Pirates of the Caribbean Review
by Michael J. Gold (mjgold01 AT yahoo DOT com)July 15th, 2003
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl ***
Directed By: Gore Verbinski
Written By: Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio
Music By: Klaus Badelt
Captain Jack Sparrow: Johnny Depp
Barbossa: Geoffrey Rush
Will Turner: Orlando Bloom
Elizabeth Swann: Keira Knightley
Norrington: Jack Davenport
Governor Weatherby Swann: Jonathan Pryce
Running Time: 2:23
Rated PG-13 (for action/adventure violence)
Reviewed by: Michael J. Gold
In the opening scenes of "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" we find Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) making his way into port on a slowly sinking little boat. As Sparrow makes it into the port he no longer bothers to bail the water out of the craft and steps up onto the dock as the boat sinks out from under him.
Until recently Sparrow was the Captain of the pirate ship, The Black Pearl until his first officer and crew mutinied and left him on a small deserted island. Once in town Sparrow tries to steal another ship and is chased by the local authorities into the shop of a drunken blacksmith and his apprentice Will Turner (Orlando Bloom).
As a small boy Will Turner was rescued after pirates had attacked the merchant ship he was traveling upon. He was found with a golden pirate medallion around his neck, which the young Elizabeth Swann who was charged with his care took and hid to prevent him from being accused of being a pirate. Elizabeth was the daughter of Governor Weatherby Swann (Jonathan Pryce) and took an immediate liking to Will.
Now grown into the beautiful Keira Knightley, Elizabeth keeps Will's medallion far better hidden than her affections for him. The medallion is, of course, connected to the curse of the Black Pearl mentioned in the title of the film and those cursed sailors will be coming for it.
Johnny Depp gives a tour-de-force performance as Captain Jack Sparrow. He brings to Jack Sparrow a sort of drunken lunatic genius. Depp is said to have based his performance upon Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones whom the actor considered to be the closest embodiment to a modern day pirate. In getting into character, Depp even went so far as to have several of his teeth capped in gold. When he was asked to remove them he would only acquiesce to having a few removed.
The film, based on the ride at Walt Disney World, is a frolicking adventure tale that captures the essence of the pirate movies of old. It is filled with swordfights and epic sea battles sometimes between the royal navy and the pirates and at other times between competing bands of pirates. According to the Internet Movie Database there are no less than 7 references in the film to the theme ride.
The special effects complement the film perfectly, never threatening to try to overtake the story, but rather enhance it through a seamless transition between the cursed pirates and their true form. In addition the fire of the cannons and explosions seen and heard throughout the film are classic Jerry Bruckheimer.
Overall, "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" is a very good film despite the fact that at well over two hours it seems to run a little long. The film is rated PG-13 for action/adventure violence, and while some of the scenes might scare younger viewers it, like the attraction it was based upon, is fairly tame family oriented entertainment.
Copyright 2003 by Michael J. Gold
Michael Gold
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