REVIEW #81 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is directed by Gore Verbinski and follows Captain Jack Sparrow, a quirky Pirate who teams up with blacksmith Will Turner to win back the Black Pearl and defeat the cursed pirates who man the ship. 

CAST & THE ACTING 

Johnny Depp plays the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow and it’s arguably his most iconic role, which he absolutely nails. I couldn’t imagine anyone else doing half as good as he did, which is why I am not looking forward to the reboot that he won’t be apart of. Orlando Bloom plays Will Turner and also delivers a strong, charismatic performance which is a strong contrast to Depp’s character but creates a nice chemistry on screen between the pair. Keira Knightley plays Elizabeth Swan, the daughter of a governor in the East India Trading company and love interest of Will Turner. She completes the trio and together they work really well on screen, similarly to Bloom she brings something different to the film, having come from a wealth family with status, she is intrigued by the life of piracy and the danger that comes with it. There are many familiar faces in the film and overall the acting is pretty good across the board, making characters that are both entertaining and enjoyable. 

PLOT & THE STORYLINE 

Captain Jack Sparrow finds himself without a ship and stranded in Port Royal wanting to commandeer a new one. He soon finds himself forced to save Elizabeth Turners life and by doing so reveals himself as a Pirate to the East India Trading Company. That night Elizabeth is kidnapped by a group of Pirates operating from the black Pearl and Will Turner frees Jack to go and rescue her but little do they know the crew on the Pearl are cursed and not easily defeated. The plot is easy to follow and is very entertaining, containing a good mix of characters that the audience can warm to and others who they can route against. The pacing of the film is a little slow in some areas but overall it does keep your attention for the most part. Based off the popular Disney Land ride, the film is rather unique and because of film series success many other films have attempted to copy its template, which speaks volumes for the quality of the film. It’s a true family film in my opinion because it’s a storyline that both adults and children can enjoy equally, I first watched the film as a young child and really enjoyed it and I still do now as an adult. 

CINEMATOGRAPHY & SPECIAL EFFECTS 

For a film released in 2003 the special effects and cinematography are actually really good. The CGI is realistic enough for a Disney Family film and contributes to the entertainment factor that the film has. The range of different settings from Caribbean beaches to the cursed caves provides some really good cinematography and I must also compliment the costume design because that was really good too. Captain Jack Sparrows costume in particular is now quite iconic and still holds up today with people still choosing it for fancy dress years later! One scene that stands out is the big reveal of the curse that is set upon the crew of the Black Pearl, the misty night at sea upon the Black Pearl creates some great visuals! The musical score has also become quite iconic, with the tune being so recognisable around the world. 

OVERALL (7.5/10)

I loved the first instalment in the Pirates of the Caribbean films series, it still holds up well today, entertaining me as much now as it did back when I watched it as a child. As I mentioned in the review so many elements of this film are so iconic and instantly recognisable, from Jack Sparrows outfit and mannerisms to the musical score. For a film released in 2003 the special effects are really good and there is some fantastic cinematography. The cast is great, I really couldn’t imagine any other actors playing the main three protagonists. The pacing is a little slow at times through the film but that could be because I have watched it so many times but overall it does keep your attention for the most part. Making nearly 5 times its budget ($650 million) it’s no surprise this film kick started a 5 film franchise. I’m sure most people have seen this film but if you haven’t definitely check it out. 

Thanks for reading!

Callan