Pirates of the Caribbean
The Curse of the Black Pearl
I have to admit that I was skeptical. While movies have been based on any number of things, I really thought it wasn't a smart idea to try and base one on a theme park ride. All you had to do was look at the mess that are movies based on video games (Tomb Raider comes to mind, as does Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within) and wonder, just what were they thinking.
Yet, Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean is surprisingly enjoyable. It could be that all they had to repeat from the popular theme ride were a number of "set pieces" (the prisoners using a bone to entice the guard dog holding the jail key in his mouth; the lecherous orgy in the pirate town) and were not limited to actually trying to reproduce an actual story or characters. The theme ride, while interesting, doesn't actually tell much of narrative--or, maybe I should say, the narrative that is created is left up to the imagination of the rider, which may be a reason for its success. Only having to reproduce certain pictures, harkening back to the tableaus of the Victorian parlour set, freed the screenwriters to develop some real characters.
Even so, the result still could have been banal, if not necessarily bad. While the setting is picaresque and it's been years since Hollywood's come out with a good seafaring picture (I shudder to remember Renny Harlin's Geena Davis vehicle, which I'm purposely trying not the remember the title of), so the timing was right, it still could have flopped miserably. Most of the movie comes from the stock in the backroom: the pompous commodore, the well-meaning but ineffectual widowed governor who dotes on his daughter, the orphaned boy who grows up in the shadows but isn't of the class to woo his love. There's nothing new there.
But someone, somewhere, stumbled upon the idea of Captain Jack Sparrow and had an even more brilliant idea of casting Johnny Depp in the role, and that's what makes Pirates of the Caribbean something that you need to see, rather than just another summer blow-'em-up movie. Depp's loopy character is the focus on the movie, and rightly so, even though Orlando Bloom's William Turner and Keira Knightley's Elizabeth Swan characters provide the plot. Depp weaves and dodges throughout the movie--acting both the fool and the genius--in a kind of cross between Errol Flynn and Jim Carrey, having neither the suavity of the former nor the crudeness of the latter.
The movie thus becomes something surprising, because you're never quite sure exactly what Depp's character is up to, and that's a necessity in a movie of this type, where you know (and, really, I'm not giving anything away here) that the hero will live, that he'll get the girl, and that everything will turn out happy in the end. Instead of the end, Depp's character allows you to enjoy the journey.
As a pirate afficionado, I appreciated the fair leavening of realism in what is basically a fantasy movie. When the cannonballs come crashing into town, there's splinters flying. The sea race between the two ships, and how they turn to fight, provided an amount of attention to detail that implied some actual familiarity with tactics. And the special effects, so overdone in other movies this summer, work fluidly and seamlessly here.
Comments
Jim Carrey could probably do a good Pepe le Pew imitation.
I've also read that Depp said he played his character as Keith Richards.
Posted by: Glen | July 12, 2003 06:28 AM
Depp said one the late show that he portrayed his character as a cross between Flynn and Pepe le Pew (sp).
Posted by: Moser | July 12, 2003 12:57 PM
i luv orlando bloom,please email me orlando bloom. My email address is lovejjcpt@yahoo.co.kr
-Grace Park
Posted by: Grace Park | February 24, 2004 11:53 AM
Orlando Bloom,can you please email me your email address cuz my birthday is coming up on March and I really want your email address for my birthday.My email address is lovejjcpt@yahoo.co.kr
-Grace Park
Posted by: Grace Park | February 24, 2004 12:10 PM
I luv Orlando Bloom, i am his biggest fan, can u PLZ email me it is me biggest dream
Posted by: Brittany | November 9, 2004 10:03 PM
I no everyone asks this, but I've been looking for ages..........
Please can you send me Orlando's e-mail address!?!
Flavia
Posted by: flavia | September 25, 2005 04:50 AM
I don't know why anyone would think that (a) Orlando Bloom would be reading this review and (b) after reading these comments, would be crazy enough to share his email with you wackos. As William Shatner said on Saturday Night Live, "Get a life!"
Posted by: Glen | September 25, 2005 05:41 PM
I need Orlando Bloom's e- mail. I'm wait. Please...
Posted by: Rara | October 23, 2005 12:39 AM
first of all peeps,he wudnt want 2 share his email address because he would be sent enourmus amounts of spam and fan mail, and may i also add y would he want 2 sit down 4 hours on end readin fan mail which will all be the same and why would he want spam sent 2 him constantly.like all that junk mail about send this on to 15 peeps in the next 15 mins and ur love life will come tru.like who would wants loads of that?its all junk.
Posted by: beth | October 24, 2005 12:49 PM
I love orlando bloom My biggest dream is to email him if anyone knows his address please me
Posted by: Sarah Cunningham | November 5, 2005 11:49 PM
i luv johnny depp more than any other fan. i like him not because of his looks(which are nice!)but because of his personality and characters he portrays. If anyone knows any contact info about him PLEASE let me know, i am more than just a crazed fan, i would like to get to know him as a friend.
Posted by: Fiona | November 10, 2005 06:38 PM
I am from Croatia, and Orlando Bloom is my favorite actor! He is so beautiful. I know that I am boring, but i want to know his e-mail address. Kiss!
