Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

Released 2003
Stars Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Jack Davenport, Jonathan Pryce
Directed by Gore Verbinski

Cap'n Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is a pirate who's infamous for his ineptitude. After rescuing a damsel, Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley), he finds himself being thanked by her father (Jonathan Pryce) and her would-be betrothed (Jack Davenport) while simultaneously being arrested for piracy. He escapes, but, after losing a duel with the heroic blacksmith Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), who pines for Elizabeth, he is sent back to jail. However, when the town comes under attack by the pirate ship Black Pearl, and its blackguard of a captain, Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), kidnaps Elizabeth, Will springs Jack from prison so the pirate can help him retrieve his beloved. But Barbossa isn't interested in a ransom. He and his crew are cursed to walk the Earth as the living dead until a blood sacrifice can restore their humanity.

Summary by James Berardinelli

I liked this movie a lot more than I expected, because it has a lot of goofy charm, mostly due to Johnny Depp. He has a blast in his role, and he elevates the entire picture. While I agree with others that the movie's too long (they should have trimmed at least a half hour), I don't agree it becomes repetitious. I don't even think there's that much action, but it is definitely fun for the family. --Bill Alward, February 22, 2004