Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) Reviews

• No plane needed, enjoy the ride at home

  
  By A2PLBZDAAUWQJ6 on 2003-11-09
  I have never ridden the Disney ride and I don't think I need to. All I need is this DVD and someplace to watch it. I saw this in theaters 6 times because it was so good and I have been anxiously awaiting the DVD. People say women like this movie because of Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom, and I say true, but I love their performance, not their looks (Although they are both attractive gentlemen). Johnny is at his comedic finest and you will not stop laughing and Orlando makes you root for the good guy even harder then normal and laugh at his comments that compliment Johnny's "uniqueness". Geoffery Rush is phenomenal and so is the actor (I am blanking on his name, sorry sir, you were still awesome) who plays Commodore Norrington (he needs way more publicity, he was phenomenal as well)...

  This is by far the best movie of the year and without a doubt deserves awards for both content and actor performance. Knowing the Oscars, it will get overlooked, not enough "big names" in some over the top boring movie, so my vote goes to them by buying the DVD and encouraging others to buy it as well. Nothing says "In your face" to those who keep getting reconized for less then deserving work then getting surpassed in sales by "box office poison" Johnny Depp and his 'mates.
  
  

• 2 words. Johnny Depp.

  
  By A7ENCEC4U6EZV on 2003-10-17
  I originally went to see this movie with my friend soley for the purpose of gawking at Orlando Bloom. I actually hated the "Pirates of the Caribbean" ride at Disney Land, because my parents forced me to go on it numerous times-and singing pirates just really aren't my thing. But after seeing this movie, I am now just another one of the millions of fans who are obsessed with Johnny Depp. He is irresistible as Jack Sparrow and plays him perfectly. Every one in the theater loved him. And who could blame them? If you haven't seen this movie yet, you don't know what you're missing. Orlando Bloom and Johnny Depp make the perfect pirate pair. This is the best movie I've seen for awhile, its full of laughs and action, plus it's a Disney-so everyone can enjoy it.
  
  

• Amazing!

  
  By A30W676OPUAPC on 2003-11-10
  Now this film I really love. The story is superb, even though I had not expected it from a film adaptation of a theme-park ride. The special effects are amazing, the acting is fabulous, an overall thrill ride which takes you back to all the films you grew up with, repeated again and again. This is a pirate film with a twist, but still quite reminiscent of the Errol Flynn movies.

  The two stand-out performances of this film are undoubtedly Johny Depp, who has made it a career of selecting roles for himself which are not only very suitable, but in which he shines and steals the show. This time, however, he has heavy competition in that department. Orlando Bloom, known for his role as Legolas in the Lord of the Ring movies, dazzles the movie-goer with his acting capabilities, looks and fighting skills. It seems a romantic hero is born in this movie...lets hope Mr. Bloom can keep shining and outperforming his co-stars.

  The verdict? The only reason I wouldn't give this movie 5 stars is that I have seen a few better movies, in terms of story and other things. However, it is certainly one of the best movies I have seen this year! And well, as you can oly give full stars on Amazon, I'll give it all five...as I did truly love it...
  
  

• incredible

  
  By AD8D4EFC1QJD5 on 2003-11-16
  I was amazed at this movie when it first came out. And i asked my self, how could disney make a truely amazing movie? I was stunned. What else amazed me was that they actually stayed on task and made it like the ride was at Disneyland. I only have three dvd's and they are the best of the best. I have decided to quikly go out and by this and i advise you the same.
  
  

• Pirates are BEAUTIFUL

  
  By AWO4PGPM9ZAW7 on 2003-11-02
  I dont know if anyone really cares about the opinion of a 16 year old obsessor of Orlando Bloom and Johnny Depp but in this movie, they are absolutely AMAZING. Along with Geoffrey Rush and Keira Knightley of course. The whole cast of this movie was WONDERFUL. So wonderful, in fact, i went back to see it 4 more times. This movie is a PERFECT blend of action, drama, comedy, and romance. I was constantly laughing at the amazing character that Johnny Depp put together, and at the same time swooning at the beauty and bravosity of Orlando Bloom. Though the DVD is not out yet, i anticipate its coming and know it will not disappoint me. What more could a john and orlando lover WANT with BLOOPERS, and DELETED SCENES to see more of the men i so openly desire.
  In this movie, I thought keira knightley did an exellent job as elizabeth. At first i was soo green with envy that she got to KISS orlando and dance drunkedly around a fire with johnny, but she was so good at playing the governors daughter who isnt your ordinary damsel in distress -- i had to admire her. It is her idea to go back and save the man that she truly loves from the undead pirates of the caribbean. She was an exellent addition to this film.
  I also think geoffrey rush was the IDEAL man for the part of captain barbossa. He was so good at bringing out the essential evilness of the pirate that even hell couldnt handle. He as well brought a fair share of comedy to the movie, and i really enjoyed the swordfight between him and johnny depp.
  I would recommend this movie to ANYONE without a second thought. Its a wonderful piece of art that deserves many, many awards. I hope everyone that gets this DVD is as pleased and as overjoyed as i will be.

