Review of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) by Kj P — 21 May 2017

Nowadays, Disney has pretty much transformed into a Goliath of a studio. From purchasing Star Wars and Marvel to releasing 80 to 90% quality entertainment in recent years, there is no sign of them slowing down. In my opinion, the beginning of where they are today was precisely Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Although this franchise has had its ups and downs over the years, this first instalment is remembered as a classic by many. Sure, there are definitely some non-fans out there, but this is pure entertainment from start to finish. Filled with tons of swash-buckling fun, some likeable characters, and a real sense of adventure, here is why I believe Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl still holds up over 14 years later.

Following a hunted pirate in Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), an experienced and love-bound blacksmith in Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), and action-wise damsel in distress in Elizabeth Swan (Keira Knightley), this film follows the tropes of classic films in the same genre throughout many years. From the love interest being kidnapped by the main villain (in Barbossa) to the love triangles on the side, there isn't much unpredictability here, aside from a few clever reveals in the final act. From beginning to end, this film finds ways of making this premise feel fresh for a new audience. In my opinion, nearly every character is likeable, which is what makes this film that much more enjoyable.

When it comes to #Disney, they're not shy when coming up with new characters to make classics. Although they haven't had too many classic characters in recent memory, say for Elsa or Lightning McQueen (if he even counts), Jack Sparrow is recognized on a global scale. Not only is he fun to dress up as, but he has a large presence on-screen and he is the staple that made this franchise so enjoyable from the get go. Sure, there are eons of stories to tell throughout this world of pirates and treasure hunters, but the interaction between Sparrow and the rest of the characters is truly what makes this film so memorable in my eyes.

Upon multiple viewings over the years, my enjoyment of this film has not diminished one bit. That being said, I can't help but feel the length of this film after repeat viewings. It's not that it becomes stale, but there are quite a few moments that take their time to tell the story in order to give the audience some time to recuperate from the previous action sequence. Due to the amount of surprises throughout the course of this film, I'm still able to forgive the slow moments, because the entertainment value this film has, still trumps all.

After all these years, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl still remains the best in its franchise. There are a few pacing issues and quite a few cheesy mistakes in its filmmaking, but this really is just a fun family adventure. As a blockbuster, this first instalment hits every right note it needs to. It won't be able to please everyone, and newcomers that are 14 years late to the party may not quite be as invested as audiences were back in 2003, but there is no denying that there was a large amount of effort put into making this film fun for all ages. In the end, the sword fights, plot twists, sense of adventure, and overall impact of this epic adventure are still very present if you are a fan. Newcomers can still find enjoyment here in bingeing the franchise, so yes, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl comes no less recommended as it did years ago.