Pop Culture Movies and More: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

This swash-buckling tale follows the quest of Captain Jack Sparrow, a savvy pirate, and Will Turner, a resourceful blacksmith, as they search for Elizabeth Swann. Elizabeth, the daughter of the governor and the love of Will's life, has been kidnapped by the feared Captain Barbossa of the Black Pearl. But, little do they know, the fierce and clever Barbossa has been cursed. He, along with his large crew, are under an ancient curse, doomed for eternity to neither live nor die. That is unless a blood sacrifice is made. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is the first film in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and is an incredible starting point indeed. This film manages to deliver all aspects from great action, acting, comedy, visuals and effects, choreography and grand scale. Johnny Depp is the star of this phenomenal pirate film and his performance as Captain Jack Sparrow in the franchise is nothing but perfection with his hilarious lines and body language, especially the way he runs is so funny and memorable. Just his first-ever scene introducing us to his character is just incredible. Holding on to the flagpole of the ship, we are led to believe he is at the highest point of the ship as he arrives at a docking platform. Only for him to jump down into a very small boat, which is taking on water. It was a brilliant subversion. The scene only gets better when the boat starts to sink whilst arriving at the shipping docks, Jack steps off gracefully as it sinks enough for him to cross over, fully submerging behind him. Just an iconic and legendary scene introducing the greatest pirate there ever was. The entire sequence conveys his entire character, defining exactly who he is through visual storytelling. The fighting choreography is superb throughout, most especially in the duel between Will and Jack in the blacksmiths to Barbossa and Jack during the finale, where we get some amazing visuals and special effects. I love Will and Jack's duel as it has some perfect use of the surroundings with the many swords Will has crafted, so when one is lost they grab another hanging from around them and continue their fight. Also, having the donkey turn the mechanisms around, so it elevates the battle in different ways, is visually stunning. Even when they climb higher and fight on wooden support beams the fight just keeps getting better. The battles aboard the ships are just as climactic with amazing stunts, cannon fire and explosions making for some epic action. I love how grand they make the ships feel in this movie and really give you a taste of what being aboard one is like, especially during a battle. Finally, there is the music with songs like: "He's a Pirate'' that everybody can recognise and has most certainly heard. It ups the action with every scene it is played in. The villains in this film are incredible and truly terrifying. Having cursed pirates made the film all the better with the amazing special effects that are so creatively used. It also leads to countless shocking revelations and moments that are sure to have you gripped. Overall, there are so many iconic scenes in this movie and with such superb actors giving their best performances, this is a must-see. Not only is it one of the best pirate movies, but is just also an incredible film for any movie-goer. Johnny Depp steals the show, delivering some of his best actings in a role ever, bringing this character to life as one of the greatest (and most recognisable) loveable pirate scoundrels. This is one of Disney's finest and to think it was all based on a theme park ride is insane. Definitely give this a check out as it will not disappoint, especially with some amazing follow-up sequels, which continue in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006), where we see the magnificent cast return for more adventures on the seas. This time they will face against Davey Jones. So sharpen your swords and set sail into the first Pirates of the Caribbean, savvy?