Three years after the first "Pirates of the Caribbean" delighted audiences, director Gore Verbinski returns with a sequel, the original cast intact for another wild adventure.

Even with many of the surprises gone, the new film still takes viewers on a fresh, zany ride with Johnny Depp as the flamboyant anti-hero pirate, using mannerisms borrowed from Rolling Stone guitarist Keith Richards.

Forty-three last month, Depp shows he can still prance about and keep the laughter going for a few more sequels.

Depp's Jack Sparrow character never disappoints, but that can't be said for the rest of the cast.

Indeed, it's hard not to be amused by Depp's swaggering, rum-loving rogue, a role that earned an Oscar nomination for best actor.

The heroics are left to the less interesting Orlando Bloom, whose career has lately been dashed by flaky parts in "Troy" and the Crusades fiasco "Kingdom of Heaven".

In the latter, he played a blacksmith who, after five minutes of training with his lost father (Liam Neeson), acquired the skills to defeat Saladdin's mighty army. Everyone liked him better as the elf archer in "Lord of the Rings".

"Caribbean 2" will no doubt help salvage his flagging career, along with that of Keira Knightley, who also bombed with "Domino" - where she played a female bounty hunter - and "King Arthur".

Jack Davenport returns to "Pirates" to play the colonial bully Norrington, while Jonathan Pryce reprises his part as Governor Swann.

Bill Nighy, a wonderful character actor of many flicks like "Underworld", also performs well as Davy Jones, the legendary captain of the Flying Dutchman who heads an army of sea phantoms.

The scriptwriting team from the first movie, Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio, have also returned with a meaty plot that should keep viewers tickled.

Meanwhile, be wary of poor copies shown in theatres. Some halls play inferior, unclear digital copies.

The use of electronic screens and LCDs is one of the saddest practices by local cinemas. While ticket sellers will tell you such digital prints are clearer and sharper, the truth is they are blurry and offer a poor alternative.

To avoid being fleeced, don't be coerced by false claims. Just tell the ticket seller you don't want digital. Wait half an hour if you have to, or go to a cineplex that doesn't use digital prints.

Digital copies are usually screened in small halls. So if you suspect something is wrong, ask for your money back if you weren't forewarned at the ticket counter.

By Hanuman