Best Movie of 2003 (So Far)

Rating: 10/10 (12 July 2003)

Most children grow up dreaming of being modern day pirates. Many of us have ridden The Pirates of the Caribbean at Disney Land and dreamed of wearing an eye patch and drawing our swords. Yet, most of us have been deprived of a big screen picture that not only captured our eight bucks, but our imagination as well.
But leave it to Jerry Bruckheimer & Co. to bring our youth a picture that can give them the same dreams and creative thoughts that compelled us. However, we must not be fooled by the appearance of this movie. The Curse of the Black Pearl is a film for men and women of all ages.
Director Gore Verbinski has come a long way from his days of mediocre films such as The Mexican and Mouse Hunt. He even manages to out do the quality of his last film, 2002's brilliant fright fest The Ring. While not near as horror oriented, Pirates of the Caribbean still takes you on a roller coaster ride of thrills and excitement.
Orlando Bloom is decent as Will Turner, the blacksmith in love with the one woman he cannot have. Yet, among the supporting cast he is overshadowed by both Keira Knightly, who plays Bloom's love interest Elizabeth Swan, and Geoffrey Rush who displays his character acting abilities as Captain Barbossa. Both do an amazing job and stand out amongst all the sword fighting and piracy.
However, it is Johnny Depp who is truly amazing in this film. His ability to transform into a character is absolutely amazing, and as Captain Jack Sparrow he stumbles upon his greatest role since Edward Scissorhands. Even thrown in with the elaborate backdrops and jaw-dropping ships, it is Depp who catches the viewers attention.
With an amazing ensemble cast Verbinski is able to transport into the realm of swash-buckling pirates and mutinous first mates. Unlike predecessors, Verbinski creates the best Pirate movie since Roman Polanski's Pirates (1986) and the best movie yet released in 2003.