Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl (2003)

Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl - 2003

Coming up next is a film based on an iconic theme park ride.  2003's "Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl" introduces us to legendary character Captain Jack Sparrow and his quest to take command of his beloved ship, The Black Pearl.

The film's cast includes Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom, Jack Davenport, Jonathan Pryce, Kevin McNally, Zoe Saldana, Lee Arenberg, Mackenzie Crook, and Martin Klebba.

On the crossing from England, Governor Swann of Port Royal and his daughter are met by a shipwreck that looks to have been sunk by pirates.

A survivor is brought on board and the governor's daughter Elizabeth is assigned to watch over him.  He tells her that his name is Will Turner just before he passes out.  Elizabeth notices a sort of pirate medallion and takes it, not wanting Will to get in trouble just in case he is a pirate.

Elizabeth notices a ship with black sails and a pirate flag disappearing into the mist as their ship continues on to Port Royal.

Roughly 10 years later, Elizabeth still has the pirate medallion.  She keeps it locked away, but on this particular day she decides to wear it.

Will Turner, we come to learn, is an apprentice blacksmith.  He has been commissioned by Governor Swann to make a sword for Commodore Norrington.

Will and Elizabeth have an awkward relationship.  She wants something more.  He is reserved, as befits his station as a blacksmith.

Just about this time a pirate comes sailing into Port Royal.  His ship seems to be very run down and he's the only crew.

Commodore Norrington's promotion ceremony is taking place at the Port Royal fort.

Due to a restrictive corset, Elizabeth struggles to breathe.  Since he has taken the opportunity to tell Elizabeth how beautiful she is, Norrington believes that it's because she's nervous in the moment.

When he turns his back, Elizabeth falls from the fort and plummets to the ocean below.

In the water, the pirate medallion she is wearing is revealed.  It pulsates and sends a rippling effect over the water.  Instantly, the wind and weather turn foul.

Our mysterious pirate saves her.  When he sees the medallion, he looks at her in surprise and wants to know how she came by it.

Before she can answer, the pirate is arrested.  It's revealed his name is Captain Jack Sparrow and he's come to Port Royal to commandeer a ship and crew.  A sword skirmish ensues and he escapes the clutches of Commodore Norrington and his men.

He hides out in the local blacksmith shop, where he comes to have a sword fight with Will Turner.  Eventually, Jack is arrested.

That night, a mysterious and bleak fog creeps into Port Royal.  A dark ship sails into the harbor.

Pirates emerge from the ship and converge upon Port Royal.  They come to the Governor's house where they begin to chase Elizabeth.

While trying to defend herself, she realizes that they are after the gold medallion.  They tell her that the gold calls to them.

She immediately invokes the right of parlay and demands to be taken to their captain for negotiations.

The pirates visit Jack in prison and he finds out that there is a curse on them.  When the moonlight hits them, they turn to skeletons.

On board The Black Pearl, Elizabeth begins to negotiate.  "I want you to leave and never come back," she tells Captain Barbossa.  He looks at her and says, "I'm disinclined to acquiesce to your request.  Means no."  She also says her name is Elizabeth "Turner".

She then offers him the medallion in exchange for his leaving Port Royal.  He agrees but keeps her as a hostage.

Will wants to go after Elizabeth, but won't be his assistance isn't required by Norrington.  He goes to Jack Sparrow, who agrees to help only after he learns Will Turner's name.

Jack comes up with a plan to get them to a ship without being seen.  "This is either madness or brilliance," says Will.  "It's remarkable how often those two traits coincide," says Jack.

Once they get a ship, Jack tells Will who is father was: a pirate.  Will can't believe it, but Jack assures him it's true.

They head for Tortuga, a pirate haven, where Jack finds his friend Joshamee Gibbs, and recruits him to round up a crew to go after The Black Pearl.

On board The Black Pearl, Barbossa tells Elizabeth the story of why they need the medallion.  It is part of a cursed Aztec treasure.  Once they return the last piece and blood is repaid, they can resume lives as ordinary men.

"I hardly believe in ghost stories anymore, Captain Barbossa," Elizabeth tells him.  She gets concerned, however, when he tells her that they need the blood of the last Turner in order to lift the curse.

She runs outside after trying to stab Barbossa.  And she is swiftly met by the ghostly crew of The Black Pearl.  "You best start believin' in ghost stories, Miss Turner," says Barbossa.  "You're in one."

Meanwhile, Jack and his newfound crew are closing on in Barbossa and his beloved Black Pearl.

Arriving at their destination, the Isla de Muerta, Barbossa and his crew prepare Elizabeth to go ashore and undo the curse.

Led by Barbossa, the crew of board the longboats and head into the interior of the cursed island.

Jack and his own crew are not far behind.  The crew parrot gives calls of "Dead men tell no tales" as the ship maneuvers through shark-infested waters.

 After performing the ritual, Barbossa and his crew find out that Elizabeth is not a Turner and their curse has not been lifted.  They angrily turn on each other.

Will shows up and gets Elizabeth to safety.  Their feelings for each other come to the fore, but Will tries to suppress them.

Jack, meanwhile, negotiates with Barbossa, claiming he knows whose blood he needs to lift the curse.

Barbossa captures Will, and then maroons Jack and Elizabeth on an island.  Elizabeth starts a fire that will attract the Royal Navy to the rescue.

Elizabeth persuades Commodore Norrington to rescue will as a wedding present for her.  Norrington agrees.

Jack goes to see Barbossa.  He takes one of the cursed coins and keeps it, making himself cursed just as they are.  Barbossa orders his men to the Royal Navy ship to do battle.

Jack reveals his cursed state to Barbossa.  "So now what, Jack Sparrow?  Are we to be two immortals locked in an epic battle until Judgment Day and trumpet sound?" asks Barbossa.

When Will returns the final pieces of the gold to the chest, Jack takes the opportunity to shoot Barbossa.

He falls dead along with most of the members of his crew who are battling the Royal Navy.

Unfortunately, Jack's crew have already left with The Black Pearl.  He has no choice but to face the Royal Navy.

Jack is sentenced to death by hanging.  He gets a chuckle while he's listening to the crimes against him.

At the hanging, Will finally declares his feelings for Elizabeth.  "Elizabeth, I should have told you every day since the moment I met you.  I love you."

He creates a diversion which helps Jack escape.  Governor Swann issues him a pardon.  "Perhaps on the rare occasion, pursing the right course demands an act of piracy.  Piracy, itself, can be the right course."

Commodore Norrington releases Elizabeth from their engagement and she and Will kiss high atop the fort.

Jack is picked up by The Black Pearl, and they give him back his position as Captain.  He sails away singing "Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate's Life For Me."

Cast rundown:

   Johnny Depp.....................................Captain Jack Sparrow

   Geoffrey Rush....................................Captain Hector Barbossa

   Keira Knightley..................................Elizabeth Swann

   Orlando Bloom...................................Will Turner

   Jack Davenport..................................Commodore James Norrington

   Jonathan Pryce...................................Governor Weatherby Swann

   Kevin McNally.....................................Joshamee Gibbs

   Zoe Saldana.......................................Anamaria

   Lee Arenberg......................................Pintel

   Mackenzie Crook.................................Ragetti

   Martin Klebba.....................................Marty

And that's it for Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl.  The film was highly successful, drawing on the popularity of the Disneyland attraction.

In fact, several elements of the theme park ride were incorporated into the film, including this jail scene, where prisoners try to entice a dog over with a bone to get the keys to the cell.

A post-credits scene shows us Jack the monkey.  He takes one of the pieces of cursed treasure and returns to his cursed/zombie form.

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