Twenty-two years since was released in 2003, it remains one of the best attempts at turning a Disney theme park ride into a feature film. Not only did it survive a chaotic production, it birthed a movie franchise that mixed history with action, horror, and fantasy. The series, at this point, is much more well-known than the ride it was initially based on, with a lasting legacy due to ’s flamboyant Captain Jack Sparrow, the visual effects mastery that turned into Davy Jones, and the fantastical, out-of-this-world set pieces. However, the sequels lost sight of what made the first movie its strongest installment. With the update that two new POTC movies are in development, they need to remember
The Curse of the Black Pearl includes all the backstabbing, sword fights, and romance a swashbuckling movie needs, without it feeling overstuffed and bloated. Starting with (2006), the number of locations and characters increases the world-building to bring in the smug Lord Cutler Beckett (), the Flying Dutchman, the Kraken, and the mysterious Tia Dalma (). As the conclusion to the original trilogy, (2007) puts the survival of all pirates on the line while also still piecing together an intricate mythology. The next two installments tried to follow up on this bigger scope with less memorable characters, a goofier depiction of Captain Jack, and squeezing the reunion of Will () and Elizabeth () into (2017).
Even with the first movie’s smaller number of settings and cast, it feels like an epic story. Port Royal is a place of order to parallel the utter chaos of Tortuga. The various ships that sail to reach or parting the seas to find the Trident of Poseidon. Curse of the Black Pearl has a clever story choice where it enters the cave twice, first to have Will and Elizabeth switch places as a captive of Barbossa (), then a return to set off a final battle with loyalties aligned. Spectacular pirate set pieces can only work if audiences are rooting for the characters.
The fourth and fifth POTC movies tried their hand at romance, butIn the first movie alone, they have a complete arc of overcoming obstacles in their love story; this is before it gets stretched out and complicated in the sequels. Although Captain Jack may be brought back, the upcoming two movies should take advantage of a new slate. One is a reboot, and the other is a spin-off that would involve . Two potential new installments could induce franchise fatigue, but if done right, they could bring new adventures in the unique world The Curse of the Black Pearl introduced. and it just needs to find the right balance.
The Flying Dutchman is encased in sea life, a maelstrom turns into a titanic showdown, and as a ghost whose appearance resembles one floating underwater. and it's something that shouldn't be left out of a new movie. Curse of the Black Pearl wasn't as elaborate, with imagery that is just as startling and strange in Barbossa’s crew turning into skeletons under the moonlight. The visual effects, like the story, just don't need to be excessive. It also can't hurt to have a singular vision behind the production, like what director brought to the trilogy.
With Pirates of the Caribbean not facing any competition from other pirate blockbusters, the movie series could make its return to the big screen feel well-earned if it does it right. A tighter story is a must to anchor the imaginative mythology. A smaller quest can have big stakes, as Curse of the Black Pearl has proved, without the need for all-out war or overly complicating the motives behind its pirates. If not one but two new installments of this seafaring franchise are going to be made,
