Pirates of the Caribbean

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) is a romantic adventure-comedy film set in the Caribbean during the early 1700s. It is based on the much-loved Pirates of the Caribbean attractions at Disney theme parks around the world, developed by Walt Disney himself. more...

The movie stars Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Geoffrey Rush, and Jack Davenport. It was directed by Gore Verbinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer.

As of March 16, 2004, Pirates had grossed at the box office more than $653 million worldwide—the 21st highest grossing movie ever. It proved to be a success for Walt Disney Pictures and, within weeks of its release, Disney announced that a sequel, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest was in development and slated for release in 2006: Pirates of the Caribbean 3 is also in production, slated for 2007.

When production for the film was first announced in early 2002, movie fans and critics were skeptical of its chances of being a success; the concept of Disney basing a movie upon one of its own theme-park rides seemed to many a crass marketing ploy. Additionally, the genre of pirate-themed movies had also seen a string of big-budget flops (Cutthroat Island and Treasure Planet, among others). Critics were pleasantly surprised to find the film an enjoyable swashbuckler, and the movie became a huge box-office success, grossing over $300 million in North America alone. The film also received several Academy Award nominations, including a surprise Best Actor nomination for Johnny Depp. However, the poor reception received by other Disney films based upon its theme-park attractions (The Country Bears, The Haunted Mansion) suggested that the success of Pirates of the Caribbean was merely an exception to the rule or, perhaps, that each film was only as good as its producers (in this case, Bruckheimer).

It was believed that the movie was partially inspired from the Monkey Island series of video games, and similarities have been drawn between Barbossa and LeChuck, and between Will Turner and Guybrush Threepwood. Even if most hold that this is coincidental, it is also believed that the filmmakers included intentional references from the games as a tribute.

Tagline: Prepare to be blown out of the water.

Plot

Shortly after his arrival at Port Royal, Jamaica, destitute pirate Captain Jack Sparrow rescues the governor's daughter, Elizabeth Swann, from drowning. However, when he returns to dry land, the occupying British forces attempt to arrest Sparrow for his previous crimes—including piracy, for which he has been branded on the forearm by the British East India Company (pirate lore suggests the tattoos were actually placed on the foreheads of the convicted). As he tries to escape, Sparrow meets Will Turner—the local blacksmith's apprentice, who is infatuated with Elizabeth but is too shy and refined to admit his feelings to her—and, following a swordfight with Turner, Sparrow is knocked unconscious and arrested.

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