PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN:
THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL

BY CHRISTOPHER HASKELL
MAY 14, 2011

Every young boy dreams of pirates at least once in their childhood, whether it stems from a sword fight on the playground, playing with the Lego pirate sets, or even children’s classics like “Peter Pan” or “Hook.” They eventually dream of a pirate’s glamorous life regardless of their exposure. I feel Walt Disney capitalized on this consistency and delivered the film “Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl.”

Children love pirates for the same reason people love rock stars. They get to do whatever they want and live off the grid, which, whether you are young or not, appears glamorous to at least some degree. Pirates (like rock stars) take what they want and leave to the next port/city, they are unafraid to be themselves, and apparently, none of them have to shower. Nonetheless, “Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl” represents a pirate’s life exceptionally well. A pirate’s life is messy, adventurous, and epic, which comes across perfectly in the film.

Love him or hate him, Johnny Depp becomes the character Captain Jack Sparrow, who, on the surface, appears to be a level below most pirates. But do not let his looks deceive you because Jack Sparrow is wily and persistent. The film’s plot is not centralized around one character, but Jack has the most star power in his role. Every other character underestimates him, but eventually, he is the means to an end. I have always said that Depp has a way of breathing life into unbelievable characters, the likes of which I have never seen emulated by any other actor, save for Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker in “The Dark Knight.”

Although Jack Sparrow is the protagonist, my favorite pirate is Captain Hector Barbossa, played by Geoffrey Rush. He’s always been a favorite of mine, but something about him portraying a pirate seriously works. Barbossa is what I picture pirates to be. He is a villain, but even in the first film, you can relate with him, and even though you are probably supposed to hate him, it is hard to hate the epitome of a pirate in Barbossa. His dialogue plays perfectly to this dynamic as he is likably sarcastic and brash. Still, he constantly plays the villain role of kidnapping the helpless maiden, trying to kill our protagonist, and consistently attacking the “good” guys.

The film takes the imaginary route and throws in a curse where the crew of the Black Pearl is forced to walk as the undead, not being able to enjoy the mere luxuries of life like eating, drinking, or feeling. The quest is for the final Aztec gold piece, which started the curse, and to locate the “blood to be repaid.” Though the undead portion takes away from the film’s reality, it strangely fits. Compared to the subsequent films, this one contains the most natural form of mythical legend coming to life.

Jack Sparrow’s drive is to find the Black Pearl, which his mutinous crew tossed him off of, to die on an abandoned island left with one shot in his pistol. Now off that island, he aims to use that last shot to kill his mutinous first-mate, Barbossa. His plight leads him to save a young woman, Elizabeth Swan, brilliantly played by Keira Knightley. In saving her, he gets captured. It is then that Swan is taken captive by the Black Pearl. The doe-eyed William Turner, played by Orlando Bloom, aims to save her by releasing Jack Sparrow and finding the Black Pearl. Sparrow is privy to a secret about the “blood to be repaid” and agrees to the venture. What ensues is everything you’d expect from a pirate film; swashbuckling adventure and extensive sword fights.

“Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl” has a way of turning the plot into an intricate weave of lies and hidden intentions. Everyone appears to have their separate agendas, and therefore nothing ever turns out the way you expect, which can confuse, but mainly results in an entertaining experience for those who do not care to see an ending from a mile away. You cheer when the characters you like work together and guess your way through the multiple agendas when they butt heads.

For sheer scale, intricate plot, and in-depth character development, it is hard to top “Pirates of the Caribbean.” “Curse of the Black Pearl” is the perfect first film for a trilogy (soon to be franchise). Johnny Depp lands in one of his most significant roles, while Geoffrey Rush becomes one of my favorite characters ever to grace the screen. Every boy dreams of pirates when they are young; this film is everything I dreamed it would be.