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

 

No one, not a single one person ever expected a film based on an attraction at an amusement park to be the absolute blast it turned out to be, let alone the massive success spawning a plethora of sequels. But here we are, and the character of Captain Jack Sparrow has become so iconic it's even hard to see Johnny Depp as someone or something else.

Truth be told: he did pretty much the exact same schtick ever since this one, but let's not nitpick, ey?

Set during the golden age of piracy in the Caribbean, we follow a young blacksmith named Will Turner, who is in love with the governor's daughter Elizabeth Swann. But because he's not wealthy in the least, he probably doesn't stand a chance due to the constraints of society back then. Into their lives walks/floats Captain Jack Sparrow, a bit of a bizarre rogue pirate, who pretty much cons and lies his way into anything. But when a mysterious medallion belonging to Will but in the possession of Elizabeth ends up in the sea, strange shockwaves are sent out and soon the town of Port Royal is under siege by a legendary pirate ship known as The Black Pearl. 

This is in fact Jack's ship, but there was a mutiny and now Barbossa rules this vessel. They have been looking for the medallion, because it turns out it is a part of an Aztec treasure that also happens to be cursed, condemning the men aboard to a fate worse than death... 

They pulled out all the stops for this film and that is part why it feels so much fun, like one of those classic swashbuckling adventures no one made for donkey's years. This franchise brought it back, for better or often worse. But here, everything is pretty much spot on: the sets are gorgeous as are the many costumes. It's all a bit overdone and lavish, but it works. This is a pirate fantasy, after all. It also helps that most of the sets and ships are real and not just some CG plastered across the screen. 

The action is well choreographed and especially the swordfights are expertly done, giving everyone a sense of awe and you can actually follow what's going on, as this one hasn't been edited to death for fear of going too slowly. 

But the icing on a very tasty cake is the acting. It's tough to fault anyone, because one can tell most of the actors were having a jolly good time. You might feel Orlando Bloom is a bit stale as our plucky lead, but he has to contend with a very flamboyant Johnny Depp and a scenery chewing Geoffrey Rush, so anyone would seem underwhelming against those two. The only one who gets a bit of the short end of the stick is Keira Knightley, which is something they would adjust in the later installments. Here, she is mostly relegated to a mere damsel in distress. 

You know what? This is one of those films that is plain fun and why not enjoy it to the fullest? Travel to a fantastical past and get immersed in this dream about pirates. You won't regret it.