Starring: Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Keira Knightley, Orlan
UK Certificate: 18

Cursed Aztec gold, canon battles, sword fights, undead skeleton pirates, a splash of romance and more derring-do on the high seas than you can shake a cutlass at combine in this truly
terrific romp.
Depp is Jack Sparrow, a gentlemen pirate attempting to retrieve his ship - The Black Pearl - from its mutinous crew, led by Captain Barbossa (Rush). He's helped in his quest by swashbuckling Will Turner (Bloom), and the privileged but feisty Elizabeth Swann (Knightley). What Sparrow doesn't know is that Barbossa and his crew are cursed to turn into walking skeletons whenever they are exposed to direct moonlight (which must make dating a bit tricky).
Pirates boasts a cracking script full of sharp humour, startlingly good CGI visuals and great performances from the entire cast. Depp excels as Sparrow, a splendidly eccentric cross between a 'Prince Charming'-era Adam Ant and a boozed up David Bowie.
A true heir to great adventure films such as Jason And The Argonauts and Raiders Of The Lost Ark, Pirates leaves the rest of this summer's blockbusters marooned on the rocks and sinking fast.