Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl

Aroview: A terrific, tongue-in-cheek action romp set in the pirate days of the Caribbean, with Johnny Depp leading the charge as a madcap, slyly ironic freebooter looking to regain his vessel.

Updating the swashbucklers of Errol Flynn and Douglas Fairbanks Jnr, this is equally (if not more) spectacular, affectionately overplaying the many stereotypes of genre for comic effect. The setting of ghost-ships, priggish British Navy types and violent sea-battles is satisfyingly fantastical in its effect, the obligatory romance between Bloom and Knightley providing a necessary complement. Maybe a little overlong, but otherwise a winner all the way.

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