Shiver me Timbers
 Dec 22nd, 2003
Advantages:
Depp Depp Depp Depp
Disadvantages:
Over hyped
Recommendable:
Yes
Detailed rating:
Did you enjoy it?
Story
Characters / Performances
Special Effects
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  Borg
About me:
Another day, another read and rate, another day closer to Silver... I'm also now on Dooyoo, as I am ...
Member since:16.08.2001
Reviews:260
Members who trust:178
Review rated by 46 Ciao members on average: very helpful 
I was looking forward to this movie a lot. Many people said it was great and the trailers looked good. Not to mention Depp, who looked is ever-brilliant self. Then came that wondrous day when the missus rang me at work to say she had hired it out on video. I felt excited, I was going to see it finally. You see, the main reason I wanted to watch this film is because of the man who is becoming one of my favourite actors: Johnny Depp. He is such a versatile actor, but not only that; he tends to induce ‘something more’ into a film because of his mere presence.
So what of the film then?
After a prologue where we first witness the legendary Black Pearl, the movie continues with our Johnny entering a harbour in his sinking boat. Playing Jack Sparrow, he lands ashore to a coastal area overrun with British soldiers. You know he is up to no good, as he hoodwinks a few soldiers, but the hero he is he ends up saving the life of Elizabeth Swann (played by Kieran Knightly). A self-proclaimed pirate, Sparrow ends up being arrested and put into a cell (but not before fighting Will Turner, played by Orlando Bloom, in a swashbuckling fight).
Interlude: Main 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
The pirates of the Black Pearl kidnap Elizabeth Swann when it comes into harbour creating havoc. Will vows to get her back, as she is his childhood sweetheart and manages to enlist the help of Sparrow (who turns out to be the first captain of the Black Pearl, but he was tricked off the ship for being too trusting of his crew).
The Black Pearl is cursed, however, as all the crew are between life and death having stolen Aztec gold. Their only way of ridding themselves of the curse is through Elizabeth Swann and retrieving all the gold.
The story is pretty standard, told in tongue-in-cheek way. All performances were good and compared to any other film set on the high seas it is great. But the hype this film received harmed it, in my view.
Hype can harm a film, and this film has had its fair share. Over hype is bad… very bad, because when you park your bottom on the chair in hope to view said over-hyped film, then you are expecting something big, something brilliant… something exceptional. This film has had its fair share of hype (not in the same league as the Matrix trilogy, but it has had enough) and I would not say it had ‘blemished’ this movie or that it has not soiled it, but in my view is has dented it somewhat. Oh, how we can be so disappointed? Mind you, when a movie opens at the cinema a tagline of ‘This film is Okay,’ or ‘I’d wait until the Video/DVD,’ is not going to do it any favours, so we have to live with the hype and just try to make up our own minds. Johnny Depp’s presence is what makes it more that just a standard film. He is terrific in it, playing a ever-drunk pirate and had some superb lines.
Recommended for Depp. But don’t expect the ‘brilliant’ film they tell you it is!
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by (28%):
28.01.2005 22:18
I loved this film. I see what you mean about all the hype but in my mind it lived up to it.! It was only the other day that i watched the dvd extras and it made me appreciate how brilliant the special effects are! Em x
16.04.2004 02:53
I must admit, I did think it was an excellent film. And in places I laughed till I cried eg "you cheated!" "Pirate!"
26.03.2004 16:14
I never wanted to see this film when it came out but after getting nagged by my son and my husband to watch it , i finally gave in and watched it when it came out on dvd. To my surprise i really enjoyed it. Fiona