  .. a side note .. this is the first review ive ever done .. so if its like totally not what im supposed to do .. uhh .. im really sorry. Hope you enjoy what i wrote though.

  HAVE FUN WITH PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN !!
  
  

• A Must See!!!
  By on 2003-09-29
  This is the best movie I have seen in a long time. Everything comes together perfectly. The acting is incredible, the scenery is gorgeous, and the plot is well-written! You simply can't take your eyes off Johnny Depp. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did! AAARRRGGG!
  
  
• Fantastic DVD but why the DVD-ROM features?
  By on 2003-12-30
  Like most people, I greatly enjoyed this film. And like most people, I consider myself a fan of the source material--the original attraction at Disneyland. I knew up front that this 2-disc set was packed with features dealing with the making of this film and even a few dealing with the original attraction. Rather than go on and on about what's great about this DVD, I'll state my one small grievance. Although there is a vintage clip from "The Wonderful World of Disney" included on the DVD that deals with the launch of the Pirates ride at Disneyland, all of the other material relating to the original attraction has been relegated to the ROM side of the disc. While the "virtual reality" section is fun and a must for the DVD-ROM portion of the disc, I found it very irritating that the fantastic 10-minute featurette on the history of the attraction was placed there... after waiting 20 minutes to download the appropriate player, I still had some difficulties getting this great feature to play properly... and all this could have been avoided by just fixing it so that we could all enjoy it on our televisions. That same goes for the Disneyland attraction image gallery and its 48 images! Most studios are realizing that ROM material is dead... no one wants to bother with it, unless it's downloaded demo games or something like that (which this is not). This is a TV-quality featurette and image gallery! So, while I vastly enjoy this film and its special features (and I understand, of course, that the majority of special features are going to deal with the film itself), I found myself wishing that the nice attraction information was presented in a more accessible format.
  
  
• Since we're being honest...
  By on 2003-11-23
  Once again I come across a film I'll buy on Amazon. Look at all the 5-star reviews! When this happens, I go looking for the bad reviews to see what people didn't like. One guy gave this great movie 1 star because *he* isn't into these kinds of movies. Well, pardon those of us that are, dipstick. Your preference in films doesn't dictate whether it's bad or good.

  Many gave it only one star simply because Disney had something to do with it. Another person said it sucked, and admitted walking out of the film after 30 minutes. How do you know a movie is bad if you don't watch it? Then, of course, there is the geeky cluster of plankton, jealous of Orlando Bloom's looks. He is the new kid on the block, and he is as pretty as they come (I'd do that elf), so the geeks online who wished they had his appeal with the ladies will rage against him, and I imagine the same goes for Johnny Depp. One idiot even said the villainous pirates, weren't evil because they were merely trying to lift a curse, and "What's evil about that?" Flush the crap out of your brain, and watch it again you scurvy scum!! Arrrr!

  I know this won't be everybody's favorite review, but I have to mock the twittering fools! None of you have a good, mature reason for disliking this movie-- or you simply don't explain yourselves. I mean, coming to Amazon and saying "This movie sucks, I hated it and I'll never see it again", isn't a review worth paying any attention to. Explain yourself.

  This is the part where you click on how this didn't help you. That's okay. Intelligent people don't need my help to see how good this film was. There are 700 reviews here that already have. Besides, I only use that feature to count the haters and the nerds I anger with my mockery of their pathetic, self-important so-called "reviews". I laugh at your opinion and 700 other people here are laughing at you with me. Har, har, haaaaaaaar! Why are we laughing? Most of you one or two-star reviewers hated this movie on principle, because you don't like Orlando, Johnny, (for no good reason) or Disney. You're cheating yourselves and that's funny to me. The rest of you just have short attention spans, and should only go see Jackie Chan films if you want a bunch of action with no story.

  Now that I've scraped them off my shoe, here's the deal. This movie was a refreshing story, a great production--- far more than even I expected from a Disney film. I expected to be writing a bad review too (only mine would have had some semblance of intelligence). Maybe that's why I liked it so much.

  It does have its slow parts, but the story still moves along well. I think that the intro of Captain Jack Sparrow in all his sea-faring glory, atop his crow's nest, only to reveal that he's in a sinking lifeboat which slides smoothly under the water just as he's stepping onto the pier is one of the finest intros I've seen, and a truly flawed hero is one of the best kinds in film. He stole every scene he was in with ease. The straight man, Orlando Bloom was a great contrast to the drunken, bumbling Depp; and Geoffrey Rush was the epitome of the villain pirate. It is so clichéd, and so over the top that you have to admire his performance. He even goes "Arrrrrrr"! I almost died laughing.

