A joy from start to finish

Rating: 10/10 (20 June 2009)

Disney's surprise hit from 2003 based on their long running theme park ride was widely expected to be a huge flop but is a fantastic popcorn blockbuster featuring swashbuckling action and a very sly funny screenplay from the writers of Aladdin and Shrek.
Johnny Depp is Captain Jack Sparrow, possibly the worst pirate you've ever heard of, in search of reclaiming of his long lost ship, the cursed Black Pearl, captained by his rival Barbossa (a brilliant Geoffrey Rush) who have been doomed for eternity by pieces of Aztec Gold. The cast is rounded out by a large contingent of British actors (Bloom, Knightley, Pryce, Crook, Davenport) who excel in this kind of film. There are countless references to the ride throughout the film (and lots of hints of what was to come in the sequels, which is surprising as the follow ups were never planned which is unheard of for a summer blockbuster these days) There's nothing to fault with this film at all IMO. Acting, screenplay, direction, production design and FX are all superb. It's very rare with today's Hollywood product that you come across a film like this that is just pure enjoyment from start to finish. 10/10