Review 265: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

Well, here's a movie you never thought would be thoroughly entertaining as hell, a film based on a theme park ride - no I'm not kidding. But I have to say, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is an immensely well made and entertaining film.

Based on Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean theme park ride, Blacksmith Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) teams up with eccentric pirate Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) to save his love, Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley), from undead pirates led by Jack's former first mate, Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush). Jack wants revenge against Barbossa, who left him stranded on an island before stealing his ship, the Black Pearl, along with 882 pieces of cursed Aztec Gold.

The plot is simple but highly effective. Referring back to the question of how a film based on a theme park ride could be this entertaining, well it takes a little creativity and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl sure as hell delivers on that. In terms of atmosphere, the film gives you the classic Pirate Movie archetypes with sword fights, cannons, buried treasure, handsome heroes, damsels in distress but it also has this clever supernatural spin on it. Barbossa and his men are trying to lift a cure as opposed to trying to steal some treasure. 

Director Gore Verbinski's direction is sharp, quirky and energetic, the cinematography is beautiful and captures the beauty of the Caribbean in the 1700s. The production design is amazing, crafting a fictionalised historical version of the 1700's Caribbean that is rich, vibrant    the costumes are lavish, the scenery is breathtaking, the stunts are outstanding, the action scenes are thrilling, exciting and energy filled, the score by Klaus Badlet is catchy and highly effective, the make up is gorgeous and rich with detail, the locations are stunning,

The acting is terrific all round, Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom & Keira Knightley are fantastic in this film.

Depp, in particular, is so immersed in this role

Will’s love for Elizabeth is  He’s quite straight-laced  

As the beautiful Elizabeth Swann, Keira Knightley has apply described her as "a 21st Century girl trapped in an 18th Century world" and I honestly couldn't have said it better myself. Independent-minded, spirited, intelligent
Elizabeth has been fascinated with pirates since childhood and has grown up ready romanticized stories about them.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is one wild ride, 4.5/5.

The Anonymous Critic.