  Since I spent so much time putting the haters in their place I don't have much time to say how much I treasured this movie in a time where there was absolutely no movie out that could compete with its originality. The one thing bad that I do have to say is that while I love duels with swords, (and I'm talking about "Princess Bride", Errol Flynn, Zorro kind of duels), the duels in this were fun except the final duel between Sparrow and the bad pirate (name escapes). Two zombies that can't hurt each other sword fighting for long time isn't very tense or thrilling. The dueling and the effects of the scene are great, but too long. That's all I can think of to bash this really.

  I thought making a movie about a ride at Disneyland/World was just a cheap stunt to revitalize an old ride and sell amusement park tickets, and maybe on some level it was, but I was very surprised at how much fun I had watching this. I will get this dvd without any hesitation!

  "Drink up me hearties yo-ho!"
  
  

• Pure Entertainment
  By A26JGAM6GZMM4V on 2003-11-25
  Having thoroughly enjoyed the ride at Disneyland on numerous occasions, I expected to have a great time seeing this movie and was not disappointed...except by its length which is about 15-20 minutes too long. Otherwise, great entertainment. Faithful to the pirate tradition, Depp almost immediately steals this film and clutches it to his heart until the final scene. Credit Rush with a formidable challenge to Depp's idiosyncratic performance. Having already stolen Jack Sparrow's ship (what else? The Black Pearl), his Captain Barbossa almost steals center stage as well. Almost. Director Gore Verbinski generally keeps the plot moving along. The special effects are outstanding. All members of the cast seem to be in perfect alignment with the whimsical tone. Credit Jonathan Pryce (Governor Swann) with keeping a straight face throughout all the nonsense. As with the Monty Python and Naked Gun films, it is imperative for everyone involved to sustain, indeed nourish a sense of gravitas. Of course the plot is highly contrived and relentlessly implausible. Of course there is a happy ending. Relax, suspend all presumption of rationality, and enjoy. We need much more such carefully crafted nonsense and should be grateful whenever we encounter it.
  
  
• Saves The Pirate Genre?
  By A1IHT31N8RLPN8 on 2006-12-29
  Fast paced fun film that may have saved the Pirate genre? This film proves again what an underated actor Johnny Depp is. Remember "Donnie Brasco?" He made Captain Jack Sparrow into a hilarious, heroic figure. Fine action, witty dialogue, & good period costumes made it highly enjoyable. Keira Knightly was perfect & breathtakingly beautiful as Elizabeth Swann. Geoffrey Rush & Orlando Bloom as Captain Barbarossa & Will Turner respectively were also perfectly cast. Miss Swann is kidnapped by Barbarossa, & Turner & Jack go after the Black Pearl to rescue her. They soon find out that these pirates are not ordinary. They are cursed to remain between the world of the living & the dead.They all look like skelotons when basked in the moonlight. The only cure for them is "Elizabeth's blood." Jack & Will are faced with a race against time & battle the undead to save the governor's {Jonathan Pryce} daughter. A very fun movie for all ages.
  
  
• Thank God they didn't release a Full Screen version!
  By on 2003-11-30
  This movie was a true epic in every sense of the word and I am quite pleased that Disney chose not to butcher this movie for a "Fool Screen" to cater to a shrinking minority that has zero respect for cinema. The last thing you want to do is eliminate 45% of the picture when so much is happening on-screen! I don't have a widescreen tv, but that doesn't mean I'de ruin a superb picture like this to "fit" it to my screen. Kudos to Disney for a top-notch OAR-only release. You can always zoom, right? Oh, and for the poor guys like Scott Mitchell who don't have the faintest clue what the heck their talkin about, www.widescreen.org. Widescreen IS the full picture, Fullscreen is HALF of it. It's called the future so get used to it. :)
  
  
• Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl
  By AE42JLYPXUI45 on 2003-12-30
  What a movie! This has the be the best film of 2003. Forget about any new 2003 war movie. Forget about Mystique River (basically because Kevin Bacon is in that and I loathe him with a passion). This movie is one movie that make you call it an unforgettable film.

  Johnny Depp is in the role of CAPTAIN JACK SPARROW. This role was made only for Johnny Depp. I always thought Johnny Depp was one of the best actors, but none of his previous roles compare to his role in this one. He was amazingly outstanding. Not to mention, hystorically funny. He was the whole film. If Johnny is nominated for an OSCAR for BEST ACTOR for this film, he better get it.

  Orlando Bloom is in the role of WILLIAM "WILL" TURNER. I never heard of Orlando until this movie. I thought Orlando was amazing in this. He deserves the OSCAR for BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR.

  Geoffry Rush is in the role of the EVIL CAPTAIN of THE BLACK PEARL. Although, he wasn't bad in this role, he still wasn't all that great. Other than this film, I practically hate this guy's guts.

