Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl |
|
|---|---|
 Film poster |
|
| Directed by | Gore Verbinski |
| Produced by | Jerry Bruckheimer |
| Written by | Story: Ted Elliott Terry Rossio Stuart Beattie Jay Wolpert Screenplay: Ted Elliott Terry Rossio |
| Starring | Johnny Depp Geoffrey Rush Orlando Bloom Keira Knightley Jack Davenport and Jonathan Pryce |
| Music by | Klaus Badelt Hans Zimmer (Uncredited) |
| Cinematography | Dariusz Wolski |
| Editing by | Stephen E. Rivkin Arthur Schmidt Craig Wood |
| Distributed by | Walt Disney Pictures Buena Vista Pictures |
| Release date(s) | July 9, 2003 |
| Running time | 143 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $140 million[1] |
| Followed by | Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest |
| All Movie Guide profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is an Academy Award nominated, 2003 pirate adventure film set in the Caribbean sometime in the early-to-mid 18th century. It was inspired by the Pirates of the Caribbean attractions at Disney theme parks around the world, developed by Walt Disney himself. Pirates was directed by Gore Verbinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, and became the first Walt Disney Pictures release to earn a PG-13 rating by the MPAA (all previous WDP releases were rated G or PG). The world premiere was held at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, on June 28, 2003.
Pirates grossed almost $654 million worldwide, becoming the 22nd highest grossing film in the United States. It proved to be a success for Walt Disney Pictures and, within weeks of its release, the studio announced that a sequel, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest was in development (it was released in the United States on July 7, 2006). Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End is in post-production, and is slated for a May 25, 2007 release.[2]
Contents |
[edit] Production
When production for the film was first announced in early 2002, movie fans and critics were skeptical of its chances of 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 seen a string of big-budget flops (Cutthroat Island, and Treasure Planet, among others).
The lead character is pirate Captain Jack Sparrow, played by Johnny Depp. Among the actors also considered for the role were Jim Carrey, Christopher Walken and Michael Keaton; professional wrestler Kurt Angle auditioned for the role.[citation needed]
In the film he befriends Will Turner, played by Orlando Bloom. Actors considered for the role include Jude Law, Ewan McGregor, Tobey Maguire, Christopher Masterson and Christian Bale.
[edit] Plot
When new governor Weatherby Swann (Jonathan Pryce) and his 12-year-old daughter, Elizabeth sail to Port Royal, Jamaica, their ship, HMS Dauntless happen upon a shipwreck and its sole survivor, the young Will Turner. Elizabeth discovers a gold skull medallion around the unconscious Will's neck. Fearing he will be arrested as a pirate, she takes and hides it. As she does this, she glimpses a ship with tattered black sails disappearing into the mist.
Eight years later, Captain James Norrington (Jack Davenport) of the British Royal Navy is promoted to Commodore. At his ceremony, he proposes to Elizabeth (Keira Knightley), but before she can answer, she faints and tumbles off a wall and into the bay. The skull medallion she is wearing emits a mysterious pulse through the water.
Meanwhile, pirate Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) has arrived in Port Royal. While talking to two members of the royal navy on HMS Interceptor, he sees Elizabeth fall into the bay and rescues her. He is promptly arrested for piracy, but escapes and ducks into a blacksmith shop. There he encounters Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), now a blacksmith's apprentice and self-taught expert swordsman. Following a swordfight with Turner, Sparrow is knocked unconscious by the blacksmith, Mr. Brown, and jailed.
That night, Port Royal is besieged by the Black Pearl — a pirate ghost ship. The mysterious pulse from Elizabeth's medallion called to them. The pirates ransack the town seeking the medallion. Elizabeth is captured and invokes parley—an agreement ensuring one's safety until meeting and negotiating with the opposing side. To protect her identity, Elizabeth tells Captain Hector Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) her last name is "Turner". She persuades the pirates to cease the attack on Port Royal in exchange for the medallion, but employing a loophole in their negotiation, Barbossa keeps Elizabeth prisoner.
Unable to convince Commodore Norrington to take immediate action, Will persuades Jack Sparrow to help him rescue Elizabeth in exchange for freeing him from jail. After hijacking HMS Interceptor Jack and Will recruit a crew in Tortuga with help from Jack's friend, Gibbs. They set sail for Isla de Muerta, the mysterious island Jack knows the pirates will go to to break the curse.
While en route, Will learns the Black Pearl was formerly commanded by Sparrow. When Jack shared the bearings to a hidden chest of Aztec gold coins, First Mate Barbossa instigated a mutiny and marooned Jack on a small island. Jack escaped three days later.
The pirates found and spent the treasure but soon learned it was cursed—leaving them as immortal skeletal beings whose true forms are only revealed in moonlight. The curse can only be lifted when every coin and some of each pirate's blood is returned to the chest. "Bootstrap Bill" Turner sent a coin to his son, William, believing the crew should remain cursed for what they did to Jack. Barbossa then ordered Bootstrap tied to a cannon and thrown overboard only to realize later his blood was also needed to break the curse; a Turner kin must now take his place. Believing Elizabeth is Bootstrap's child, Barbossa poises her over the Aztec chest, anoints the last coin with her blood and drops it into the chest—the curse remains in effect.
