Action & Adventure Pick: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Yes, this is a movie pretty much everyone has seen by now, but it tends to get lost in the shuffle when people look at the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise as a whole. I’m an unapologetic fan of all three of Gore Verbinski’s Pirates movies (and don’t hate the fourth, but find it forgettable). As cluttered and overblown as they become, they never stop being smart, imaginative, and extremely entertaining blockbuster adventure films. But there’s no competition – The Curse of the Black Pearl is undoubtedly the best of the bunch, and definitely worth a re-watch.
It’s hard to believe the film came out over a decade ago, because it has become such a staple franchise in modern day blockbuster filmmaking. I would even argue that The Curse of the Black Pearl is our generation’s Raiders of the Lost Ark.
That may seem like high praise to some, but just look at what the film accomplishes. It’s set in the past, when pirates ruled the seven seas, it contains an expertly paced and engaging adventure with supernatural elements, and it introduced us to Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow. Depp has become a bit consumed by trying to recapture that lightning-in-a-bottle performance, and has turned style into schtick, but back in 2003 his performance as Jack was so good that it earned him his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor.
So, if you haven’t given this film a chance in a while, or have a bad taste in your mouth because of On Stranger Tides, do yourself a favor and re-watch The Curse of the Black Pearl. It’s smart, the music is incredible, the effects are still top notch, and the performances are a lot of fun. Oh, and to top it all off, it actually tells a complete story! So if you don’t like the sequels, you don’t even have to invest in them to enjoy the first film. How many Hollywood blockbusters can say that nowadays, huh?