When I heard that the powers that be were making a pirate film, I honestly thought, 'Oh God, not another Cutthroat Island.' However, the enticing names of Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom drew me inexplicably to this film, even though I was assuring myself all the way to HMV and back that it was going to be a disaster.
I'm one of those people who can't abide buying the one disc edition when I know the two disc is sitting just a few centimetres away. Therefore, I'll be reviewing the special features disc as well as the film itself.
So, to begin with, the box. It's attractive - that's for sure. With a dark and sexy Johnny Depp in a bandanna and wielding a gun and a sword taking centre stage, surrounded by a simmering Orlando Bloom, a dastardly Geoffrey Rush and a gorgeous Keira Knightley, it's a very attractive cast. The Black Pearl in all it's decrepit glory is featured below the actor's faces, highlighted by moonlight [a key part of the story].
It's probably worth mentioning now that the film is a certificate 12. However, I sincerely doubt the hardened children of today will have much of an issue with any of the
things depicted in this particular yarn. Compared to Saw, Hostel and all the other grisly and gruesome modern flicks people half my age seem to be obsessed by, I'd hazard a guess that this is suitable for ages much lower than 12.
The film itself is action packed, beautiful, moving and engrossing. Forget anything you've heard about this film's sequels - this is a true work of art. I found myself clinging to my seat as fearsome pirates attacked the Caribbean town of Port Royal and kidnapped the lovely Elizabeth Swann [Keira Knightley] and I marvelled at the banter between Captain Jack Sparrow [Johnny Depp] and Will Turner [Orlando Bloom].
It all begins with a scene from Will and Elizabeth's childhood. Elizabeth is a young daughter of the Governor of Port Royal and Will is a scruffy child found floating in the water. Elizabeth soon discovers a pirate emblem on Will's person and fears he's a pirate. This is confirmed when she turns to see a ghostly pirate ship floating nearby. Elizabeth wakes up as Knightley, perhaps ten to fifteen years later.
Now Elizabeth must make ready for a ceremony promoting Norrington [Jack Davenport] to Commodore. It's also worth mentioning here that Jack Davenport is fabulous as Elizabeth's desperate suitor. Elizabeth is all but marked down to marry Norrington someday, despite the above sequence showing Norrington as a grown man when Elizabeth was no more than twelve.
Will arrived and reveals that he's now the apprentice to the Port Royal blacksmith [although it's intimated that Will, not his master, does all the work]. He bears Norrington's new sword. After a brief exchange with the Governor and Elizabeth Will goes back to the blacksmiths.
At Norrington's promotion Elizabeth, wearing an incredibly tight corset, faints and falls a long way into the choppy and rock filled Caribbean waters beneath her. Just at this moment Jack is ready to save the day, and stops trying to steal a ship to replace the one we see him sink moments before this occurrence, and jumps into the water, saving Elizabeth's life.
However, Norrington sees a scar branded on Jack's arm marking him as a pirate and orders his arrest. When Elizabeth argues with this sentence, Jack uses her as a hostage and managed to get away [though in the end he doesn't take Elizabeth with him]. Where should Jack happen to hide but Will's workplace - the blacksmiths.
After a lovely little sword-fight which was sequenced beautifully, Jack is arrested again and locked in the cells. However, Elizabeth has the pirate medallion which she took from Will when they first met, and the pirates it belongs to want it back, led by Barbossa [Geoffrey Rush]. What makes things worse is that this band of pirates are even more terrible than they seem - which becomes apparent when the moon rises...
To say any more would ruin things, but I found it an immensely satisfying film. I would say I wished they'd left it without sequels, but as I'm a sucker for a character I loved seeing more of those I loved from the first film in the second and third.
As for the special features, they're as follows;
-Epic At Sea: All about the trials and tribulations of making a film mostly set in the middle of the ocean and large, non existent caves. -Diaries: These are cast diaries, though as I recall it's one of the lesser cast members which contributes the most to this. -Fly On The Set: Exactly what it says on the tin. Behind the scenes footage of what went on during filming, chatting to those who work on set etc.. -Blooper Reel: Utterly hilarious, especially the bloopers involving Johnny Depp. -Pirates in the Park: About the attraction at Disneyland, which the film is inspired from. -Deleted Scenes: 19 scenes I wish they'd included in the actual film. -Moonlight Serenade: The art of CGI skeleton pirates. -Image Gallery: Stills from the film. -DVD Rom: Extra features such as altering a photo of yourself so you become one of the cursed skeletal pirates.
All in all an excellent film with brilliant special features, It kept me occupied for a whole day and I absolutely loved every single moment of it. It would highly recommend it to anyone and everyone. It is a true testament to the skills of Gore Verbinski and Jerry Bruckheimer. Also look out for the soundtrack by Hans Zimmer which is breathtaking and the wonderful CGI which is so convincing I half believed it was all real!!!
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 2002 - Action/Adventure - Director: Vincenzo Natali - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Lucy Liu, David Hewlett, Anne Marie Scheffler, Joseph Scoren, Matthew Sharp, Jeremy Northam
Action/Adventure - Director: Gore Verbinski - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring:Bill Nighy, Keira Knightley, Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom, Chow Yun-Fat
Production Year: 1964 - Action/Adventure - Director: Cyril Endfield - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring:Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Michael Caine, Nigel Green
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![Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl [DVD] [2003]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78527576.jpg "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl [DVD] [2003]")
Sep 25th, 2009
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