neumu [ cinematronic ]




	Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl
	Gore Verbinski Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Jonathan Pryce, Jack Davenport 2003		All indications pointed to a commercial scam: Disney studio decision-makers decided to turn attractions from the company's theme parks into movie properties with name actors and narrative scripts. The first effort in this program, "The Country Bears," was un-"bear"able. Therefore, it's startling to report that the supernatural action film "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," based on the terrific "Pirates" ride at Disneyland, is a jovial, extravagant excursion that runs over two hours and makes use of every moment. The story hinges on scurvy seagoing knaves who seek to elude damnation by securing a stolen talisman. Anchored by a merry performance from Johnny Depp as flamboyant buccaneer Jack Sparrow (think tipsy, unwashed, omnisexual English rocker with a sword), the cast is can't-miss, from Geoffrey Rush ("Shine") as the captain of a zombie crew, to Orlando Bloom ("Lord of the Rings") as a swashbuckling blacksmith with a secret lineage, to Keira Knightley ("Bend it Like Beckham") as the plucky heroine, to Jonathan Pryce ("Brazil") as a pompous British colonial governor. High point: Moonlit combat with participants who transform from flesh to skeleton and back!