  I do not know who played the role of ELIZABETH, but this girl is drop dead gorgeous. She's the next Catherine Zeta-Jones. As far as her acting goes, she should be getting the OSCAR for BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS.

  This is a film that EVERYONE SHOULD "NOT" MISS. I don't care about what other people say. This is the movie of 2003. That's not my opinion. That's a fact all the way.
  
  

• Widescreen only, thank you
  By A39349ZIH49BZN on 2003-11-30
  I don't know why anyone would want to see this funny, fantastic-looking movie in "fullscreen" (Fool Screen, that's a great name!) because a good chunk of the picture is whacked off on each side. I personally would always rather see the director's vision of a film. It's their movie, and ignorant yokels should have no say in how it's presented. Keep the widescreen releases coming.

  Oh yes, I really liked this movie!
  
  

• Flick that delivers high seas adventure after long absence
  By A1HX00DL0SZM1G on 2004-10-30
  Let me first of all address one of the things that is misleading in the list of special features. Fans of Keira Knightley and Jack Davenport who may be excited to listen to a full-length feature commentary by the two English stars will be disappointed. Much like the DVD `The Girl Next Door' which promises an audio commentary from Elisha Cuthbert and Emile Hirsch, what we have here instead is several scenes in which the two actors comment - though at least with Pirates of the Caribbean the two actors were obviously recorded together and the selection of scenes is more extensive.
  Okay, now onto discussion of the movie itself - and what a fun ride it is (unlike the rather ho-hum DisneyWorld ride from which it takes its name and reportedly inspiration). Stealing the show and dominating every scene in which they appear is Johnny Depp as Capt. Jack Sparrow and Geoffrey Rush as Barbossa, what we have is possibly the best pirate movie since such productions were in their heyday with such fun filled swashbucklers as `The Crimson Pirate.' Forget more recent pretenders such as `Cutthroat Island' and the truly terrible Matthau vehicle `Pirates', this movie shows that Hollywood can still assemble a good cast and spin a pirate yarn that is both enjoyable, thrilling and well written.
  The plot concerns the effort by Depp's character to recapture his former ship The Black Pearl from his former shipmate and mutineer Capt. Barbossa. The curse of the title involves Barbossa and his crew being in a perpetual state of undead (cue some pretty nifty special effects) and new meaning to the term `skeleton crew.' Barbossa seems understandably anxious to rid himself of the curse (though why I am not so sure since it certainly gives him and his crew an edge in battle) and searches for a doubloon necklace that hangs around the neck of the beautiful Governors daughter Elizabeth Swann (Knightley).
  One thing that did surprise me is that Depp does not play the romantic lead in this movie, deferring that part instead to Orlando Bloom as blacksmith Will Turner who vies for Elizabeth's affection with the Jack Davenports snobbish Cmdr. Norrington. Of course there are no prizes for guessing who will win out in the end.
  One reviewer commented on the movie playing out like a wild Halloween party on the high seas. While this is true of many of the scenes in this movie there are some quiet moments and more traditional action movie moments to imbue this flick with a comfortable sense of familiarity for any of those who grew up watching the pirate adventures of yesteryear on Saturday afternoon television. It's a great ride and wonderful news that a sequel is currently in the works.
  Although a three-disc edition of this movie is upcoming in November I opted for this 2-disc set and was mightily impressed by the special features. Aside from the slight disappointment noted at the beginning of this review, I relished the extensive background into the history of pirates. As a person longtime fascinated with the role of these high seas rogues I found the information both fascinating and enjoyable.
  I also quite liked the 40-minute making of... documentary that included interviews with most of the principal actors (yes including Knightley) and a look at how many of the visual effects and computer effects were created. Together with a selection of deleted and extended scenes and blooper reel, the decision on if to purchase this or wait for the 3-disc set is purely a judgement call on how many features you want. But I can vouch that this 2-disc set will leave you truly satisfied - aside from the Knightley/Davenport commentary.
  
  
• I thought it would be interesting, I was totally wrong!
  By AG1VO8L3MLUY2 on 2003-10-18
  I saw the preview on the Disney Channel about 4 months before it came out and I thought it looked pretty interesting, so I decided I would go see it when it came out. Well I was totally wrong!! It wasn't interesting it was amazing, cativating, fantastic, it pulls you along in the adventure. The music, the scenes, the fights, its all beyond your wildest dreams!! When you come out of this film you will never forget what you saw, and you will be wanting to come back again and again. And trust me you will, I've seen it 5 times and I have never gotten tired of it. The details are so rich you notice something new every time you see it. So I highly recommend this wonderful film!!
  
