One of the best pirate movies ever.

Rating: 8/10 (13 April 2016)

This film is set in Jamaica during the mid-eighteenth century, when the island was controlled by the British. In this atmosphere of danger, the mastery of the seas is disputed by the Royal Navy and the ferocious buccaneers of the Caribbean. The young Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), a swords-maker, lives peacefully in Port Royal and secretly loves Elizabeth (Keira Knightley), daughter of Governor Swan (Jonathan Pryce), whom he owes his life. Everything changes after the city was attacked by the pirates of the "Black Pearl", a ship on which hang stories of frightening curses. The girl is abducted and Will ends up coming out looking for her, accompanied by Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), a permanently drunk and clumsy pirate, who will do with him the most unlikely pair. Directed by Gore Verbinsky has screenplay by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, and other collaborators.
This film was a pleasant surprise to many people, as the pirates movies were normally associated with ticketing failures and had such a strong stigma that virtually disappeared from movies for years. So, this movie not only re-popularized the theme but also returned to pirates movies some respect. Let us begin by the actors: Bloom and Keira Knightley didn't surprised me much because they are used to play the good guy roles, they are comfortable with it and they have great talent doing it, not to mention that, even then, Keira showed great interest in historical or period productions. Who truly stole the show were the major antagonists: Geoffrey Rush (who made the villain, Barbossa), is an consecrated, experienced and respected actor, with an unquestionable quality and an excellent diction, but he outdid himself in this film. He looks like a figure jumped out of an adventures book, like "The Treasure Island". On the other hand, Johnny Depp played the perfect antihero, capable of the worst wrongdoings or to demonstrate feelings of great nobility. This two characters, thought outside the box, fit perfectly in the two views that we have concerning pirates: the romanticized view represented by Barbossa and a more historically accurate perception, immortalized by a drunk and sly Sparrow, who enters and jumps of any awkward situation without worrying too much about it. The scenarios are excellent and computerized animation and the special effects team were up to the challenge. I must refer particularly the vessels used, by the accuracy of the reconstruction and these beauty (although I don't believe that any pirate has ever used ships as large and heavy as those). The costumes and characterization were also impeccable and the plot was invented in an original way, trying to escape a bit of the theme "pirates running for a treasure" emptied of attractiveness, crossing it with some more interesting sub-plots.
This film is well worth the price paid for the DVD or movie ticket. Besides having established and popularized Depp and the pirates movies, it entertains the public very well, holding our attention until the end.