While the status of Jack Sparrow’s return to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is uncertain, the next potential entry in the saga must recall what made the original film a smash hit. It has been nearly a decade since the last time the Pirates franchise set sail at the box office, and Disney has a challenging task ahead of them in returning the series to its former glory.
Will the Pirates of the Caribbean series ever return? The franchise has been in limbo since the diminishing return of 2017’s Pirates of the Caribbean 5. Rumors have circulated that a total Pirates reboot starring Margot Robbie will take over, or perhaps a sixth entry in the existing timeline. That said, it’s unclear what the future of this franchise holds. Whatever Disney elects to do, they need to remember the roots of what made The Curse of the Black Pearl so great over 20 years ago.
The Pirates Of The Caribbean Sequels Got Bigger, But Never Better
The Stakes Are Higher In The Films After The Curse Of The Black Pearl, But That Doesn’t Mean The Story Was Superior
The saying goes that bigger is always better, but that was not the case with the Pirates of the Caribbean sequels. The subsequent films in the franchise after The Curse of the Black Pearl certainly upped the ante from the first film, but the results were mixed. 2006’s ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Man’s Chest dove deep into the ocean, unearthing the villainous Davy Jones and the monstrous Kraken.
The franchise’s third film, 2007’s At World’s End, went even further, with goddesses, an army of crabs, and a journey to the literal edge of the earth with the power to resurrect fallen characters and an overblown focus on Jack Sparrow’s immortality. Even the heavily maligned fourth and fifth films added zombies, mermaids, ghosts, and Poseidon to the mix.
While I certainly admire the ambition of the Pirates of the Caribbean sequels and enjoy many of the set pieces, especially the sequences on the Flying Dutchman with impeccable CGI for Davy Jones, they leaned too much into fantasy, yielding a muddled product when compared to the original picture. The supernatural elements weren’t the only component that increased in the sequels. The movies focused more on comedy and hijinks, heightening the silly aspect of the characters, especially Jack Sparrow. The later films seemed to lose sight of what made the original flick engaging, honing in on the wrong aspects of that movie.
The First Pirates Of The Caribbean Movie Was Atmospheric, Restrained & Balanced
The Curse Of The Black Pearl Understood How To Weave All These Different Components Together Effectively
The Curse of the Black Pearl demonstrates a unique ability to balance believability and the supernatural expertly. This is accomplished because of restraint, never going too far in one direction. The тιтular curse, which turns the crew of the Black Pearl into unᴅᴇᴀᴅ pirates, is used sparingly throughout the film. The impact is palpable when Elizabeth Swan first encounters Captain Barbosa in his skeleton form. When the band of pirates walks the ocean floor, the moment’s weight is fully realized. Even the final confrontation between Captain Jack and Barbosa is gripping, with brilliant choreography weaving in and out of the moonlight.
The film never overuses these fantastical factors, only adding them to the narrative when needed. I appreciate the creepy atmosphere this creates surrounding the Black Pearl and the pirates that inhabit it, including an exciting reveal of Jack Sparrow garnering the curse in the film’s third act. The following films in the franchise overdo these elements with a cacophony of heightened storytelling. At World’s End is emblematic of this issue, with so much fantasy that the narrative becomes bloated and convoluted.
However, in the original, the beloved pirate captain is the perfect blend of stumbling drunk who is secretly the most intelligent guy in the room and capable of outwitting anyone.
Additionally, The Curse of the Black Pearl manages to incorporate comedy seamlessly as well. Sparrow became a caricature of himself in the later films, which always frustrated me as a viewer. However, in the original, the beloved pirate captain is the perfect blend of stumbling drunk who is secretly the most intelligent guy in the room and capable of outwitting anyone.
Sequences such as the cannibal island in ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Man’s Chest make Jack out to be a Looney Tunes character, but the first film understands his strengths and weaknesses and never plays the character off as a complete cartoon, despite some fantastic sword-fighting scenes in Pirates of the Caribbean 3. The restraint showcased in The Curse of the Black Pearl is the film’s greatest ᴀsset.
Can Pirates Of The Caribbean 6 Bring Back What Made Curse Of The Black Pearl Great?
The Hypothetical Sixth Pirates Film Will Have A Tall Order Bringing The Franchise Back To Its Former Glory
All this to say, can a potential sixth entry in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise return to the roots of what made The Curse of the Black Pearl an instant classic? I don’t envy whoever Disney taps to helm this picture, seeing as they have a tall task attempting to replicate what made the original flick so beloved in the first place. However, I see an avenue towards success. Disney needs to return to basics for the success of a sixth Pirates outing.
While Johnny Depp’s return as Jack Sparrow in Pirates 6 is to be determined, there is a path forward with or without him. The filmmakers should hone in on the elements that succeeded in the first film, simultaneously maximizing the style and substance while never overdoing it in either direction. Additionally, while some fantasy elements should be incorporated, they are an inherent part of the franchise, so keep them to a minimum for a bigger impact when they do occur. If Disney keeps these factors in mind while crafting their next Pirates of the Caribbean film, they could have another smash hit on the horizon.
Pirates of the Caribbean
- Movie(s)
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Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Pirates of the Caribbean: ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Man’s Chest, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Pirates of the Caribbean: ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Men Tell No Tales
- Created by
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Gore Verbinski, Jerry Bruckheimer
- First Film
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Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
- Latest Film
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Pirates of the Caribbean: ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Men Tell No Tales
- Cast
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Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Geoffrey Rush, Sam Claflin, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, Brenton Thwaites, Kaya Scodelario
Summary
A series of fantasy swashbuckler films produced by Disney, featuring the adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow. Known for its supernatural elements, high-seas action, and iconic characters, the franchise has become a cultural phenomenon and was loosely based on the Disney theme park ride of the same name.
