A pleasant surprise of the highest order

Rating: Null/10 (22 July 2003)

My expectations for this movie - or its score, for that matter - were not too high. In fact, let's face it: I expected it to suck very, very hard. Fortunately I was pleasantly surprised, nay blown away even. I haven't had this much fun at an action/adventure film since The Mummy. From the astoundingly lush sets and costumes to the beautiful cinematography, to the satisfyingly quotable dialogue, this movie had everything the blusteringly swashbuckling connoisseur could hope for. But what really makes it such a tremendously enjoyable experience is the fantastic acting. Johnny Depp's performance as Jack Sparrow once again proves that he is one of the finest actors of our generation - boastful, swaggering and deliciously over the top he is never boring to watch. Geoffrey Rush is no less excellent as the dreadful undead pirate Captain LeChuck, who kidnaps the beautiful governor's daughter Elaine Marley (Bend it Like Beckham's Keira Knightley) to undo the curse he and his shipmates suffer from. Also great: Orlando Bloom as Elaine's childhood friend Guybrush Threepwood, a dashing (as opposed to merely runny) blacksmith turned pirate. It's all very much The Mummy meets Cutthroat Island, though done with a lot more skill and panache. My second favorite film of the year so far (after Finding Nemo). I can only hope that Wild Wild West II: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen will turn out to be equally superb.
As for the score, Klaus Badelt (and six other composers, amongst them Jimmy Doodle and Steve Jabalabomsky) once again proves that while he may not be a very original composer, he is superb at filtering other people's work. He distilled the best of Gladiator and Muppet Treasure Island, filtered out all of the annoying Lisa Gerrard whining and cheap synthesizers, added a bit of K-19, Drop Zone and Goblin (the cue accompanying the initial appearance of the Black Pearl was quite reminiscent of their wonderful work for Argento's Suspiria) and mixed it all up, resulting in a marvelous little film music stew. It's all the MV nutrients without the fats! I might even get the CD, if only for that fabulously re-orchestrated version of the Drop Zone trailer music!
Satisfying? Yes. But since this is one of the finest adventure films I've seen in ages, I still cannot help but lament that Silvestri didn't write this score. Or Goldsmith. Or Shearmur. Or Debney. Or Doyle. It would have kicked Cutthroat Island, The Mummy Returns AND Sinbad into oblivion.