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Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl

Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl

List Price: $19.99
Your Price: $13.99
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A lot more fun than a ride at Disneyworld, that is for sure
Review: Even before "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" began one of the previews was for "The Haunted Mansion," which clearly indicates that Disney will be making feature length movies on every one of the rides at Disneyland and Disneyworld (Last year's film "The Country Bears" was clearly just the opening salvo). However, it will be interesting to see if Disney comes up with a better film from this font of inspiration than this one. I would be willing to bet big money they will not come up with a longer one.

Once upon a time a young girl sailing on a ship to a Caribbean island where her father will be governor spots a young boy on the raft. Apparently he was on a ship attacked by pirates and while he is unconscious the young girl takes from around his neck a golden medallion. The next thing we know, both the girl, Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightly) and the boy, Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), are all grown up, clearly taken with each other, but separated by their different stations in life. However, Elizabeth still has that medallion and adventure awaits them, specifically in the form of Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), a real live pirate.

The adjective is important here because Jack has returned from being marooned on an island after his crew on "The Black Pearl" mutinied against him. After they parted ways the ship and its crew fell under a curse, which is why it is now a ship of ghosts (as opposed to a ghost ship). Jack, Will, and Elizabeth proceed to have a series of swashbuckling adventures and they match both swords and wits with Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) and the pirates of "The Black Pearl."

"Pirates of the Caribbean" is a lot of fun for the most part and you can tell what members of the audience have been on the theme park ride because there are bursts of laughter when scenes from the ride (e.g., a group of pirates in a jail cell trying to entice a dog with the key in its mouth to come close enough for them to grab it). The film provides both humor and action, often at the same times. The cursed pirates appear as skeletons under the moonlight and the film takes advantage of this during a couple of battle scenes as characters morph back and forth between forms. I also realized while watching "Pirates of the Caribbean" that there is a growing tradition of great sword fighting scenes between people who are not going to kill each other but become friends (e.g., "The Princess Bride" and "The Mask of Zorro"), to which we can add the scene here between Jack and Will in the blacksmith's shop.

This movie runs 134 minutes, which ends up being too long, especially since the happy ending comes about as a result of quick contrivances rather than a truly spectacular finale. Rush is an old hand at milking a role for everything it is worth, but Depp proves himself to be equally adept (older viewers will have to decide if he is doing some sort of weird little homage to Marlon Brando's Fletcher Christian). Bloom is not quite as good with a sword as he is with a bow, but that is to be expected, and Knightly is the plucky heroine who ends up rescuing the boys more often than they rescue her. The result is fun and pretty good fun at that. At least we know that Gore Verbinski is not going to be offering us a director's cut of this film because there cannot be anything left on the cutting room floor.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Sexy Pirates
Review: This was the BEST movie ever! Has a little bit of everything AND Orlando Bloom and Johnny Depp! What could be better!!! Johnny was superb for his part and hilarious!!! Orlando was hott hott and played rescuer! The plot is good, so are the jokes [Welcome aboard the Black Pearl] and basically everything! Be sure to see it! ... Movie was da bomb!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent Movie
Review: This is probably one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. The sword fights are fun to watch and some of the special effects are amazing (like the pirates on the Black Pearl when they are in the moonlight turning to skeletons). Johnny Depp was perfect for the part of Jack Sparrow and Orlando Bloom was perfect for the part of Will Turner. It's hard to believe that a movie this good came from a ride at Disney World. Which by the way, if you pay close attention, you will notice many scenes in the movie are taken directly from the ride. You do not want to miss this movie, it's excellent.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Spectacular Summer Flick
Review: I admit, I was intensely skeptical about this summer's crop of movies, particularly following the Matrix fiasco, and I probably would not have gone to see Pirates had it not been for friends informing it was worth the current outrageous ticket prices.

Am I ever glad I listened to them.

