Everyone needs brain-candy now and then.

Rating: 10/10 (30 July 2003)

Though this movie has been alternately panned and praised, there are a few things for certain. It will never win any big Oscars, and it is very enjoyable. There's a little bit of everything for everyone in this movie. For those in the audience who love women, Keira Knightley is beautiful and talented, if somewhat a little too close to looking JUST like Natalie Portman. For bad-boy lovers (even if only hormonally), Johnny Depp is a wonderful choice, and for those of you who like the boy next door, Orlando Bloom keeps up his star-power with a pretty face, and he does well with what little he's given to do. Johnny Depp positively steals this movie. For Depp fans, it's been a while since we've seen him stretch his proverbial wings. This role is not only fun, it's quirky, and quirks can be darned hard to portray. He does a fantastic job capturing the audiences' imaginations, not to mention the occasional mind, heart, and oh my yes, set of hormones. I was disappointed in Geoffrey Rush's performance; it seems bizarre that the man who played "twisted" so well in "Quills" could put forth such a mediocre bad-guy in this film. One thing I did find disappointing was the LACK OF CHARACTERIZATION AND PLOT given to Will and Elizabeth. It hardly seems fair that we are told nothing of what happened to them between childhood and adulthood. C'mon... give us at least something. Nonetheless, their respective portrayers did well with what little they had. All in all, it was good entertainment. I recommend it.