Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest Stunt artist Mark Wagner lays out the film’s impressive array of waterwheel battles and reveals how much was practically shot. After the success of 2003 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black PearlJohnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow returned again for the film’s sequel. 2006’s Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest didn’t fare as well with critics as the first episode, but the film was a blockbuster, grossing over $1,066 billion at the worldwide box office. The sequel was followed by three additional films, the most recent being the generally poorly received Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s ChestDirected again by Gore Verbinski, the action ramps up the first film, pitting Sparrow, Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) against the formidable Davy Jones (Bill Nighy). The film also sees the return of a more washed-up James Norrington (Jack Davenport), determined to regain his lost honor after the events of the first Pirates of the Caribbean. In the sequel, Sparrow, Turner and Norrington end up in a triple sword fight for the beating heart of Jones, the key to mastering the Seven Seas.
In a new video from Gang crew on YouTube, stuntman Mark Wagner explains how the waterwheel fight between Jack Sparrow, Will Turner and James Norrington came to life in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. Although the franchise is known for its digital effects, Wagner explains that almost the entire sequence was filmed practically, except for a shot at the start of the fight when the wheel rolls over Sparrow and he gets stuck in it. Watch Wagner’s full commentary below:
“We spent about three months of research and development to get this. We had two wheels, two different setups. One was on cables being pulled and one was behind a truck so it was a little easier to maneuver. When we are on top of the wheel there is a high line that runs the length of the wheel and so we had a little bit of bungee in our rigs so it didn’t take our weight but if we misstep it can take us a bit get back on track. And then we’re fighting up there, real sword fights with real swords, it’s all real, but we only had six moves, and we just made six moves in different variations so we can make it look like it was all something new. “
The Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise expertly combines practicality and digital effects
Although it has now been more than 15 years since the release of the second pirates of the caribbean film, the effects still hold up shockingly well today. Like its predecessor and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, the second installment features a mix of practical and digital effects resulting in a film that looks almost as impressive today as it did when it first came out. While the pirates of the caribbean the franchise’s ambitious subject matter could have resulted in an over-reliance on visual effects in the hands of another director, Verbinski’s emphasis on practically built ships, real-life locations, and real-life stunts results in a series of films that stand the test of time.
Of course, the pirates of the caribbean franchise is also known for its stunning digital effects, with Nighy’s Davy Jones being a notable standout. Little is known about the long-awaited Pirates of the Caribbean 6, but hopefully the film will keep its emphasis on using extensive practical effects to blend in with the digital. Although some saw Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest as a step-down from the original film, there’s no denying that the sequel’s waterwheel sword fight is one of the franchise’s most memorable sequences.
Source: Gang crew/ YouTube
