Arnold
CibbuanoPirates of the Caribbean
November 13th 2006 08:56
Pirates of the Caribbean (2003)
I'll spare you the now mandatory 'ahars' and various other pirate-related exclamations, but I will chime in on what everyone is saying at the moment - pirates are the 'new' cool, and they're back in full force. Just how long this so-called craze will last is anyone's guess, but with Peter Weir's 'Master and Commander' and this film’s own two sequels, it's a fair bet to say that naval battles and the like are proving themselves to be a bankable commodity once again, so it won't be too surprising to see a few more ventures into pirate territory over the next few years.
'Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl', aside from being a stupidly long title, is the Disney-ride influenced blockbuster in question. Featuring Johnny Depp in one of his most visible roles in quite some time (indeed, it seems to have become his signature and most identifiable role), and a solid cast of up-and-comers (Bloom, Knightley) and character talent (Geoffrey Rush, Jonathan Pryce) around him, 'Pirates...' promises (and delivers) all-round swashbuckling action and a genuine sense of fun that manages to leave a lasting (good) impression - despite the film's 140 minutes of running time. The story isn't all that complex; pirate fights pirate... throw in a potential romance, a fantastical curse, some treasure, and the compulsory tongue-in-cheek derring-do that accompanies all such things, and you have yourself the Pirate movie to kickstart the genre’s revival.
The cast is, generally, spot on. Johnny Depp is a scene-stealer as a character that really needs to be seen to be truly appreciated - no amount of description or 'rock-star' comparisons can put across the charm and charisma of his performance. Keira Knightley is, perhaps, equally as good (and hot) as the not-so-distressed maiden, and Bloom continues to add to his blossoming resume of blockbusters. Geoffrey Rush, on the other hand, doesn't quite have the screen presence to do the villainous Captain Barbossa justice, and his underplaying only serves to deaden his character amongst the inspired and/or hammy performances all around him. The rest of the pirates are suitably filled out by craggy-faced character actors with maddened eyes and rum-cracked voices... probably the unsung heroes of the production when one considers the equal parts of humour and menace they bring to their roles.
The film is a stunning success, the tone is perfect and - most importantly - it's a whole lot of fun to behold. I found it hysterical, and the direction is actually quite inspired and creepy in parts. It's good to see something new (IE. Not a sequel, adaptation or remake of any kind) do so well, even if it is 'based' on a ride at Disneyland.
TRIVIA: This is pretty much common knowledge now, thanks to the wave of pre-publicity that accompanied the film, but Johnny Depp actually based his character on Rolling Stones' guitarist Keith Richards.
| 87 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
Comment by Keira
Keira's Blog
I hate orlando bloom... he is so annoying and always plays wussy annoying characters....
Johnny Depp is most girls dream.
I like the two pirates that they follow around, the little fat and tall think one with the wooden eye.
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
Orlando Bloom pretty much redefined wussy in 'Troy'.
Comment by Keira
Keira's Blog