I finally saw "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl." I know that this movie is 3 years old, but there are 3 reasons why I waited so long:
1--It was based on a ride at Disney World--so I didn't give it much credibility.
2--I tried to watch it on DVD a while ago, but couldn't stay awake (though my movie-sleeper-wife, Paula, loved it).
3--We bought the DVD from the Disney DVD club when it first came out (that's when Paula watched it), but watching a movie you've owned for awhile is never as exciting as watching a new one you just rented.
That's why I never got around to this one, until I began to see ads for the sequel, and I thought I better see the original.
So here's my review: Not bad. Great action sequences, a nice score (soaring at all the right moments), a wimpy-but-driven protagonist (Orlando Bloom), a terrific introduction (Keira Knightley), a great villanous actor (Geoffrey Rush), and one of the best actors alive (Johnny Depp).
The story was a little flat--but the un-pirate (played by Johnny Depp)clearly made this film the phenomenal success that it was. My only problem with Depp's performance, was that I had an unbelievably difficult time hearing his lines. As my wife watched it with me (round two for her), she laughed and laughed--but I missed half the jokes because the music was too loud (I know, I sound like an old fart).
In the end, it was fun, visually stunning--with gripping high-tech wonders such as skeletons come-to-life--it was well-paced, and finely acted--but because of the limited story and the low volume on the dialogue, I have to give it just a "B."
Author's Note: Let me take this opportunity to make comments on 
two of the film's actors: Orlando Bloom and Johnny Depp.
First Bloom--this guy I just don't get. He stars in all of these action-historic-literary pieces and he's very flat and hollow to me (Pirates, The Lord of the Rings triology, Kingdom of Heaven, Troy), but watch him in the 2005 JohnVano Best Picture Winner, Elizabethtown--and he's brilliant. Career advice, Mr. Bloom: Be more like Johnny Depp. Live a little, discover art house cinema, play some people with problems for once (not foes, but phobias).
And Depp--I've been watching you since 21 Jump Street, and I recognized in Don Juan DeMarco, of all movies, that you were one of the greats. I love your quirky sensibility, the humor, and the depth that you bring to each role. But I'd love to see more movies like What's Eating Gilbert Grape? and Chocolat on your resume--and not so many Tim Burton projects. So in a sense, be more like Orlando Bloom, and go for the big paycheck every once in a while. Thank you.
Yea- but Orlando Bloom is cute!
Posted by: Luann | June 28, 2006 at 12:27 PM