Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (Exclusive Series) (Disney Plus)

Initial release date: June 28, 2003

Studios: Walt Disney Pictures/Jerry Bruckheimer Films

Tagline: Over 3000 Islands of Paradise … For Some It’s A Blessing - For Others, It's a Curse

Plot: Captain Jack Sparrow arrives at Port Royal in the Caribbean without a ship or crew. His timing is inopportune, however, because later that evening the town is besieged by a pirate ship. The pirates kidnap the governor’s daughter, Elizabeth, who’s in possession of a valuable coin that is linked to a curse that has transformed the pirates into the undead. A galiant blacksmith in love with Elizabeth allies with Sparrow in pursuit of the pirates.

Cast

Johnny Depp (City of Lies) - Jack Sparrow

Geoffrey Rush (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales) - Capt. Barbossa

Orlando Bloom (Amazon Prime’s Carnival Row) - Will Turner

Keira Knightley (The Aftermath) - Elizabeth Swann

Jack Davenport (Apple TVs Morning Show) - Norrington

Jonathan Pryce (Netflix’s Two Popes) - Governor Swann

Lee Arenberg - Pintel

Mackenzie Cook - Ragetti

Kevin McNally (Netflix’s The Crown) - Joshamee Gibbs

Zoe Saldana (Netflix’s Vampires vs. the Bronx; Netflix’s Vivo) - Anamaria

Writer(s): Ted Elliot (The Lone Ranger)

Terry Rossio (The Lone Ranger; story of Godzilla vs. Kong)

Director: Gore Verbinski (A Cure for Wellness)

Rated PG-13 for action/adventure violence (143 minutes)

Since ‘Jungle Cruise’ is now playing at the Dietrich and is based on a Disney theme ride, I figured it was time to give another look at another movie that was also based on a Disney theme ride - 2003s ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.’

The first ‘Pirates’ movie delivers a lot of amazingly great action and the sword fights are extremely incredible. The visual effects in the movie are astounding and everything in this movie is entertaining and enjoyable. There are also quite a few moments that are actually really funny as well.

All of the characters and performances are very intriguing. The Jack Sparrow character will always be memorable and gave Johnny Depp one heck of a comeback - until just recently. The twists and turns in this movie are amazing and the surprises that ‘Curse of the Black Pearl’ offers are excellent. Also, Geoffrey Rush is simply incredible as the villainous Barbossa.

You can find ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl’ on Disney Plus or rent it via YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV or Vudu for $3.99.

*** Fun fact: The first ‘Pirates’ movie is ALMOST twenty years old. The movie turns 20 in 2023.***

Here are some interesting tidbits about ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’:

• According to the screenwriter’s commentary on the DVD, Will Turner is the best swordsman in the film, Barbossa and Norrington are evenly matched and Sparrow is actually the worst.

• Knightley claimed she was so sure she was going to be fired after a few days' work on this film, she only packed a few things to go with her to start filming.

• There is a small scab on Sparrow’s chin that gets bigger and bigger throughout the movie. The makeup artist and Depp did it on purpose as a prank.

• The ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ franchise is the tenth highest-grossing franchise ever.

• DeNiro was offered the role of Sparrow, but he declined, thinking that the movie wouldn’t do well in the box office as many other pirates movies in the past.

• When casting the role of Will Turner, it was down to Bloom or Heath Ledger. Verbinski chose Bloom, because he heard he was in the ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy, and felt he would be a more bankable choice.

• Before this film was made, Disney considered making this for the direct to video market.

• During the early 1990s, the screenwriters began to think of a supernatural spin on the pirate genre.