A movie review of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

If somebody uses the phrase ‘pirates movie’, the image most likely to pop into most peoples head will be that of Johnny Depp’s swaggering and slightly sozzled pirate Captain Jake Sparrow from Disney’s incredibly successful 2003 film ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl’. The following article provides you with a look back at the hilarious swashbuckler.

Origins

Before ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl’ took the worldwide box office by storm and resurrected Depp’s career, films about pirates were synonymous with failure. Cutthroat Island was the last big Hollywood attempt, and it bankrupted an entire Hollywood studio. Overview The film script was devised from a Disney theme park ride, and before the film’s release was expected by the critics to be a massive flop. However, the film was a critical and commercial success, earning over $650 million at the box office, and spawning three sequels to date. Johnny Depp turned from an indie film hero to Hollywood’s most bankable leading man overnight, and the character of Captain Jack Sparrow became an everlasting figure in pop culture history.

Crammed with ideas

The film itself is crammed with ideas and storytelling ranging from the traditional to the supernatural. In Port Royal, the famous pirate ship, The Black Pearl arrives and takes the Governor’s daughter - in possession of a mysterious medallion - hostage. Blacksmith Will Turner teams up with the eccentric pirate Jack Sparrow, who used to be Captain of the Pearl until his first mate, Barbossa, mutinied. They set off to save Elizabeth - who has been in love with for years - from the pirates. The problem, however, is that the medallion holds the key to uplifting a curse that has left the inhabitants of the Pearl as undead monsters when the sun goes down.

Twists and turns

It is here that the screenwriters and director Gore Verbinski do an excellent job of twisting traditional pirate storytelling into something fresh and interesting. The pirates aren’t searching for treasure, they are seeking to uplift a curse, and the curse's angle gives the filmmakers the excuse for some fantastic set-pieces and character twists. By the time that Captain Jack and Barbossa are having their final duel, you will be baffled, bewildered and laughing your head off. Final word In the later films of the series, the mythology and character arcs become confusing and hard to follow. Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack, the saving grace is there. In the first film, it is a rollicking good ride, much like the theme park ride that it was based on, and the iconic Captain Jack is the icing on the cake.