  
• Nice Eyeliner
  By A11PTCZ2FM2547 on 2004-01-22
  Memo to Disney Studios: If you're going to try to create a "lovable rogue" for an action/adventure movie, at least make him look like he's not on his way to a Revlon commercial. In watching Johnny Depp prance and frolic through PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN I wasn't sure if I was watching a swashbuckler or the next segment of "Martha Stewart Living." I didn't know if the next sword fight would devolve into another rendition of Rocky Horror's "Let's Do the Time Warp Again," or if Depp's character would magically morph into the latest manifestation of Divine (with braided goatee, of course).

  Yes, this movie has action, special effects, witty barbs, but to what end? The characters are as one-dimensional as the robots on the Disney ride of the same name, and after the first fifteen minutes or so the mayhem and disarray become tiring. And yes, Virginia, there is a plot, but it's as invisible as the air we breathe.

  PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN also stars a wooden Orlando Bloom (sans the Legolas blonde hair) and a nefarious Geoffrey Rush. The makeup sure looked better on Keira Knightley than it did on Depp, but what's a silly pirate boy to do?

  "Yo ho, yo ho, a blush of rouge for me!"
  --D. Mikels
  
  

• Disney& other foolish studios that won't release full screen
  By AY9DC7YZE8CDN on 2003-11-29
  This is an absolutely fantastic movie, but for Disney not to release a full screen version is disgraceful. Probably 95% of the population does not have widescreen TV, and yet the studios continue to force widescreen DVD's on us. Bless the few studios that put both versions(one on each side). I, for one, refuse to buy widescreen DVD's. And I will not buy VHS...get it Disney? I don't buy your movie. I rent the VHS and make a copy...now I've got the MPAA mad, and you could so easily make everyone happy, and yourself millions more to boot. Now for the movie...Depp is incredible in the swashbuckler role, being funny, cute, debonair, and just an incredible actor. The movie will keep you entertained throughout, and isn't that why we like movies to begin with. Highly reccomend for those who buy VHS and those with widescreens...for everyone else(90%)of America, hold out till they realize they are missing the big picture(FULL SCREEN RELEASES!!!)
  
  
• Thank God that Disney did this in WIDESCREEN ONLY!
  By A6J2N17C6P7X4 on 2003-12-01
  Thumbs up to Disney for releasing this in widescreen only! Its about time a major studio stood up to alll the morons out there who think fullscreen is good. FULL SCREEN HACKS OFF HALF OF THE PICTURE! Widescreen preserves the picture as it was seen in theatres, and as was intended by the directoor. Great dvd release. Keep the widescreen-only titles coming.
  
  
• A Sinking, Stinking Turkey
  By A1GP5XAPDDKEF3 on 2003-12-04
  I'll keep it simple. This has to be the worst movie I've ever seen. Period. No redeeming values whatsoever.
  
  
• Millions of $ spent cannot equal Depp
  By A1XH3UYZC8DEY5 on 2003-12-12
  Disney spent millions of dollars producing a movie that looks amazing. The Caribbean is shown in all its glory... looks so good it could be a travel video. The costumes are done to a "t." The ships look like proper pirate ships. The battles between the ships are intense and authentic looking. The special effects are really top drawer. Skeletal pirates move and fight very convincingly. Special effects show these skeletons walking across the ocean floor to board their enemies' ship.

  But after all the millions of dollars spent on the outstanding special effects, the costumes, the ships, and the scenery, you will remember one thing about this movie...

  How Johnny Depp stole the whole show.

  He is absolutely fantastic as Captain Jack Sparrow, the quintessential rogue pirate. Depp played the part like a druken, drug-addled Keith Richards (he even said Richards was his inspiration), and he is hilarious to watch as you realize you can't take your eyes off him.

  Without Depp this movie would be a three star affair in my book, but with the way Depp soared in this movie I give it a 4.5 out of five.
  
  

• Depp is the only real treasure here
  By A19ZXK9HHVRV1X on 2005-02-22
  
  **1/2
  
  God bless Johnny Depp, for without him "Pirates of the Caribbean" would be just another empty big budget studio extravaganza - juvenile, bloated and over-reliant on stunt work and special effects. But thanks to Depp's brave and witty performance, the film rises above its own inherent weaknesses to become at least a halfway entertaining picture. He is the real treasure here.
  
  "Inspired" - if one dares use so lofty a term - by the Disney theme park attraction of the same name, "Pirates" takes us to the never-never land of swashbuckling heroes and shiver-me-timbers foolishness. Depp plays Captain Jack Sparrow, a pirate who was left for dead on an island by his mutinous crew. Sparrow, captain of the legendary Black Pearl, a ship with the reputation for possessing evil, unearthly powers, has now returned from his exile and is ready to exact revenge on the mates who abandoned him. There's really no point in thrashing out the complicated but essentially simpleminded plot here. Suffice it to say that it involves a diabolical curse, a literal ghost ship with a literal skeleton crew, a feisty damsel-in-distress and enough repetitive swordplay and "avast me, hardy" dialogue to keep the action adventure crowd purring with contentment.
  
