Review of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) by Gregory G — 18 May 2014
When I first heard Disney was releasing a movie based on the popular Disneyland theme park attraction I thought it was a terrible idea. I wondered why Johnny Depp would want to be in such a movie. This is one of those rare examples of a movie that is successful exclusively because of its lead actor.
There are many things not to like about "Pirates of the Caribbean." At two and a half hours it goes on way too long - perhaps an hour too long. Like so many modern day blockbusters, the filmmakers spend so much money on visual effects and spectacular action, in trying to excite the audience, that we feel overwhelmed instead of awed.
The energy and light fun are there but subdued. It doesn't have the spirit of early Errol Flynn adventures which "Pirates" aspires to be like. The main love story involving Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom is drab and conventional.
They are pretty actors with little spark. The plot is irrelevant and the filmmakers don't seem much interested in it anyway. It involves the attempt by a blacksmith and a mutinied pirate to rescue the kidnapped British governor's daughter from a cursed pirate crew.
That said, the movie is worth seeing for the amazing Johnny Depp. For a decade, Depp has been one of the best, most daring of young American actors, but until this movie he never achieved stardom. As Captain Jack Sparrow, Depp took a thinly written part and turned it into a classic comic performance.
Depp said he played the role as a cross between Keith Richards and Pepe Le Pew, which makes perfect sense. Depp can take the most banal dialogue and give it flair with his unusual line readings. He does far out, crazy things with this role that no other actor could pull off.
Depp is clearly having fun in the movie and we can see the audience respond to him. Also with Geoffrey Rush who is quite good. The rest of the cast includes Jonathan Pryce, Damian O'Hare, Giles New, Jack Davenport, Kevin McNally, Lee Arenberg, MacKenzie Crook, Trevor Goddard, Zoe Saldana.
Written by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. Directed by Gore Verbinski.
This review of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) was written by Gregory G on 18 May 2014.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl has generally received very positive reviews.
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