Depp fights the Un-dead! (Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse Of The Black Pearl (DVD))

Member Name: sewbizzie

Product:	Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse Of The Black Pearl (DVD)
Date:	20/12/08 (143 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Super acting, great story, some good funy parts

Disadvantages: None

After watching bits of this film on the television, I think it was last Christmas when it was on I decided that I wanted to see it all as it looked very good and also I like Johnny Depp and think all of his films are great.

The film starts with a young girl, Elizabeth (later played by Keira Knightley) sailing on a ship to Port Royal when they come across a ship which has been destroyed by pirates, they find a small boy in the water and rescue him. Elizabeth finds out his name is William Turner (played by Orlando Bloom) but she also notices he is wearing a pirates medallion. Elizabeth takes this medallion so he will not be suspected of being a pirate.

The film moves on a few years then and we see Elizabeth is all grown up and still living in Port Royal with her Father who is the Governor, William is also in Port Royal working as a blacksmith. Elizabeth receives a marriage proposal but she unfortunately faints and falls over the wall on her home and into the sea. She has on her person the pirates medallion which once in the water sets of a wave so other pirates know where it is. Will jumps into the sea and saves Elizabeth but unbeknown to them danger lies ahead from the medallion.

Captain Jack turns up in Port Royal where he manages to cause havoc and results in getting locked up in prison with the prospect of going to the gallows as he is a pirate. Whilst he is in jail the wily Captain Barbossa and his crew arrive in Port Royal aboard the Black Pearl. The Black Pearl is Captain Jacks ship which he had stolen from him when his crew and Barbossa left him stranded on a deserted island. Barbossa is searching for the medallion which Elizabeth has and when he finds her she says her name is Elizabeth Turner which results in Barbossa taking her as well as the medallion. The medallion is needed so the curse on Barbossa and his crew can be lifted.

Will Turner seeks the help of Captain Jack to go and rescue Elizabeth but Jack agrees only in order to get his ship back. Will Jack and Will be able to get to Elizabeth in time and will Captain Jack ever become Captain of the Black Pearl again?

I absolutely loved this film from start to finish. The story was very good and all of the actors played their parts excellently. Johnny Depp took his role of Captain Jack to a new level and had me laughing out loud at some of the things which he did. I do find that his facial expressions and his eyes always give more to his characters. Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley were also very convincing in their roles and Geoffrey Rush also made a great part of Barbossa.

The film had some great special effects especially when the pirates were in the moon light and were all skeletons and weird things! I though the one eyed pirate was very funny and also his friend, they both helped to give a little more depth to the story.

The sword fights were all very good and the actors must have endured hours of training to get them looking so good and convincing.

I did find that at some points in the film had me jumping and the next part I would be laughing out loud. This film really does make you feel lots of different felling which is always very good. I did find at some points I did have to concentrate especially when the pirates were all making deals with each other as I was starting to loose track of who was working with who!

The DVD which I have only has an audio commentary as a bonus feature.

The film was Produced by Jerry Bruckhelmer and Directed by Gore Verbinski. The running time of the film is 137 minutes which I feel is just the right length as no part of the film seemed to drag.

The film has a certificate of 12 which is very suitable as some of the scenes with the undead pirates may be disturbing for younger viewers.

I highly recommend this film as it is a wonderfully funny and adventurous offering from Walt Disney.

Summary: The first installment of Captain Jack Sparrow from Disney