This swashbuckling 2003 pirate adventure kicked off the whole Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Starring a cast that would return for the rest of the franchise (I think) with Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom & Keira Knightley. It had Walt Disney’s wodges of cash behind it, it was produced on a budget of $140m however it did go on to make a huge $654.3m return from the box office. I have to admit I have been itching to get to the critics as I think we are just about to (not quite) shoot the moon, but we have managed to give it a glancing blow as we have a new leader of the Tri-Critic Sync Challenge. Stand up and take a bow this movie as it is the closest we’ve ever had - YEAH!!! As we are finally nearly in agreement with only 2 points between the three of us with Rotten Tomatoes giving it a 79% and IMDb giving one more point at 8/10. So, this could be the best one ever as this 2 points difference seems to be pretty amazing and the closest so far after nearly 250 movies so it ain’t going to happen again is it! Maybe I should explain the plot now.
Sailing to Port Royal, HMS Dauntless, Governor Weatherby Swann his daughter, Josh Gibbs and James Norrington encounter a shipwreck and recover a boy (OK its Will Turner) Elizabeth discovers a golden pirate medallion around his neck and keeps it to protect him. Many years later Norrington has been promoted to Commodore and proposes to Elizabeth who is just about to faint and then fall in the sea where she is rescued by Captain Jack Sparrow. Norrington knows him as a Pirate and gives chase. Jack then encounters Will and they duel before Jack is captured and imprisoned. That night the ship the Black Pearl attacks the port searching for the medallion. They capture Elizabeth who then meets Captain Barbossa. The captain explains that the gold medallion was part of a treasure they stole which was cursed and they have to return it all, to lift the curse which turns them into ghostly skeletons at night. They are immortal until the gold is returned so they need it back. They would also need the blood of a relative of Bootstraps Bill Turner to lift the curse. The battle is afoot with Jack trying to get his ship back (the black pearl) which is crewed by ghosts that cannot die will be a tough order to achieve. Will being in love with Elizabeth and all pursued by James Norrington who is fed up with the lot of them. I think that should get you going without too many spoilers which was the idea.
I have to say that as an actor I am struggling to say I’ve watched Geoffrey Rush movie where I didn’t think he was fantastic in it. This is no exception and he also plays such strange roles half the time I don’t recognise him anyway until I’ve seen it two or three more times. Ok this was the best and the introduction to the stories that were to follow. This was a great movie the action is second to none it feels like this is non-stop although there are some pauses to catch up with the plot now and again. I’ve already mentioned the cunning and stealth like drunken pirate Captain Jack and in this movie the lovely Will Turner and his true love Elizabeth Swann. It all comes together wonderfully and it gets top spot on the tri-critic scoreboard just 3 reviews ahead of my special updated blog. Well don’t worry about that go and watch this movie. Just to give you the heads up I am probably going to say that again for the next 153 movies. As they are all going to be good from now on.
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