Films: Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
/Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest /Pirates of the Caribbean: At
World's End / Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Year: 2003, 2006, 2007, 2011
2003 saw the release of Walt Disney's first Pirates of the Caribbean film, Curse of the Black Pearl, which was phenomenally popular with audiences worldwide. Though it is the wonderful performance of Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow that really marks the film apart from other recent fantasy adventures, Geoffrey Rush is still without a doubt a major contributor to the film's success. Dressed in full pirate get-up, with a monkey rather than a parrot side-kick, Barbossa is a heartless beast of a man who has mutinied his original captain and taken charge of the motley crew of the Black Pearl. His no-nonsense approach to leadership and his success in acts of piracy have made him into a respected and fitting leader of the pirate gang, and also make him a most likable on-screen bad guy.
Pirates of the Caribbean was admittedly the first film I saw Geoffrey Rush in, but though I remember liking him (me being a villain afficiando in general), he didn't make the impact on me that he later would when I saw him in Elizabeth. He makes a steady and fun performance in what is generally a piece of pure escapist entertainment, and as cruel and callous a creature as his Captain is, one can't help but feel a little sorry to see him go at the end of the film as Jack Sparrow sends a bullet through his heart.
But we were soon to learn that there was more to Barbossa than this. Following his cameo in the second Pirates movie, Dead Man's Chest, Geoffrey Rush resumed the role in the third installment of the franchise, At World's End. Resurrected from the dead, and free of the curse which made him so unfeeling and heartless in the original film, Barbossa now presented us with what some might conject are his true colours, and gave the audience the impression of a man who was brave, daring, thoroughly likable and even caring. He assumed the role not only of Captain, but of a responsible leader, and became something of a mentor to Elizabeth Swann, with whom he had clearly formed a strong bond. His mortality gave him back his humanity, and he was one of the strongest characters in the film, stealing the show and making the movie his own. We owe Geoffrey a bout of thanks for returning to the role and bringing his magic back to the saga!
The ending of the third Pirates movie was left wide open, with Barbossa once again in possession of the Black Pearl, whilst Jack Sparrow was left stranded without a ship and has since led to the production of a further sequel, "On Stranger Tides", which sees the duo reunited as they trace the elusive Fountain of Youth.
Screen Caps:
-Curse of the Black Pearl
-Dead Man's Chest
-At World's End
NB: You are free to take any of the screen captures for your own use, but if you intend to use them online, can you please give me some credit, and also let me know where they're going? Capturing and editing these images takes time, after all. ^_^ Thank you in advance.
Manips
A bit of "Barbossabeth" fun - because you never know... ;) A manip I made in Photoshop.
Cartoon Barbossa
A cartoon version of Barbossa appears in the children's range of Pirates of the Caribbean story and colouring books. Below is one example of him. He's not the best caricature in my opinion, but still pretty cool.
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