Pirates of the Caribbean:Curse of the Black Pearl
(Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush / NR / 127 mins / Disney)
Overview: Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is happy with his life sailing the Caribbean, but that life is threatened when his nemesis, Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), steals his ship, the Black Pearl, and attacks a port town. Barbossa kidnaps the daughter (Keira Knightley) of the governor (Jonathan Pryce), but her childhood friend Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) joins with Sparrow to rescue her and recapture the Black Pearl. Unknown to Turner, though, is the ancient curse of the Black Pearl, which may lead everyone to an undead end.
Verdict: Luckily for all concerned, in 'Pirates of The Caribbean' the movie's flamboyant personalities and tongue-in-cheek action push the envelope of high camp without ever succumbing to sheer silliness! An intoxicating delight that abounds with woozy charm and delectable spiciness, 'Pirates ...' is definitely the summer blockbuster we've been waiting for. Totally fun from beginning to end, the flick is a gleeful sendup of the whole pirate-movie genre - and works on almost every single level! Mind you, in complete honesty, 'Pirates' would have been a complete nightmare if it weren't for Depp!
Reviewed by Russell A. Trunk
Pirates of the Caribbean:Curse of the Black Pearl