The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists
Pirates sail back onto the big screen this week as Aardman Animations introduce The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists.
Audiences have been treated to some great movies and characters over the years and this new movie looks set to add to that tradition.
So to celebrate the release of the movie we take a look at some of the best pirate movies.
- Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
You can't talk about pirate movies without discussing Pirates of the Caribbean and how Curse of the Black pearl re-invigorated this genre.
Three movie films have followed of course but it is the first film, which was released back in 2003, that remains the best.
This was a rousing swashbuckler that had everything from high-sea action to comedy to romance - seriously there is nothing you can't like about this movie.
The film also gave birth to a cinematic icon in the form of Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow - he went on to pick up a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his performance.
While Curse of the Black Pearl was the least successful of the four movies at the box office it paved the way for the billion dollar franchise that followed.
- Hook
Hook remains one of the scariest characters in children's literature and this role shows off Hoffman as his over the top best.
Released back in 1991 Hook was a re-telling of Peter Pan that followed a grown up Peter returning to Neverland after his children are kidnapped.
It was also a first rate performance from Hoffman as Hook, his scenes with Robin Williams really were the best.
Hoffman's Hook was charming and dangerous all at the same time as he tries to turn son against father.
Hook is a rip-roaring ride that showed the importance of families and how we should never gown up too quickly.
- Captain Blood
Errol Flynn was best known for his swash-buckling roles and he took on the part of Peter Bloods in Captain Blood back in 1935.
Olivia de Havilland and Basil Rathbone were also on the cast list while Michael Curtiz was in the director's chair.
This was a movie that really established Flynn as a cinematic hero and this role really kicked off the actor's career.
The movie itself went on to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars and it is still regarded as one of the finest films in this genre.
- The Black Swan
The thirties and forties saw the pirate genre of film really dominate the big screen and The Black Swan is another movie held in high regard.
Released back in 1942 the movie saw Tyrone Power team up with Maureen O'Hara on the high seas.
A great script and performances along with some beautiful cinematography has seen this movie really stand the test of time.
- The Goonies
The Goonies is not entirely a pirate movie but it's One Eyed Willie and his hidden treasure that is the driving force behind this movie.
The Goonies remains one of the best kids movies of all time and if you haven't seen it then you really should check it out.
This movie is charming and fun from start to finish and it delivers a powerful message of the strength of family and friendship and what lengths we will go to protect those we care about most.
The Goonies remains one of the best movies in it's genre and is perhaps more charming a watch today as it has the innocence that is missing in modern day kids movies.
- The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists
In The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists, Hugh Grant stars in his first animated role as the luxuriantly bearded Pirate Captain - a boundlessly enthusiastic, if somewhat less-than-successful, terror of the High Seas.
With a rag-tag crew at his side (Martin Freeman, Brendan Gleeson, Russell Tovey, and Ashley Jensen), and seemingly blind to the impossible odds stacked against him, the Captain has one dream: to beat his bitter rivals Black Bellamy (Jeremy Piven) and Cutlass Liz (Salma Hayek) to the much coveted Pirate Of The Year Award.
It's a quest that takes our heroes from the shores of exotic Blood Island to the foggy streets of Victorian London.
Along the way they do battle with the pirate-hating Queen Victoria (Imelda Staunton) and team up with a young Charles Darwin (David Tennant), but never lose sight of what a pirate loves best: adventure!
The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists is out now
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw