A movie for the young and the young at heart

Rating: 6/10 (20 July 2003)

At a lengthy 2 plus hours with intense fight scenes aplenty, this movie doesn't exactly seem like kid stuff. Don't be fooled. Like the Disney Land ride that inspired it, this is a movie that can be enjoyed only by the young and the young at heart. Aged cynics should see something else. This is a movie for all the men and boys who have ever dreamed of making women swoon by skillfully wielding a sword, all the women and girls who have ever dreamed of being saved by a dashing young man.
Leave logic at the door, because like all those childish fantasies, this movie exists for the thrill of the moment, the clash of swords, cheeky one liners, and a bombastic score. The whole thing would be completely ludicrous if not for the performances of Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush, who give a little class to the whole affair. They handle the material by going completely over the top, and winking conspiratorially at the audience as they do it. In his portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow, Depp combines equal parts drag queen and fiersome pirate to arrive at a character that captured my attention every moment he was on the screen. Geoffrey Rush isn't as good, but is good enough as the evil Captain Barbossa. Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightly get to play it straight, while simultaneously giving audience members something pretty to look at.
The plot is too complicated to adequately summarize in a short space, and why bother? The plot is inconsequential anyway, serving merely as a means for these actors to fight with their swords, swing around on ropes, and go broke for laughs. If you wanna enjoy this one, you might as well just let go and get in touch with your inner child. You'll be glad you did.