Plot-wise, the movie isn't anything jaw-droppingly amazing, but it's strong enough to allow the other elements of the movie to soar. And soar they do! The cast is spectacular, the computer graphics are great, the sets and costumes work perfectly. There was obviously a great attention to detail: towards the beginning, when Knightley's character pulls the pirate medallion out of the desk, there's a faded imprint of the medallion, a touch of pure genius as far as sets are concerned, and there are dozens of other such details throughout the movie.

The cg pirates are suitably convincing. Though there are one or two times the cg is noticeable, it was otherwise seamless. No small feat, given the magnitude of the cg involved.

And, of course, the actors. It's been said a million times by now, but I'll say it again: Depp's performance absolutely stole the show. This could have been a serious problem, since it could have overwhelmed the other characters, but Bloom, Rush, Knightley, and others also gave strong performances and created an overall balance. The other characters are a bit forgettable compared to Jack Sparrow, but they're not totally lost thanks to the cast's considerable acumen.

Lastly, a large nod to Gore Verbinski. He's an incredibly versatile director with mastery of a number of genres. I can't wait to see what he'll direct next.

If you've been having any doubts about going to see Pirates, erase them and head to the theatres now. It's an intensely enjoyable film, and one I'll be adding to my DVD collection and enjoying for years to come.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Pirates of the Caribbean!!!
Review: POC is the best movie ever!!!!!! it is sooo funny and scary enough to be really exciting. i love captain jack sparrow!!!!! he is sooo awesome!!! the whole movie really rox!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Review: I went to this movie with my children expecting to find it less than entertaining. Let's face it, we were going to see Orlando Bloom (aka Legalos) and the movie is based on an amusement park ride; how much story could there be? Well, let me tell you, I couldn't have been more pleasantly surprised if I'd won free tickets to DisneyWorld itself! It is a wonderful story, filled with the Disney comedy we've come to expect and love. The acting was good. It was all the way around a great family flick. Now if you have younger children, you might consider waiting a year or two. Of course, being pirates, they raid and burn towns so thats a little violent. And the pirates can be alittle unsettling. But if you have boys like mine who thrive on sword play, you'll love it. Not mention a girl who enjoys Orlando (big sigh!). Yes, it was a great movie and one of the few that I would pay the expensive price to see again before it goes to video.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: THE BEST MOVIE EVER
Review: I love orlando Bloom an Johnny Depp who gives a hilarious performance as CAPTAIN Jack sparrow and Orlando Gives a stunning Will turner to audiances.I love this movie and it is The Best movie EVER.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: What a FUN movie!
Review: I'm soooo tired of action films with no plot (i.e. T3) or action films with too little action. But if pirating, plundering and mayhem is right up your alley, then so is this movie!

Incredible animations and the story actually MADE SENSE! Just a good old-fashioned pirate movie with good old-fashioned fun! Go see this movie!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Amazing
Review: Damn this is such a good movie. I think it's the best thing that has come out in years... since maybe Braveheart or Schindler's list. Johnny Dep is who really makes this movie for me. I'm not a fan of media lately, but this is a DVD I'm definetely going to buy. If you like a mysterious and shady character, Captain Jack Sparrow is the best you'll find.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: More fun than I've had in years! Give Depp the Oscar!
Review: I have never been a Johnny Depp fan. I like pirates though, so my family talked me into seeing this movie last Sunday. As of last night, I have now seen it 4 times!

From Sparrow's humorous and unconventional entrance onto the silver screen, until his final scene singing his favorite pirate ditty on his beloved Black Pearl, his performance kept me entranced. I have never seen a better characterization in movies that I can recall - he IS Jack Sparrow and I can think of no one who could play it better. His sense of humor, timing, facial expressions, physical gestures - all perfection. I KNOW this is a Disney flick, I know it's not a 'serious' film (a la the boring Hours or any of those other self-righteous critical favorites) But for sheer entertainment and outstanding acting, I hope the Hollywood crowd finally makes us all happy and gives this man an Oscar for the most enjoyable movie character many of us have ever seen! After all, isn't that what Hollywood is supposed to be about - entertainment and 'carrying us away' from it all?

Long live ye, Jack Sparrow, the BEST pirate we have ever seen!


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