On the island, Will suspects Sparrow may betray him and knocks him out in the cave by hitting him over the head with an oar. He rescues Elizabeth, and they escape to the Interceptor. Jack barters with Barbossa—in exchange for revealing Bootstrap's real child, he wants to captain the Black Pearl. Jack's negotiations come to naught, however, when the Pearl pursues the Interceptor, sinking her and taking the crew captive. Will reveals that he is Bootstrap Bill's true offspring and demands that Elizabeth and the crew be freed. Otherwise, he threatens to shoot himself and fall overboard, lost forever. Barbossa agrees but craftily applies another loophole and strands Elizabeth and Jack on a deserted island (the same island that Jack was marrooned on ten years before). Will is taken back to Isla de Muerta for the ritual.
To speed their rescue, Elizabeth burns a cache of abandoned rum to create a signal fire that is spotted by Norrington. She convinces Norrington to rescue Will by accepting his earlier marriage proposal.
Arriving at the island, Norrington sets an ambush outside the cave while Jack goes inside and persuades Barbossa to form an alliance. He tells him to delay breaking the curse until after they have taken the Dauntless and killed the crew. Jack then sneaks a coin from the chest, rendering himself immortal. But whatever Jack's actual intent is, his plan goes awry when Barbossa orders his crew to infiltrate the Dauntless from underwater. Jack's true allegiance is revealed when he suddenly attacks and then shoots Barbossa. Jack tosses his bloodied coin to Will who returns the last two medallions to the chest, breaking the curse. No longer immortal, the fatally wounded Barbossa falls dead. Realizing they are no longer cursed, the now-mortal pirates surrender to the navy.
Back in Port Royal, Jack is about to be executed. Believing Jack does not deserve death, Will rescues him. Both are quickly captured, but Elizabeth lends her support and declares her love for Will. Norrington releases her from their engagement, and Will is pardoned; meanwhile, Jack escapes by falling into the ocean. His crew, who escaped with the Black Pearl, rescue him. Norrington is impressed enough to allow him one day's head start before giving pursuit.
Following the end credits, in a final scene on Isla de Muerta, Barbossa's pet monkey takes a piece of the treasure and is cursed once again, explaining its immortality in Dead Man's Chest.
[edit] Cast
[edit] Reception
Critics were pleasantly surprised to find the film an enjoyable swashbuckler, and the movie became a huge box-office success, grossing $422.476 million in North America alone, and made over $600 million worldwide, thus making it the 7th highest grossing movie of all time worldwide. Critics in particular praised Johnny Depp for his performance as Captain Jack Sparrow.
It has been voted onto IMDb's "top 250 films of all-time" list by its users[3].
The film also received five Academy Award nominations: Best Makeup, Best Sound, Best Sound Editing, Best Visual Effects, and a surprise Best Actor nomination for Johnny Depp.
Other films based upon Disney theme-park attractions (The Country Bears, The Haunted Mansion) fared poorly; it is notable, however, that films promoted and distributed by Disney are often the work of separate production companies (in this case, Jerry Bruckheimer Films).
Roger Ebert claimed the film "came into your homes... and overstayed its welcome." Despite giving a positive review, Ebert claims it was just a little too long with lots of unnecessary plotlines.
[edit] Awards
Johnny Depp was nominated at the 76th Academy Awards for his portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow, though he lost the award to Sean Penn in Mystic River. The Curse of the Black Pearl was also nominated for Achievement in Makeup, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, and Visual Effects, but did not win in any of those categories.
At the Golden Globe, The Curse of the Black Pearl was nominated for acting (Depp), but lost to Bill Murray in Lost in Translation.
[edit] Home release
The DVD for the film was released five months after the theatrical release, December 2, 2003. The Blu-ray Disc version of the film is set to be released on May 22, 2007.
This movie was also among the first to be sold at the iTunes music store. It was ranked the number-one movie download upon its release.
[edit] Sequels
The success of Pirates resulted in the production of two sequels:
[edit] References
- ^ Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003). PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL. BOX OFFICE MOJO, LLC.. Retrieved on September 10, 2006.
- ^ Bowles, Scott (2006-07-11). 'Pirates' sets record for biggest opening. USA Today. Retrieved on July 11, 2006.
- ^ 238. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003). Top 250 movies as voted by our users. IMDb. Retrieved on July 11, 2006.
[edit] See also
- Timeline of Pirates of the Caribbean Films
- Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (soundtrack)
[edit] External links
- Official site
- Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl at the Internet Movie Database
- Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl at Rotten Tomatoes
A-Z of films • Academy Awards • Actors • Animators • Box office • Cinematographers • Critics • Directors • Editors • Festivals • Film series • Golden Globes • Hollywood • Movie theatres • Producers • Production companies • Score composers • Screenwriters • Silent films • Studios • Stunt performers • AFI 100 Years
Categories: Articles with unsourced statements since February 2007 | All articles with unsourced statements | 2003 films | American films | Action comedy films | Adventure films | Disney films | English-language films | Films based on theme-park attractions | Films shot in Super 35 | Pirate films | Pirates of the Caribbean | Treasure hunt films
