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Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is a movie of adventure and romance set in the Caribbean during the seventeenth century. It is based on the amusement rides of the same name (minus the subtitle) at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. This movie stars Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Geoffrey Rush, and Jack Davenport. It is directed by Gore Verbinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer.
It was released on July 9, 2003. As of March 16, 2004, it had grossed at the box office more than $653 million worldwide; the 18th highest grossing movie ever. It proved to be a success for Walt Disney Pictures and within weeks of release they announced a sequel was in development, Pirates of the Caribbean 2, slated for release in 2005/6.
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. Critics were pleasantly surprised to find the film an enjoyable swashbuckler. However, the poor reception received by other Disney films based upon its theme park rides (The Country Bears, The Haunted Mansion) suggested that the success of Pirates of the Caribbean was an exception and not the rule.
Tagline: Prepare to be blown out of the water.
Spoiler warning: Plot or ending details follow.
Legend tells of a pirate ship, a ship called the Black Pearl. It sails the clear blue waters of the Caribbean leaving in its wake death, ruin, and suffering. For ten years it has tortured the people of the islands. It has tattered black sails and is crewed by the damned and captained by the terrible Captain Barbossa. There is a curse upon the sailors of the Black Pearl, a curse that can only be broken if every piece of gold from a plundered Aztec chest is restored and the blood repaid. When the Black Pearl attacks Port Royal, Jamaica and takes the governor's daughter, Elizabeth Swann captive, her childhood friend Will Turner allies himself with roguish Captain Jack Sparrow, the former captain of the Black Pearl. Together they plan to save Elizabeth and recapture the Black Pearl.
Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio (Shrek, The Mask of Zorro) and others created a script noted for its witty lines and challenge-response jokes. Two examples:
The wordplay was well suited to both Geoffrey Rush's and especially Johnny Depp's unusual style and worked well throughout the film. The script is available (popup warning).
In interviews, Johnny Depp stated that he had based his persona for Captain Jack Sparrow upon legendary guitarist Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, with some influence from cartoon character Pepe Le Pew.
The Black Pearl exists and is a real ship, one of the last surviving wooden schooners. It can be found in Ta' Xbiex, Malta.
All awards are from 2004, unless otherwise noted.
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