Depp is Fantastic!

Rating: Null/10 (14 July 2003)

Based on a theme park ride, "Pirates of the Caribbean" has a bright, shiny, Disney world quality. But then, were you expecting - or even hoping for - gritty realism?
Johnny Depp's inspired performance as Captain Jack Sparrow is enough to keep cynicism at bay. Depp's fine comedic instincts and ability to fully inhabit a character light up the screen. His work is as impressive as Sparrow's eyeliner is waterproof.
In fact, the whole affair is exuberant and entertaining enough to qualify as enjoyable fluff quite preferable to dreary event pictures from the "Independence Day"/"Armageddon" mold.