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This Cursed Film Remains a Blessing to Watch (Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl)

*This review will contain spoilers for Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

 With the series coming to a close this month with Dead Men Tell No Tales, I figured I would take a look back at the film that started it all.

 Jack Sparrow first sailed into Port Royale on July 9th, 2003.
Well, sot of sailed, that is. Since then, Jack has sailed the seas of the Caribbean for four films thus far. 

After facing mutiny from his first mate, Barbosa, and his crew, Jack seeks to take revenge and reclaim his vessel, the Black Pearl. His journey leads him to meet with William Turner and Elizabeth Swan, and together the three go on a swashbuckling adventure as pirates.

The plot of this film is very easy to follow throughout, with interesting subplots, such as Elizabeth's relationship to Will and the Commodore, and the various backstory elements of Jack's life. While there is a lot going on in this film, I am glad to say that it is nearly impossible to lose track of the story, and the dialogue never directly reminds the viewer of the subplot being discussed.

The dialogue is quite smooth and natural, and quite humorous whether you know a lot about sailing and/or piracy or have a minimal understanding. The timing of delivery in each moment is perfect to ensure a laugh on the punchlines of jokes, as well as create emotional responses without seeming like a person holding up a sign that says (awe). This greatly enhances the viewing experience.

One of my favorite scenes in the entire film is the fight between Will and Jack in the blacksmith shop. I just completed a Stage Combat unit in a college class, in which we discussed the selling of the fight (Grunts, gasps, etc.) and the showmanship in the movements. This scene is a fantastic example of fluid line integration, danger, and energy/effort, and is a great reference Stage Combat. This same effort is shown in every sword fight in the film, and makes for some amazing action sequences.

This film came out nearly 14 years ago, but the CGI is fantastic nonetheless. The Skeleton Crew effects are incredible to watch and are revolting, but not so much that would scar a child who watched the film. Remarkably, these effects still hold up today, and are likely to continue to do so in the years to come.

In addition to this, the effective editing of this same effect is amazing. Consider this scene from the climax of the film (MAJOR SPOILERS IN THE VIDEO). Notice how smooth the transition from human to skeleton is each time the characters move in and out of the moonlight. This is a remarkably smooth scene, and a fantastic job by the editors.

Overall, this film is very well paced, the characters are a ton of fun to watch. A great film to watch as a family. 

This film always leaves me singing "Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a pirate's life for me".

Is this film "Shiver Me Timbers" good, or "Why is the Rum Gone Bad"? Let me know what you think in the comments below. 

Click here to watch Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl on Amazon Video.
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