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Privateer, not pirate!

Pirates of the Caribbean Series
The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Dead Man’s Chest (2006)
At World’s End (2007)
On Stranger Tides (2011)


The lure for control, power and money drove many shady characters to the 4 corners of the world. Of course, by this time, the time frame upon which this film is set, Man has already realised and accepted the Earth to be a sphere.

The brave Portuguese seamen paved the way to find sea routes to reach the East when the Islamic Empires controlled land routes. The early Portuguese seafarers had no plans to conquer land. All they wanted was to control ports and prosper via tax collection.

The brutal Spanish sailors tried to outdo their Iberian Lusophone neighbours by finding an alternative sea route to the East. What they discovered instead were Indians who were ‘red-skinned’ and mountains of precious metals. The hospitality of their hosts was returned with barrage of artillery and small pox. Pretty soon, scores of ships were plying the Atlantic Ocean with pillage of Aztec gold other precious metals. 

Not to be outdone, the new kids of block, the British, got their royal seal to rob the Spanish of their spoils. Many pirates, who by now became known as privateers, became legitimate representatives of the King of England to officially rob of any ship not flying the Union Jack. This business drew men who had a brush with law, with disreputable morals and diseases to join the fracas.

This, combined with the mysterious myths of the seas, like the ‘Legend of the Flying Dutchman’, the Bermuda triangle, mermaids and the elusive Fountain of Youth are the basis of this high grossing franchise. Flushed with the marvel of modern cinematography, exotic locales, either a gay-like mannerism or drunken gait of Johnny Depp with witty double meaning scripts, it is an interesting watch.

It tells of a time of man's civilisation when babary ruled, marauding was legitimate and the sword was mightier than any pen. History was written in blood. 

Some memorable lines were...
“If the world is so cruel, what makes you think that after-life would be any different” Davy Jones.
“It is not much of the destination, it is the journey, you see”
Agreeing to a  suggestion by a preacher on an idea, Jack Sparrow says, “I rather go with the missionary position!”

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