Summer Cinema: ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl’
The first time I heard Disney’s newest attempt at a summer blockbuster was a movie based on their Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland I thought “what a stupid idea for a movie.” Boy was I wrong.
“Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” was not only a well-made movie reveling in the swashbucklers Hollywood lost the knack for making (see “Cutthroat Island”), but it had class, humor and great special effects. It was a great adventure movie with great characters you came to know and love. It was the summer blockbuster this tired season of sequels and comic book films was lacking.
“Pirates” centers on blacksmith Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) who is in love with Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley), the governor’s daughter. When Swann is kidnapped by Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) and his band of cursed pirates, Turner must recruit another pirate, Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnney Depp) in order to follow the pirates to “the island that can’t be found” and rescue his ladylove.
Did I forget to mention that the pirates (cursed for stealing Cortez’s gold) turn into skeletal apparitions when the moonlight hits them and that they can’t be killed? And it just so happens that they need Turner’s blood to break the curse.
Jerry Bruckheimer produced the movie, and although a definite stray from the norm for Disney falls right in line with the films he likes to be involved in. Part of the fun of the film is that it is so different for Disney. I can’t think of the last live-action movie from Disney worth watching. The majority have been major duds like “Country Bears” and snoozer sequels like “The Santa Clause 2.” “Pirates” has renewed my faith.
Depp gives one of the most versatile and enjoyable performances of his career, and Knightley’s feisty heroine proves that the actress can hold her own against the likes of Depp and Rush. We are sure to see much more of her.
The skeletal effects that brought the cursed pirates to life were amazing. The final sword fight taking the characters into and out of the moonlight (changing the villain from human to skeleton over and over again) was so seamless it was hard to tell the CGI from the actors dancing through the scene.
The film also features direct throwbacks to the Disneyland ride for those watching for them. The most obvious in the pirates in jail trying to entice a dog (with the keys in his mouth) with a bone.
I never thought I’d find a film this summer I liked better than “Finding Nemo,” but “Pirates” is it. It is sure to be a hit for Disney, and is worth seeing more than once. Now we’ll see if their “Haunted Mansion” film (starring Eddie Murphy) will be as good. One thing is for sure, Murphy desperately needs it to be or he can kiss his career good-bye.
Grade: A