Disney fires one across the bow with winning 'Pirates'

Rating: 7/10 (7 February 2013)

Originally published on June 11, 2003:
Let's face facts, Johnny Depp's record in films has been pretty good throughout his career.
From his early efforts, "Edward Scissorhands," "What's Eating Gilbert Grape," and "Benny and Joon," to later work in "Don Juan DeMarco," "Ed Wood" and "Sleepy Hollow," he has maintained a steady run of decent performances.
He has also never been nominated for an Academy Award, although his terrific work in "Ed Wood" did earn him a well-deserved Golden Globe nod. Oscar neglect, however, may end with his latest entry, Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl," which, like many of his other roles, does not disappoint.
And even though he is not working with his favorite director, Tim Burton (this movie is helmed by Gore Verbinski, "The Ring"), he still does a marvelous job.
Based on the wildly popular ride at Disneyland, which, in turn, was inspired by an episode of the 1950s TV series, "Davy Crockett," the plot has Depp as the leading man,the bumbling, mascaraed pirate captain Jack Sparrow of the ship, The Black Pearl. Marooned on a deserted island as the result of a mutiny, he thus missed out on the curse the vessel was plagued by.
Given a blunderbuss with one bullet (in which to end his misery), he nonetheless saves it to gain revenge against his mutinous first mate, Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush, Oscar-winner for "Shine"), but there is a catch. The crew of the ship has now become part of the living dead, so it may be a bit difficult to dispatch the traitor.
Along to aid this cause is blacksmith William Turner (Orlando Bloom, the elf in the "Lord of the Rings" films), who was found adrift as a young boy wearing an Aztec medallion (part of the whole curse thing), as well as Elizabeth Swann (Kiera Knightly, "Bend It Like Beckham"), the daughter of the British provincial governor (Jonathan Pryce, "Brazil").
Depp, even though a dashing handsome man, is in rare form here, not afraid to look ridiculous or take a pratfall or two, but at the same time, engages in some amazing swordplay and derring-do athletics. He also carries his British accent amazingly well, albeit he does sound a bit slurred and inebriated, much like Dudley Moore in "Arthur."
With Sparrow's motley crew of handpicked pirates chasing the Black Pearl, the Royal Navy is also in tow, searching for Elizabeth. Conclusion has all three groups battling it out in a somewhat frightening denouement.
Picture is also peppered with not only sharp, intelligent dialogue not usually found in a Disney film, but features some obvious scenes taken directly from the ride itself.
Also, the cinematography (Dariusz Wolski, "Dark City," "The Mexican"), visual effects (Joel Behrens), costumes (Rochelle Best) and makeup (Greg Cannom) are top-notch and spot-on, giving this film a feeling of complete authenticity.
All in all, "Pirates of the Caribbean" is a fun, wonderful adventure, not unlike the attraction from which it came, one I am proud to say is still one of my favorites.
Beware parents of younger children, however, there are some scary sequences and frightening characters as well as some violent scenes which give this movie a PG rating - the first ever for a Disney production.