POTC is a viscerally exciting thriller that incorporates many of the elements that have made previous films of the genre such as Hook of 1995 a success. It showcases the talents of British actor Orlando Bloom, who rose to fame in The lord of the Rings movies and his recent popularity is sure to make the forthcoming ’Return of the King’ even more eagerly anticipated. Johnny Depp excels as the enigmatic pirate who joins forces with the British Navy in an attempt to thwart the curse of the black pearl: despite its promise, it will only appeal to those with long attention spans and a soft spot for cliched skeletal ghosts. It goes without saying that there is much swordplay and the theme of hostages runs throughout.
Certainly, the morals of the pirate culture have not been challenged; instead there is a series of action set pieces and gags.