Best blockbuster of the summer

Rating: Null/10 (20 September 2003)

After the pretentious nonsense that was the Matrix Reloaded, and the disappointments of The Hulk and T3, Pirates of the Caribbean was like a breath of fresh air! By far the best blockbuster of the summer and maybe even the year, Pirates is a return to the good old fashioned adventure films that I grew up with. It also benefits from being one of the few big films of late that doesn't have any wire assisted slow mo kung fu (hollywood - enough already!) Both exciting and funny, Pirates has some great set pieces and a truly stand out performance from Johnny Depp who is hilarious. Orlando Bloom continues to show he could be the next 'big thing', Geoffrey Rush provides great support as the villain Captain Barbossa and Keira Knightley is, well, gorgeous! Pirates, swordfights, ghostships and the walking dead - what more could you want from a film!