Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy [Blu-ray]

The adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies has given Disney their biggest hits of the decade. And while neither of the two sequels have come close to matching the first, there’s plenty for the family to enjoy across the trilogy of films here.

The first film is a belter. Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse Of The Black Pearl introduces us to Sparrow for the first time (earning Johnny Depp an Oscar nomination), as well as the talented cast of supporting characters. The fun though, is when either Depp or Geoffrey Rush as Captain Barbossa are on the screen. Throw in lots of witty banter, some superb action sequences and a running time that doesn’t outstay its welcome, and you have a modern day blockbuster classic.

The sequels, Pirates of the Caribbean: The film opens with the interrupted wedding of Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley), both of whom are arrested for aiding in the escape of Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) in the first film. Their freedom can only be obtained by getting Captain Jack's compass, which is linked to a key that's linked to a chest belonging to Davy Jones, an undead pirate with a tentacle face and in possession of a lot of people's souls. Bill Nighy (Love, Actually) weighs in as Davy Jones and Stellan Skarsgård appears as Will's undead father. Dead Man’s Chest does boast some outstanding effects work.

Not as much as Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End though, which does compensate by having the best high definition transfer of the lot, the action, largely revolving around a pirate alliance against the ruthless East India Trading Company. Through it all, the plucky cast (Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom, Geoffrey Rush) are buffeted by battle, maelstroms, betrayal, treachery, a ferocious Caribbean weather goddess, and that gnarly voyage back from the world's end--but with their wit intact. In the opening scenes, the viewer sees that death has not been kind to Sparrow--but that's not to say he hasn't found endless ways to amuse himself, cavorting with dozens of hallucinated versions of himself on the deck of the Black Pearl. But Sparrow is needed in this world, so a daring rescue brings him back. The film has a stunning battle sequence near the end, but does ask that you stick with it through choppy waters.

***DISCS ARE BRAND-NEW & SEALED***

• Actors: Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom
• Directors: Gore Verbinski
• Format: Blu-ray, PAL, Box set
• Language English
• Subtitles: English, Italian, German
• Number of discs: 6
• Classification: 12 yrs 
• Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment 
• Run Time: 444 minutes