Disneyland’s fantasy ride, ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ comes vividly to life as only the big screen allows in Pirates Of The Caribbean The Curse of the Black Pearl. The special effects work is seamless and highly effective in conveying the bizarre circumstances surrounding the crew of the Black Pearl. Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio scripted their ingenious story, developed with Stuart Beattie and Jay Wolpert—taking their lead from the famous Disney ride. Gore Verbinski (‘Mouse Hunt’ and The Mexican’) directs a sterling cast and crew in expert fashion. Buena Vista Pictures distributed this collaboration by sister companies Walt Disney Pictures, Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Touchstone Pictures. Their imaginations bring to life vignettes of the Disney ride, woven together with a broad ensemble of pirates and 18th century British Navy seamen who ply the seas when the last of the pirates were plundering, pillaging, etc. in the Caribbean. Considering the intense pacing of the film, the usual scare tactics of aptly timed sound, music and explosions, the violence is mild enough for our admittedly sophisticated young viewing audience to handle. The viewer certainly is spared the actual moment of the few depicted assaults.

Captain Jack Sparrow’s characterization is premium Johnny Depp, from his graceful hands to his gold-capped teeth above his braided beard. He is mesmerizing as the quintessential gentleman pirate. His character meets Orlando Bloom’s character (Will Turner) in a classic, swashbuckler sword fight a-la-Erroll Flynn. Geoffrey Rush, in a high caliber performance as Captain Barbossa, terrorizes the Caribbean Sea with his nightmarish band. Keira Knightley’s character Elizabeth Swann provides a fairly strong role model as the main female protagonist. Jack Davenport is the British seaman Norrington, to whom Jonathan Pryce’s character Governor Swann wishes his daughter to marry.

To be sure, the film captures you within seconds…sea rolling and foaming in the dim light…a large ship looming through the wisps of blanketing fog…a young, well-dressed girl high on the stern, quietly singing, ‘Yo Ho, Yo Ho…a pirate’s life for me….

Metaphysical Overview: The life we might live is often not apparent to us—in fact, sometimes we actively despise someone or a life style because it is an aspect of ourselves with which we are not comfortable…until we allow the universe to do its magic and off we go!

SUMMER BLOCKBUSTERS Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft will dazzle again in Tomb Raider, the Cradle of Life, Eddie Murphy will take his turn in a depiction of a Disney ride, The Haunted Mansion, and Reese Witherspoon does Elle Woods again in Legally Blonde 2, Red White and Blue, while Rowan Atkinson smirks and tumbles through Johnny English. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen satisfies, especially if you love Sean Connery. Violence may prevent some viewers from enjoying, or even viewing Terminator 3, however consistent in storyline and presentation, and Will Smith and Martin Lawrence do their thing again in Bad Boys II, with the same panache and humor their chemistry is now known to engender—just know it is extremely violent, shifting back and forth, from violence to humor, before you may be prepared to follow.

And sweet little sleepers Whale Rider is a must, with Keisha Castle-Hughes endearingly playing Pai, a young Maori girl who grows into the leadership of a village in the most natural and super-natural manner. She overcomes gender bias and misguided tradition to heal the rift between her father and grandfather, while giving the young boys some rebellious thoughts. Swimming Pool is the newest foreign film and a truly classy mystery. Tobey Maguire and Jeff Bridges are impressive in Seabisquit.

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