People have a preconceived notion that Disney is mostly a family friendly movie studio. While that is true due in part that their animation studio is bar none compared to anyone. Every once in a while, they try something new that makes people realize that on occasion they are mature sometimes. You have it with the animation adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame and in the rare moments of artistic cinema, Straight Story. Pirates of the Caribbean is one of those movies that pushes the image of Disney.
1. Jack Sparrow
Now this wasn’t the first time where a theme park ride was the basis for the movie. Prior to Pirates, Disney had made movies out of their theme park attractions like The Tower of Terror, Mission to Mars and The Country Bears. And it’s one of those challenges for a filmmaker to turn a 10-minute ride into a feature film.
For one thing, you don’t even imitate what the ride is like. Make it into something that you make the characters more interesting instead of just jokes. Since you’re at it, add violence since that’s the main thing that a pirate is associated with. It’s even surprising that throughout the entire studio’s history, this was their first PG-13 movie.
So, let’s get down to the needy gritty. We see ourselves set in the 1700s, pirates are running around the seas. Jack Sparrow and a blacksmith named Will must rescue a young woman Elizabeth from a group of pirates, not knowing at night they turn into zombie versions of buccaneers. While there are moments where the McGuffin in question can be a bit confusing, the story is mostly straightforward.
People assume that it’s mostly Jack’s movie, since he is the mascot for the series now. What I like about him is that while he’s a pirate, he comes across as a washed up one. From the start, we see him looking toward the British village, not knowing that his own ship sinks. Even when the guards mock him when they notice the stuff he carries isn’t up to par.
I feel like he’s the comedy representation of the theme park ride. Especially in the moment when he’s just having bad luck is hilarious when he’s locked up in a cell. He’s not grating in the least bit and manages to put a fight. Which I like since the sword fights between Jack and his rival engaging. There’s a way to shoot a sword fight without making it seem that it’s choreographed. It is, but the way it’s shot along with the context is great. The gunfights aren’t exciting in the least bit, we’re talking about muskets that take a good couple to reload.
You can’t do a pirate movie without the ships duking it out. Just seeing the Black Pearl and Jack’s ship dueling out with the cannons is exciting. It’s one of those things where it’s not just cannon balls being shot, but a variation of it makes the damage even great to see. I want to talk about the zombified version, but I think there’s more to it.
2. A Pirate’s Life
To put it into perspective with pirate films, they were nonexistent from the mid 90s and 2003. At the time it was considered a career killer. The film Cutthroat Island was the one responsible for the death of the sub-genre. While pirate films were popular in the day, swashbuckling was the original staple for action movies. Sword fights were way more engaging than a gun duel at that time.
So, with how the pirates are portrayed in the movie, nothing is held back. The initial invasion shows that they pillage just for fun. With the context being that the medallion acted like a beacon for the others to get. There’s even an island where a whole bunch of debauchery is seen when Jack and Will are recruiting a group.
Now the zombified versions of the pirates are a thing to see. Of course, having them show up when the moon is full is classic horror. It’s alluded to when Will is rescued when the Black Pearl departs, looking old with the sails clipped. The tease gets fulfilled when Elizabeth sees the entire crew be skeletons. And it’s ironic since she asks her dad that she wants to be a pirate and that is what she gets.
I feel like the whole movie is about acceptance, more so that this is ostensibly Will’s movie. Johnny Depp gets top billing; Orlando Bloom’s character is the main one since this is his story. We see that he’s content with his life and is called to action when Elizabeth is taken. Jack basically weans Will off his normal life and embraces his heritage. Which is why the evil pirates are cursed and are trying to find the bloodline for a cure.
3. Legacy
No one could’ve imagined that the movie would be a hit. People thought that it would be a financial bomb since the other theme park movies didn’t do well critically and financially. The expectations were blown out, having nearly grossed a billion dollars. I think it was the mature way that Disney was presenting the movie that made people curious.
Without a doubt, Disney had a franchise in the making. They revitalized the theme park and used elements from the movies to update it. The sequels though, while they made money and even eclipsing a billion dollars, weren’t that well received. I’ve only seen bits of the sequel Dead Man’s Chest, but the thing that I’ve noticed is that the whole story gets progressively complex. Not that you have to watch it twice, but the story gets too bloated to follow.
Now, there’s been talks of continuing the series and even rebooting it for a new generation. Far as I know, it’s mostly in development so there’s little info about that. Disney ultimately made other movies about their other attractions. Film’s like Tomorrowland and Jungle Cruise weren’t that well received or made back it’s budget. With the last one coming out during the pandemic.
4. Overall
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is one of the best live-action Disney films to elevate the theme park ride.
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