Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Reviews

Spooky, atmospheric direction and a colorful turn by Depp clash with the dumbed-down storyline and veritable booty of pirate cliches.

| Original Score: 2/4

Yo ho, yo ho! A full refund for me!

Full Review | Original Score: 1/4

This movie is far too long.

Full Review

Were it not for Johnny Depp's crassly reassured character creation of scoundrel pirate Captain Jack Sparrow, there would be nothing to relish in this overlong and witless waste of celluloid based on a Disneyland ride.

Full Review | Original Score: C-

Oops, there I go again talking about Johnny Depp. Get used to that. He's all you'll remember from the movie.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4

Depp's odd performance should probably make this film live on as a cult classic.

Full Review | Original Score: C

Surprisingly dull.

| Original Score: C

Pirates of the Caribbean tends to overstay its welcome.

| Original Score: 2/4

A monotonous, repetitive spectacle of endless shipboard sword fights and pirate ghosts in the moonlight.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4

Pirates of the Caribbean is a movie that you ride around in circles for 2 hours and 23 minutes, until at last it brings you back where you began, exhausted and a lot dizzier.

| Original Score: 2/4

There is much by way of noise, computer-generated action, big sets and breezy laughs, and practically nothing to intrude on your thought processes afterwards.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5

An overstated, unashamedly silly summer adventure.

| Original Score: C+

Certainly, Pirates has its moments. But it's definitely no 'E' ticket.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5

Pirates steams ahead on a mirthless course of script beats and busy action sequences, coldly steered by director Gore Verbinski to the boom-blast-blare coordinates of producing commodore Jerry Bruckheimer.

Full Review | Original Score: C

Buries its treasures -- mainly Johnny Depp in eye shadow and dreads as Captain Jack Sparrow -- in briny clichés.

| Original Score: 2/4

It's a marvelous day for corporate synergy. Somebody either deserves a raise or should be shot at sunrise.

If you think the title is long, wait until you see the movie.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/10

While certainly not a bad film, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl nonetheless rates as somewhat of a disappointment, given the talent involved.

| Original Score: 2.5/4

It turns out to be slow and somewhat dull, as if it's trying to be something other than a good ride.

Full Review

Yo ho ho-hum, the ride was better, and shorter. The two main stars of the film are some fantastic visuals and Johnny Depp's performance (which is the saving grace many times over).

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5