Now joining the Power Chick pantheon...

I thoroughly enjoyed Disney’s first Pirates of the Caribbean movie in 2003. But I was extremely disappointed by its dull sequel last summer, and really didn’t care about the third entry in the series until yesterday. That’s when I saw the trailer for Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, which opens late next month. It’s now on my “must see” list — and for one reason alone.

I’m a Keira Knightley fan anyway, all right? But judging from this new trailer, Knightley’s transformation from upper crust damsel-in-distress in the first Pirates to rough-and-tumble, badass buccaneer in this new movie is the best “armed and dangerous babe” makeover since Sarah Connor bulked up with free weights and power squats between the first two Terminator films. Sheesh. Add Keira to the list of awesome power chicks running through movies these last few years.

UPDATE: Within moments of posting this, I was reminded that Ms. Knightley had already joined the power chick pantheon with her portrayals of a tough Guinevere in 2004's King Arthur and the tragic Domino Harvey in 2005's Domino. I stand corrected. Long may Keira Knightley reign!