Fun for fun's sake

Rating: Null/10 (6 August 2003)

Summer movies are supposed to be fun but often just substitute explosions and star faces for movie entertainment. However, Pirates of the Caribbean is fun because it has all the elements working that a good blockbuster movie should have: engaging characters, entertaining dialogue, exciting plot, and good direction.
The standout performances are by Johnny Depp, who plays a pirate by adopting Keith Richards's speaking style and mannerisms, and by Lee Arenberg and Mackenzie Crook who play pirates with a combination of swagger and comedy.
There are some illogical things going on in the movie but it's easy to ignore them when the movie is entertaining.