PG13
Stars:  Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Jonathan Pryce, Jack Davenport
Director:  Gore Verbinski
Screenwriters:  Terry Rossio, Ted Elliott

Disney's theme park attraction takes to the big screen, albeit with some drastic additions and changes. It's fun and irreverent with Depp doing a herculean job in the wacky creation of his character.

Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), a rather sporting rogue, who's normally quite happy sailing the blue Caribbean in search of love and riches, finds his life threatened when his nemesis, Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), steals his ship, the Black Pearl, and attacks a port town and making off with the governor's daughter Elizabeth (Keira Knightley). Her childhood friend Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) joins with Sparrow to rescue her and recapture the Black Pearl. Unknown to Turner, however, is the ancient curse that condemns both ship and crew. Following after them is the British military, led by Elizabeth's fiance, Commodore Norrington (Jack Davenport)

Lotta says:  Loads of fun in a swachbuckling setting with Depp in a whole new personna, as kind of wildman gone macho with "gay" mannerisms as undertones that will throw some for a loop. Some of the sword fighting scenes tend to be tedious, however.

DVD Features:  Commentaries by director Gore Verbinski, actors: Johnny Depp Keira Knightley and Jack Davenport, producer Jerry Bruckheimer, writers Stuart Beattie, Ted Elliot & Terry Rossio and Jay Wolpert, featurette: "An Epic At Sea: The Making of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl," 19 deleted and alternate scenes, scene progression, "Fly on the Set" featurette, video journal, producer's diary, archival TV program, photo gallery, blooper reel, DVD-ROM features.
Video Format:  Widescreen
Audio:  English (Dolby Digital 5.1 EX), English (PCM Surround), French
Discs:  2
Subtitles: French

Studio: Walt Disney

Reviewed:  Dec. 2 2003