Superb, Intense Action with Witty, Clever Humor

Rating: 8/10 (28 March 2011)

It seems only fitting that the film that started the billion-dollar franchise is also one of the best films that Disney Pictures has ever released, and also one of the best adventure flicks ever made. "Pirates of the Caribbean" has a little in it for everybody, great action sequences, sharp, hilarious comedy, stellar characters, a great story, and of course, Jack Sparrow, who's impossible to not adore.
The film tells the story of Captain Jack Sparrow, a pirate who teams up with a blacksmith Will Turner as they attempt to rescue Elizabeth Swann, Will's love interest, who has been captured by a cursed crew of a pirate ship called the Black Pearl, captained by the evil Barbossa. However, Jack has ulterior motives in their mission, and from there the film takes off on one of the most exciting and enjoyable action romp of the decade.
The characters are all brilliantly fleshed out and interesting, and sympathetic, but the character who steals the show is Captain Jack. Johnny Depp gives the performance of a lifetime with Jack, masterfully crafting a character who is incredibly sly, charismatic, funny, and yet constantly gets himself into stupid situations. Never has a character like this been committed to film, and it's immortalized through Depp. He absolutely makes this film leap from good to great.
The film's special effects, while somewhat dated by today's (and the sequel films) standards, still maintain a sense of charm to them and the stunt sequences are all fabulous. The action is intense and entertaining, keeping you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The swashbuckling never gets old, and the film is always great fun.
Thanks to this film, the pirate genre was redefined from silly and hokey, to what "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" gives audiences: a strong story intertwined with intense action and humor. It's one of my personal favorite films, and definitely one of the best films to bear the Disney name. It's great, and I absolutely recommend anybody who wants to enjoy themselves with a movie to see it.