More than just a Disney ride turned into a movie!

Rating: Null/10 (17 July 2003)

On hearing the premise of this movie, I was determined to avoid it at all costs. Then I found out who was in the cast, read some reviews, and decided to give it a go despite the risk of having to sit through a fluffy, Disnified film.
Granted, I love pirate movies, and the dearth of good ones lately has left me looking for a ray of hope. This movie has more than redeemed the genre.

While occasionally nodding to the popular Disney ride, this film stands completely on its own. The plot, while somewhat convoluted (WHICH ship are they on now?), provided a fun backdrop to show of the story's characters. Geoffrey Rush plays an oddly likeable villian as Barbarossa, the captain of the ghost pirates of the buccaneer ship the Black Pearl. Orlando Bloom's naive Will Turner was the sweet and likeable hero (though perhaps not the brightest coin in the chest). Keira Knightley's Elizabeth Swan was loveably feisty (she knows how to use a musket! You go, girl!). As Governor Swan, Jonathan Pryce keeps it light enough that we don't hate the character for being a snob--and his encounter with the arm that wouldn't die is priceless. And, last but certainly not least, Johnny Depp plays Mad Captain Jack Sparrow so convincingly he could have carried the movie himself, creating a character you're never really sure is quite sober or sane, but definitely wily and always fascinating.
The special effects for the movie were fairly good, especially during an underwater march of the undead pirates. The dialogue in the movie escapes being trite due to the talent of the cast, and instead comes across as familiar but funny. For you action fans, there's plenty to love: Orlando Bloom revisits his sword-fighting talent in several scenes, and Johnny Depp gets to put his athletic talents to the test while jumping and swinging from ship to ship all the way across the Spanish Main.
If you're willing to give this movie a chance, I highly recommend catching it before it leaves the big screen. It will still be fun on DVD, but it's worth the price of a ticket.