Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Review

He was telling the truth - and thus the movie really begins! Jack Sparrow is out to get back the ship he lost to mutiny sometime in the recent past - and he is going to let this go without a fight! Elizabeth gets involved, and so does Will... but I'll let you see how for yourself :)

Actors
Johnny Depp is the star and he's a much different then you may have seen in movies such as Secret Window. As Jack Sparrow, he's hilarious. He has that classic sarcasm that I always associate with him, but he's also silly and provides tons of laughs. He is probably reason #1 why this movie was such a hit. He's very sneaky and sly and it makes it so no one fears him... even when they should!

Reason #2 would be Orlando Bloom who plays Will Turner. He has not been able to get the girl (ie Elizabeth) but still seems to have hope. Will has some secrets.... but I will not ruin any of them for you. He and Jack are a great fit and watching them battle each other with swords and words is great fun.

Elizabeth Swann, played by Keira Knightley, is not a snobby rich girl. She doesn't fit in with her family and is seeking adventure and the love of an adventurous man. She's about to get that adventure now! This girl is not a damsel in distress... she has her share of action and is a strong woman all in her own which is another reason for women to watch.

Genre
This movie has it all: Comedy, Adventure, Suspense, Action, Special Effects, Drama and Ghost stories. It's entertaining in so many different ways. Johnny Depp keeps you laughing from the second he shows up all the way to the end! The movie is full of excitement and thrills and loads of suspense. The fighting and action scenes are all well done and fun to watch. I'm not sure what is real and what is not, but it looks like they did a lot of their own stunts. Even if there are stunt doubles, you can't tell.

Since it is a ghost story, lots of special effects come in that are so realistic they are gross at times. The movie is not meant to scare you, but to thrill and entertain. What really makes the movie great is that I felt like it stuck true to the times. Many movies now-a-days take an old story and modernize it with gags that make it more of a 21st century movie. This film does not do that and instead you feel like you are thrown back into a time where Pirates were for real and highly despised by the rest of society. The movie is not ruined by modern jokes or sketches.

For Who
This movie is for almost everyone. Kids will love the action and adventure as well as the comedy of the stars. It's intended for the Disney aged - maybe around 10 and up. Adults will enjoy just because it is fun and silly! So grab the family, except the really young, and rent this today!

DVD Extras
We have the 2 disc collector's edition of this movie and it comes with a lot of extras! It is well worth the purchase, not just to watch the movie over and over - but also to watch the extras :)   Here are a few:

Audio Commentaries - View the film with commentary of various people. It's fun to hear what the stars and director were thinking. They point out things that I never noticed.  An Epic at Sea shows the making of the film with interviews. The Fly on the Set takes 5 scenes and shows you how they where filmed. It's amazing how much work goes into 1 scene!   There are 3 Diaries - one of the ship, one of a Pirate, and finally one of the director. These diaries were put together as the movie was being made and they allow you to see what it's like to be in all these different jobs.

The End
This is a clever movie and I became addicted halfway through. The combination of fun and popular actors with an interesting story and great effects makes it something I can watch over and over and never get tired of. Of course you have to follow it up with the second and third.  Enjoy!!