious 'bone cage' sequence, "Captain Jack: From Head to Toe," a lengthy spot about the character and his costume, "Mastering the Blade," which shows the actors training to use swords, and two short features covering the two most impressive visual effects, the Kraken and Davy Jones' gruesome, tentacled face. Also included is footage from the film's premiere, a photo diary from producer Jerry Bruckheimer, and a piece covering the upgrade of Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean ride, which now incorporates elements from the films, including Sparrow and Davy Jones.

"Dead Man's Chest" doesn't improve on the first film (few sequels do), but it does give viewers more what made the original so fun. Anyone who loved, liked or hated the first one will feel the same about this, which I suppose means mission accomplished. Forget about the murky plot and simply enjoy Depp's performance, the abundant action and great visuals. In that respect, it's a trip worth taking more than once, making this DVD (featuring great picture & sound) highly recommended.