Here -- in a Jerry Bruckheimer-produced high-seas adventure that incorporates roaring cannons, oddball comedy, a love story and more than a touch of the supernatural -- Depp unleashes his theatrical bravado. He's hilarious.

Depp invests this overfed, action-tractioned swashbuckler with a voluptuous wit and spry spontaneity it surely doesn't deserve.

Buries its treasures -- mainly Johnny Depp in eye shadow and dreads as Captain Jack Sparrow -- in briny clichs.

Pirates reminds me of a vintage MGM musical, a movie that is more choreographed than directed, and one that serves up good clean fun of the PG-13 variety.

At, say, 85 minutes, this would have been a jolly little swashbuckler, but at 143 it turns into an unholy trial.

An awkward pirate epic that's jampacked with energy, ambition and spectacular effects.

This movie is far too long.

Isn't so much a pirate movie as it is the idea of a pirate movie.

Certainly, Pirates has its moments. But it's definitely no 'E' ticket.

The booty here is 100 percent fool's gold.

[Johnny] Depp is the single best reason to see Pirates of the Caribbean if you're past the age of 10.

Pirates will enthrall kids and amuse adults. Its only failing is that at 2 hours and 15 minutes, it's about 20 minutes too long.

There is much by way of noise, computer-generated action, big sets and breezy laughs, and practically nothing to intrude on your thought processes afterwards.

Who knew Johnny Depp was a theme park all by himself?

Pirates of the Caribbean is a movie that you ride around in circles for 2 hours and 23 minutes, until at last it brings you back where you began, exhausted and a lot dizzier.

A monotonous, repetitive spectacle of endless shipboard sword fights and pirate ghosts in the moonlight.

An improbably entertaining, if overlong, adventure that brings new meaning to the term 'summer camp.'