  For all the care that has gone into the look of the film - the costumes, set design and computer-generated special effects - "Pirates of the Caribbean" would sink pretty quickly were it not for Depp giving his all to keep it afloat. His lisping, flamboyant, over-the-top approach to the character is exactly what this stale little tale needs to lift it above the ordinary. One has only to see Depp mincing around - where anyone else in the part would have been swaggering - to verify what we have known all along about Depp as an actor, which is that he is willing to take risks and explore different avenues when tackling a role, even one as lightweight and insubstantial as this one. He turns what could have been a mere walk-through, check-cashing part into an inspired comic turn. One can only imagine what a boring movie this would have been without him. For, indeed, the story itself is silly and the other characters (except for Geoffrey Rush`s evil Captain Barbossa) stiff, dull and uninteresting. But Depp is the real deal, and all I can say is that I hope he received a large percentage of the film`s phenomenal box office booty. Like any good pirate, he deserves it.
  
  
• Perfect pirate adventure and fun
  By A2WSI8HOWHFDOT on 2006-06-12
  What makes this movie so good, among other things, is the casting; Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Jack Davenport, Jonathn Pryce, et al., each seem to have been made for their roles in "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl". Depp and Rush, in particular, are so over-the-top you just can't help but smile at their virtuoso performances. And director Gore Verbinski just lets them have their fun.
  
  The feel of the movie is somewhere in the realm between "The Princess Bride" and "The Lord of the Rings", with plenty of comedy, action, magic, and creepy evil skeleton pirates. Just the right pacing, plus an incredible score, keeps the movie going. My only concern is that the children viewing this might be confused by the nature of the actual "curse", as it is not spelled out very clearly. Still, the kids will have plenty of fun with the thrills and action. Just watching Johnny Depp stumble around and gesticulating like someone in the throes of a mild acid trip is hilarious enough. I recommend this movie highly.
  
  
• A Dollop of Keith Richards and a Dash of Pepe LePew
  By AGKPTMTR3UX1R on 2006-07-09
  It's difficult to imagine that a movie inspired by an amusement park ride could be as good as this is, but it is. Much of the excellence of this film is due to some inspired performances turned in by some very gifted actors.
  
  The eccentric Johnny Depp is the sheet anchor of PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN as Captain Jack Sparrow, the roguish, charming, unkempt former Master of the ship "Black Pearl." Keira Knightley plays Elizabeth Swann, the daughter of the Royal Governor of Jamaica, and teen heartthrob Orlando Bloom plays her love interest, blacksmith-turned-pirate Will Turner. Geoffrey Rush plays mutineer-turned-pirate Captain Barbosa, who is dedicated to recovering the last of a hoard of Aztec treasure that carries a curse upon it.
  
  Unfortunately for Elizabeth Swann besides her corset, she is unknowingly wearing the last of the cursed coins as a medallion, making her the target of Barbosa and crew's depredations. Luckily, Captain Jack Sparrow has a score to settle with Barbosa, who'd left him castaway on a deserted island after stealing the "Black Pearl". Together with Bloom, he fights to protect Elizabeth and recover his ship. The Aztec treasure at the heart of it all is cursed; the holders of the treasure are damned to eternal unlife: Captain Barbosa and crew are naught more than living skeletons.
  
  The very young (17) Knightley is full of spunk, and Bloom's Turner is evolving from a rather stickish boy into a swashbuckling man. But it is Depp who drives this picture with his portrayal of Captain Sparrow, "a mix of Keith Richards and Pepe LePew." Depp's love-starved stoner pirate staggers, rolls, swaggers and dances through every scene, giving the viewer a perfectly realized characterization, probably the one that will be the most memorable of his career.
  
  PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN is helped immeasurably by a classical and archetypal storyline, the fact that is is the first of its genre in many years, it's whimsical sampling of old Douglas Fairbanks and Errol Flynn movies (one scene is lifted straight out of THE CRIMSON PIRATE with Burt Lancaster), and not least of all by truly incredible sets and special effects. No expense has been spared and no detail overlooked. With it's mix of high adventure, comedy, and good old fashioned romance, this movie can't miss. Whether it's two sequels can measure up still remains to be seen as of this writing.
  
  The dual-disc Special Edition DVD does suffer from overinclusiveness. In trying to fill the second DVD, Buena Vista Pictures has graced us with some surprisingly boring commentaries by Director Gore Verbinski and Johnny Depp, (it sounds as if they are falling asleep), and a host of other features of uneven quality. Far better are the usual "Making Of" documentaries and the commentary by Keira Knightley and Jack Davenport (who plays the Commodore, hopelessly in love with Knightley's character). Knightley and Davenport deliver their commentary with genetically English barbed wit.
  
