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

Verbinski knows when to break out the stunning action sequences and when to let his characters dominate the film, and he handles both modes expertly. Read the full review

Finally, there's a big-budget popcorn movie that delivers what moviegoers hunger for: humor, action, thrills and charismatic characters. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is the summer blockbuster we've been waiting for. Read the full review

Pirates of the Caribbean moves easily from sunny 18th-century seafaring adventure to creepy zombie flick and back again.Read the full review

Pirates offers something for everyone: Bloom and Depp for the ladies, big action and Knightley for the men, self-aware gags for the postmodern crowd, Depp and Rush for fans of top-rank scenery chewing.Read the full review

It's a good thing that Geoffrey Rush and Johnny Depp are on hand to jack up the acting department. Their characters, two world-class goofballs, keep us interested even during entirely pointless swordfights. Read the full review

Oozes atmosphere. The humor keeps it from becoming too creepy, but there are still a few chills to be had.Read the full review

The dazzling, high-flying silliness is quite an achievement. The movie is better than it deserves to be, given its origins: a ride at Disneyland and Disney World. Read the full review

The picture's constant forward movement and breezy sense of amusement about itself provide a certain mild sort of diversion.Read the full review

The large cast, costumed and made up as filthy scalawags and sinister buccaneers, gives tremendous energy to every scene. Read the full review