Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl takes us into the world of pirates sailing the high seas. Along the way, we meet a group of pirates who have become cursed, forcing our heroes into unexpected situations.
I have to be honest; I haven’t thought about this movie in many years. When it came out in 2003, I saw it multiple times in the theater. A friend of mine was obsessed with this film and saw it over ten times in the theater — 2003 was a very different time.
I recently watched Gladiator for the first time and discovered that the Pirates theme is borrowed from Gladiator. While watching Maximus fight in the Colosseum, I kept humming the Pirates theme. This could only mean one thing: after I was done with Gladiator, I had to revisit this 2003 movie. It was quite an interesting double feature.
And I was amazed at how much I enjoyed Pirates of the Caribbean!
What really impressed me about Pirates of the Caribbean is how well it’s paced. This is a pretty long movie — it’s nearly 2 1/2 hours — but it doesn’t feel like it. The film is a really effective mix of humor and action to keep you interested and engaged throughout. There are also exciting moments of PG-13 horror, and there’s a romance subplot for those who are into that.
It’s amazing how all of these different tones and styles are able to coexist within this one film without feeling jarring. Instead, these different genres blend well together. Comedic moments are infused into the action sequences, which is really easy to do when you’re following a character like Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp).
Sparrow is constantly cracking jokes, often in the most absurd moments. Early on in the film, Sparrow engages in a sword fight with Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) but diffuses any danger by critiquing Will’s fighting style. This leads to a perfect balance of action and humor that is an absolute blast to watch.
Captain Jack Sparrow’s penchant for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time is always perfectly timed to lighten the mood. Johnny Depp also brings such swagger and charisma that you want to spend time with Captain Jack.
Is he a shady pirate? Yes. Is he a blast to be around? Also yes.
I think that Jack Sparrow is the reason this movie works so well. All of the other characters are strong, but he is the glue that holds it all together. Without him or with a different actor playing him, I’m not sure that Pirates of the Caribbean would’ve become the cultural icon it has.
Pirates of the Caribbean was released over twenty years ago now (which is difficult for me to accept — am I really that old?). I remember being amazed at the visuals when I saw this in the theater. I even watched behind-the-scenes extras on the DVD about how this film was made because I had to know how they accomplished this visual feat. But that was twenty years ago; could this film still look good today?
The answer is yes!
Some shots are still breath-taking, particularly the ones that take place in the water. There are certain moments when characters find themselves at the bottom of the ocean, and these are some of the most stunning images in this film. Director Gore Verbinski, Director of Photography Dariusz Wolski, and the entire team did a fantastic job of composing shots that evoke both a sense of wonder and fear at the vastness of the ocean.
The camera also highlights the action incredibly well. There are a number of swordfights and other action set pieces that look great. The action feels grounded, and you can clearly see what is happening. To me, this really sets Pirates above some of the other iconic action movies of the time. Anytime you’re able to clearly see the fight choreography in an action movie, that’s a great sign.
The final piece of the visuals that stood out to me is the cursed pirates. They were created with such intentionality, and they still look great today. I would say that these pirates look better than some of the other CGI characters in films that we get today. And this was released in 2003! What a testament to the entire team behind this film — their hard work and dedication to quality clearly come through the screen.
I didn’t expect to enjoy Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl as much as I did. But this movie rocks!
If you’re looking for a funny action-adventure film with characters that you want to spend time with, consider checking this out. And if you loved this movie as a kid or teen (like I did), don’t be afraid to take this trip down memory lane. You might also be surprised by how much fun you have with this film twenty years later.
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Sarah Callen is a columnist for Boardwalk Times
