Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

Starring: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Geoffrey Rush, Keira Knightley, Zoe Saldana
Directed by: Gore Verbinski
Rating: PG-13
2003

Times Seen:
Tim: 5

Summary:A band of pirates aboard the infamous Black Pearl have come ashore to search for a gold coin held by the governor's daughter (Keira Knightley). After she is kidnapped, her would-be suitor (Orlando Bloom) reluctantly teams up with pirate Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) to save her and collect gold in the process.

Review:

Tim: This is perhaps the best pirate film ever made. For many years, Hollywood spoke of the great difficulty of bringing good pirate movies to the screen. Many cite the mega-flop of Cutthroat Island as an example. Well, after this film and its extraordinary success, those people are quieted. This is an excellent and very successful film.

I want to mention that young actor Orlando Bloom is picking some amazing films to be in. He got one of the best parts in the titanic The Lord of the Rings trilogy and he is also in this amazing blockbuster. Thus far, I am very impressed with his work. If he continues to select films like these that appeal to a huge audience, there is no telling how great he can become.

The actor that requires the most mention, however, is Johnny Depp. He gives one of the oddest, most hilarious, and brilliant performances. He truly makes Captain Jack Sparrow an unforgettable character. This has to have been one of the smartest career choices Depp has ever made. He became a huge marketable success after this film. He has some of the best lines in the film and makes you laugh constantly. He has achieved so much in smaller, quirky films. It is nice to see him enjoy some mainstream success. It is amazing that he was awarded an Academy Award nomination for this role.

The film opens with Depp making his entrance into a harbor riding in on a sinking ship. This is a hilarious and amazing scene, and a fitting entrance for Captain Jack Sparrow. Right from this moment, you know this will be no normal crappy pirate movie that turns into a huge flop. This is something else- something better- dare I say, something incredible?

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is one of the most fun and exciting movies you will ever see. I feel there are too few pure fun movies in Hollywood. This is everything you could ask for in a summer blockbuster. The film is also helped out by some amazing special effects. The skeleton pirates are amazing to see and their transformation by moonlight is chilling.

This is a great movie overall. Depp and Bloom are perfect together and Keira Knightley holds her own against these great young actors. She is tremendous in the film as well. I'll end this with perhaps my favorite line in the film, said by Depp in a way that only he can- "You're forgetting one thing...I'm Captain Jack Sparrow..." he says it with this little bow thing that is just plain great. See this movie, over and over again.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 9.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Edward Scissorhands, Benny and Joon, Troy, The Ring, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest