Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Gore Verbinski

Writers (WGA):

Ted Elliott (screen story) &
Terry Rossio (screen story) ...

Release Date:

9 July 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Fantasy

Tagline:

Prepare to be blown out of the water.

Plot:

Blacksmith Will Turner teams up with eccentric pirate "Captain" Jack Sparrow to save his love, the governor's daughter, from Jack's former pirate allies, who are now undead.

Plot Keywords:

Cult Favorite | Naval Officer | Lens | 18th Century | Part Of Trilogy

Awards:

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 26 wins & 68 nominations

Cast

Johnny Depp	...	Jack Sparrow
Geoffrey Rush	...	Barbossa
Orlando Bloom	...	Will Turner
Keira Knightley	...	Elizabeth Swann
Jack Davenport	...	Norrington
Jonathan Pryce	...	Governor Weatherby Swann
Lee Arenberg	...	Pintel
Mackenzie Crook	...	Ragetti
Damian O'Hare	...	Lt. Gillette
Giles New	...	Murtogg
Angus Barnett	...	Mullroy
David Bailie	...	Cotton
Michael Berry Jr.	...	Twigg
Isaac C. Singleton Jr.	...	Bo'sun
Kevin McNally	...	Joshamee Gibbs (as Kevin R. McNally)

Also Known As:

P.O.T.C. (USA) (promotional abbreviation)
Pirates of the Caribbean (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for action/adventure violence.

Runtime:

143 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS-ES | Dolby Digital EX | SDDS

Certification:

Italy:T | Iceland:10 | UK:12 (video rating) | UK:12A (original rating) | Malaysia:U | France:U | Brazil:14 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:PG (Nova Scotia) (re-rating after appeal) | Chile:TE | Denmark:11 | Finland:K-11 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Hungary:14 | Ireland:12 | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:M | Norway:11 | Peru:PT | Philippines:PG-13 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:12 | Spain:7 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of the Grisons) | USA:PG-13 | Greece:K-13

Filming Locations:

Bequia, St Vincent and the Grenadines

Company:

Walt Disney Pictures

Trivia:

Jimmy Buffett was offered a role as a pirate, but had to decline due to previous engagements.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Jack first sails into Port Royal, there is a shot from behind Jack, looking toward the front of the boat, and there is land clearly visible across most of the field of vision. After Jack jumps down, you see him (from a side shot) begin walking toward the back of the boat. The next shot is again looking towards the boat's front from the stern (which cannot be disputed because Jack is completing the strides from the previous shot) and there is no land visible at all.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Young Elizabeth: [singing] Yo, ho, yo, ho/ a pirate's life for me/ Yo, ho, yo, ho/ it's a pirate's life for me/drink up me hearties, yo, ho...
Mr. Gibbs: [surprises her by coming up from behind her] Quiet, missy! Cursed pirates sail these waters. You want to call them down on us?
Norrington: [sharply] Mr. Gibbs, that will do!
Mr. Gibbs: She was singing about pirates. Bad luck to sing about pirates, with us mired in this unnatural fog... mark my words!
Norrington: Consider them marked.
Mr. Gibbs: 'Aye, Lieutenant.
[as he moves off]
Mr. Gibbs: Bad luck to have a woman on board, too. Even a miniature one.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The DiCaprio Code (2006)

Soundtrack:

Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)

Brilliant!!

This is a fantastic movie full action, adventure, humor and a hell of a lot more! The film is 2 hours and 40 minutes long, but that time flies by as you are transported into an awesome world of swashbuckling and sword fights.

Johnny Depp's performance is one of his best ever as the slightly camp Captain Jack Sparrow. Even under his tangle of hair and blackened eyes, he will make you swoon and laugh both at the same time with his tonnes of witty lines and mannerisms. Orlando Bloom plays the love struck son of a pirate, Will Turner and play him he does! This roll highlights the diversity and skill shown by some of the greats. We will definitely see big things from him in years to come. In her second roll in big time flick, Kira Knightley plays kidnapped Govener's daughter, Elizabeth Swan. She is also another young, up and coming star with a bright future ahead of her.

The film may not be the most historically accurate pirate film of all times but all that is forgotten as you enjoy the brilliance of this marvelous movie. Did I also catch a subtle omage to the 1953 swashbuckler 'The Crimson Pirate' when Will and Jack walk underwater in an upturned rowing boat? Sneaky!

The only negative thing I have to say, and believe me I don't want to say it, is that fact we are never told the reason why the curse of the black pearl could only be broken by the blood of William Turner (Senior) and in turn by his son. Despite this plot flaw however, Pirates of the Caribbean is a magical journey that will drop the jaws of parents, children and grandparents alike. I'm definitely buying it when it come out on DVD!