Posted by: N | November 22, 2005 03:41 PM
nice site..buts whats all this abt??..
Posted by: naz | December 13, 2005 04:27 PM
Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow!
johnny depps the hottest guy that has ever lived and guess who has his address and phone #??!! thats right ME!!
Posted by: coolchick | March 18, 2006 05:09 PM
What else can one truly say?
Posted by: William | March 19, 2006 07:59 PM
OMG!!!!!!!!! Orlando Bloom is like soooooooo cute!! i really wish to have he's email address and autograph. I have been wishing 4 that!!!Please if i could just have his email................
Posted by: Niki | June 6, 2006 09:43 PM
hey Orlando. ur so cool i have seen all ur movies. will u e-mail me ple. its taffy_hill@bellsouth.net. my b-day is in december 21st. later.
Posted by: Tiffany Hill | June 18, 2006 04:22 PM
Heya,
I know everyone's gonna b like "hey, he's never gonna even see your message"
but,
i don't really give a hippo! This is to Johnny! Not to anyone else
Johnny, if you ever read this..please email me! i'm a huge fan, i love your work (and your face!!) lol
jo_marney@hotmail.co.uk
i love johnny depp 4 life!
PiraTeS RoCk, MaN!!
Posted by: jo | July 5, 2006 01:36 PM
Oh yeah,
and if any other fan has Deppie's email
please do email to me (as long as Johnny said you can give it to me!)
Cheers from
Jo
xx
Posted by: Jo | July 5, 2006 01:38 PM
dear mr. bloom,
i will not show my name in public but, all i want to know is how to get a pat in "Pirates of the Carabbian". i am not like a lot of the people here. i dare i say it. not a fan. my email adress is kitty_kitty@kittymail.com
sinseraly,
?
Posted by: no name | July 12, 2006 09:36 AM
hello people why are you so obsessed with johny depp i know he is really really hot and is a great actor with fantastic skills but instead of trying to get his info why dont you take acting lessons and work your way up to an actress i always say you need to give to get just like you need to give your time to get johny depp info one day not trying to be mean :)
johny if you read this i want you to know i am inspired by you and when i see one of your movies it brings i smile to my face i am taking acting lessons i want to become an actress even if its hard to become one and if i do not suceed i want to be an under cover agent
johny if you would like to email me please do so at iamkitycat@yahoo(and or at)hotmail.com
you dont have to if you dont want to
Posted by: geovanna alexis janosko | July 13, 2006 12:02 PM
iya i soooo luv orlando bloom n so johnny depp there both so hot n i got their poster on ma bedroom wall hehe n can i ave johnny depp n orlando bloom autograph plzzzzz ma b'day on 27th october let me no kirstyloveso.b@hotmail.com fanx xxxxx
Posted by: Kirstz Mills | July 15, 2006 07:59 AM
Hello Orlando Bloom!! U r sooo great!!! keep up the great work!! Im ur #1 fan please!! send me ur email!!! xxx Audrey
Posted by: Audrey | July 16, 2006 09:11 PM
OMG!!! I totally LOVE Jhonny Depp!!! he iz the biggest hottie ever!!! Orlando is cute and all but I am like in love with Johnny Depp!!!
Posted by: Morgan | July 19, 2006 11:50 AM
hey olando bloom im tthe biggest fan u will eva have ur so hot ive got pictures of u naked on my walls (not really lol) but u know wat i mean i think ur the hottest and sexyest guy alive i luve u so much email me plz cuttiiee12@hotmail.com
Posted by: smexychick | July 20, 2006 09:05 AM
hi. have you got orlando's e-mail adress. please write my adress. my adress: orlando_bloom_08@hotmail.com
Posted by: GAMZE | July 21, 2006 09:01 AM
Hi,
I don't know if this works. But orlando this is someone who thinks that ur drop dead gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am sooooooooooo in love with u. i just wish that i could play with ur hair.
omg!!!!!!!!! please email me at cutiec93@hotmail.com
(please send me ur email)
( i just want to be ur friend)
love ya
Posted by: Carlie | July 22, 2006 12:12 AM
Hello
please
help
me
i am of argentina
my name is yesica
my dream is speak with orlando bloom
but i thinks that this is imposible because i live veryy far
if you have his mail can you give me? :(
: shesikaa@hotmail.com
im sorry but my english is very bad :(
byee
and thanks!
and kiss or argentina
and i repeat.
thanks!
Posted by: yesika | July 25, 2006 11:52 PM
alright alright all of u retards who like orlando bloom.....he's sucha lesbian and retard and i can't believe anyone would like him but since all of u're drool is getting all over my computer, btw his email is like l_bloom@celebcontact.com
Posted by: Christine | July 29, 2006 08:46 AM
Dear Orlando,
OMG!!! u r sooo awsome and sooo cool!! Plus i love the movie: PIRATES OF THE CARABEAN 2! it was awsome! u rock!! please e-mail me at elisapeanut2@aim.com
u Rock!
~elisa~
Posted by: Elisa | August 9, 2006 06:12 PM