A rousing good time

Rating: 10/10 (13 July 2003)

It takes a pretty good movie for me to spend $9.50 per person twice in one weekend. But for this movie, I'd even do it again. Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl has action, comedy, romance, swordfighting, swashbuckling, drunken brawls, and some really great lines.

But while the movie itself is fun and has great special effects, its crowning glory is Depp's portrayal of Capt. Jack Sparrow. His wry comments and sheer panache provide some of the most memorable and hilarious moments in the film. And the mannerisms he adopts make Jack even more priceless, from the constant swaying walk of a man too long at sea to his facial expressions, which even without dialogue provoke laughter. As far as I'm concerned, Depp's Sparrow goes onto my list of the all-time best characters in film, with the likes of Alan Rickman's Sheriff of Nottingham, Mandy Patinkin's Inigo Montoya, and Anthony Hopkins' Hannibal Lector.
I can safely say that I'll be at the store to pick up the DVD when it comes out, and hitting the theater again for a sequel is a definite yes.