  A fun film that will stand the test of time, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN never falls off before the wind.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Long John Silver Impersonators
  By A7QYHLIRZLMLQ on 2003-09-12
  Har har matey! Aye, Jim me lad. Swab the decks, ya scurvy lubbers.

  Sorry. Got a bit carried away there. I've always been a sucker for pirate stories. Treasure Island was one of my favourite books when I was a kid, the above mentioned 'Long John Silver Impersonators vs Bournemouth Gynaecologists' is in my opinion one of the most brilliant Monty Python sketches ever, and I still think the 'Monkey Island' series from LucasArts are some of the greatest games ever made.

  One can imagine I was rather excited when I first saw announcements for this flick being made. More so, it starred Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom. Depp has been an actor I've lately grown a greater and greater appreciation for, and Bloom was simply amazing in LOTR, so I was rather curious to see how he'd hold up.

  Finally. Once more a REAL pirate movie, unlike the miserably failed 'Ghost Ship'. Tough sea-hardened swashbucklers. The trailers confirmed this, and it was a definate must-see for me.

  The story kicks off when little Elizabeth Swan, daughter of the governor, rescues the boy Will Turner out of the sea. Around his neck she discovers a medallion that proves he's a pirate. Not wanting the boy to get hurt, she takes and hides it.

  Several years later, a group of cursed ghost pirates kidnap her because of the medallion, and Will Turner sets out to rescue her, along with the untrustworthy (or is he?) Captain Jack Sparrow, who almost got caught, and then almost got away.

  So. The movie's got everything a good pirate movie needs: A band of bad guys, some good guys, a treasure (even though 'not all treasure is silver or gold, mate'), a damsel in distress, swordfights, and explosions (Trust Jerry Bruckheimer to blow stuff up any time of the day).

  What blew my mind though was the humour included in the movie. From the very first moment the viewer meets Captain Jack sparrow, it's hard to not stiffle a laugh. Great little bits of dialogue, cleverly combined with visual humour. If you ever saw 'The Princess Bride', you'll know the type I mean.

  The CGI in the movie was allright. Nothing we haven't seen before, but still it shows a great lot of detail was put into it.

  The cast was excellent, though it seems as if particularly Depp and Bloom were typecast for their earlier performances in 'Fear and Loathing Las Vegas', and 'Lord of the Rings' respectively. However, they managed to give it enough of a twist to not have the viewer get the feeling he's seen it before. Geoffrey Rush plays a wonderful michievously dastard. The gorgeous Keira Knightley makes for a great damsel, and you can tell there's definatly a spark between her and Bloom. For fans of 'Allo, 'Allo, pay close attention, and you might recognise the harbourmaster as 'Leftenant Gruber'!

  All in all, this movie's got something for everyone. There's fights, there's pirates, there's explosions, there's action, humour, the occassional backstab, and a gorgeous woman.

  Go see :)
  
  

• Yay, Widescreen only!!!
  By A2TSRP99J0X2R2 on 2003-12-01
  Thanks Disney for not catering to ignorant imbeciles who want full screen DVDs. They don't even deserve to operate a DVD player in the first place, much less watch movies like this one. 5 stars for widescreen!!
  
  
• Arrgh, matey! Pirates sinks under weight of clunky script!
  By A1VTFWNYYCJMG0 on 2003-12-04
  Having heard terrifc word of mouth over the summer, I was excited to see "Pirates of the Caribbean" on DVD. I really wanted to like this movie. Unfortunately, the film never quite lived up to all the hype.

  Here's what I liked:

  1. Decent cinemetography and good choice of outdoor shooting locations.

  2. The actors seemed to be enjoying themselves. No one took their performances too seriously. None of that "I can't believe I went to Julliard for this!" subtext.

  Here's what I did not like:

  1. Johnny Depp. Yes, I know everyone has praised his performance. For me, Johnny was merely adequate as the happy-go-lucky Jack Sparrow. Over the top? Certainly! Brilliant, no. There's no great skill to hamming it up. In fact, he comes off as a bit mannered.

  2. Running jokes that sink like lead balloons. How many times do we have to endure the same jokes over and over again about "Jack Sparrow" being the worst / best pirate ever? Other jokes repeated so frequently that they lose any freshness they might have once had.

  3. Slow pacing. It took over an hour of exposition to set up the primary conflict between Jack and the Pirates of the Carribean. The movie totals over 2 hours. You would think they could have picked up the pace and edited out some of the klunkier exposition.

  4. That annoying soundtrack. Did the soundtrack sound familiar to you despite the tinny orchestra? There's a reason why . . . They recycled most of it from music by Hans Zimmer for Gladiator. Just check the credits . . .

  5. Cheesy special effects. I know that George Lucas' Industrial Lights and Magic did the special effects for the movie. Unfortunately, the CGI magic didn't quite work here. I couldn't suspend disblief . . . everything looked very "digital."
  
  

• Mindless Family Fun!
  By AWPODHOB4GFWL on 2004-02-27
  Always resisting any film by Jerry Bruckheimer and most by Disney, I was surprised I enjoyed this escape. Although the story line is comic book simple (yes, straight from the ride in Disneyland), and the sets and special effects are grand, it was the acting that kept my interest. Never afraid to look foolish (and thereby, they rarely do), the actors jump into their roles with wonderful relish. Orlando Bloom repeats his swordsmanship from "Lord of the Rings" with expert craft and Geoffrey Rush skillfully convinces us that he is just as mad as he was in the "Marquis de Sade", but now seems to be having more fun. The standout, with no surprise, is Johnny Depp's swishy pirate revival. His androgynous swagger, expressive eyes and talent of delivering a witful line is pure mastery. It should be no surprise that he was nominated for best actor, especially regarding his less than pro-Hollywood views. This film is pure family entertainment with no thinking required.

  The extra features are especially rewarding with much more than most DVD's. The commentaries can be a tad self-rewarding and the CD-ROM feature could have been better, but the bloopers, deleted scenes and `behind the scenes' portions are great fun.
  
  

• Good Fun and Entertainment
  By on 2004-03-23
  Like others I wasn't sure what to think about this movie when it came out and only went to see it after hearing that Johnny Depp had used Keith Richards as an influence for his character. I've never seen an entrance before or since of a character as Captain Jack Sparrow made. The first time I saw the movie I couldn't take my eyes off of Johnny, I couldn't wait for him to come back on screen wondering what he would do/say next. He can express so much without words with his eyes and facial expressions. I reluctantly left the movie when it was over but I know I was happy except I wanted the movie to go on and on. I had to go see it a second time to find out who this guy Orlando Bloom was that everyone was talking about. I even bought a DVD player just so I could get this movie on DVD with all the extras available in this format and I was not disappointed at all. Now I have the DVD and after numerous viewings I continue to be entertained by the movie and notice additional detail or learn more about the movie. A lot of thought and work went into putting together both the movie and DVD. This is my favorite movie of all time with my favorite character (Jack Sparrow). It was good, fun entertainment for everyone. Jeffrey Rush was also excellent as Barbossa. The scenery was breathtaking and the rest of the cast was quite good. I highly recommend this DVD and movie to everyone except the very young.
  
  
• "BUT WHY IS THE RUM GONE?!?!"
  By A313FHXGRZNB68 on 2005-11-04
  Fantastic movie.
  
  I wish I could just leave it at that. What a great film. Every performance, every bit of dialogue, every special effect and, for the first time since I've felt her to be attractive - every bit of Keira Knightly, is worth its weight in gold. Pirate's gold.
  
  Jack Sparrow has lost his ship to mutiny and the crew ended up getting screwed by a terrible curse that will not let them die, making them exist as flesh and blood or skeletal creatures, depending on the situation. The only way they can lift the curse is to find a lost medalion and locate the last blood relative of one of their own and spill that blood in a ritual of redemption.
  
  Jack just wants his ship back. He is a scoundrel, a drunk, a thief, a liar, a killer - a pirate in every sense of the word. Nothing matters to him but his ship. But, somewhere along the line he manages to save the governor's daughter and, in an unrelated topic, she strikes up a romance with a blacksmith's apprentice with a very special secret.
  
  Geoff Rush and John Depp own this film. Rush, because of his exceptional performance and Depp because he commands the best lines and has the most over-the-top role of his career. John Depp is easily one of my top five favorite actors and he plays Jack Sparrow as a Drunken fop who cannot be normal even under the most everyday circumstances. He makes you feel weird and confused at first, but you eventually just give in to the wonder of his acting.
  
  Depp steals the film.
  
  I have watched this thing over and over again and I never get tired of it. Just like the ride at Disney World. You can see the similarities as they use a lot of themes from the ride for the movie, including the hokey song the pirates sing. I don't care if it's hokey and corny. It brings back fond memories of my week at a truly great theme park.
  
  
  
  
• Good, fun movie!
  By A3VFNLPJ24MCQ3 on 2005-11-15
  This was really a good movie. It was fun to sit and watch through. Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Keira Knightly, and Orlando Bloom all put in good performances.
  
  Very interesting. Good plot and action, fast paced, and well-acted. And just all-around fun.
  
  Highly recommended!
  
  

• The Incredibles/Les Incroyables (Widescreen Quebec Version - English/French)
• Toy Story - 10th Anniversary Edition [UMD for PSP]
• Armageddon [UMD for PSP]
• Gone in 60 Seconds [UMD for PSP]
• Jumanji [UMD for PSP]