Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black pearl
Because the video is meh
Pirates of the Caribbean is one of my favorite movie series, up there with Star Wars and Lord of the Rings, but to me this one movie sticks out even among it's sequels. One of the things I love most about it is the set up to certain events long before it becomes relevant. When it's introduced, it's so subtle that you might think "that's weird" or "interesting detail," but when those set ups resolve, it's quite often impactful. As my favorite example of this, Jack Sparrow, played by Johnny Depp, has a pistol with a single shot and no spare ammo. When it's introduced, you might think it's because he's on a tight budget and can't afford another shot, or perhaps he used them all before and he's saving this last one for an emergency. However, shortly after, he encounters a character by the name of Will Turner, played by Orlando Bloom, where he threatens him with said pistol. However, it becomes clear he's not gonna shoot Will when he says "This shot is not meant for you," implying it has a larger role than just a bullet in the barrel, though we don't understand what that is until the end of the movie and the resolution. Later on, we find out the pistol and the shot were given to Jack by his mutinous first-mate Barbossa, played by Geoffrey Rush, when he stranded him on a small island ten years prior. The gun was intended to be a "mercy," so that Jack may end his own life quickly should he find himself completely and utterly without hope of rescue. However, Jack did manage to escape the island. Here, we can begin to see who the shot might be meant for. We also find out that the gold Barbossa stole was cursed, making him and his crew immortal, but taking away their senses to feel, taste, and enjoy even the smallest pleasantries of life. So, for ten years, he has been searching for all the pieces of gold, and the blood that needs to be repaid to lift the curse so that he and the crew can finally feel again. Finally, in the climax and resolution, we hear a shot ring out, and we see that Jack has used it on Barbossa who, at first, laughs because he thinks Jack has wasted it on a man who can't die. But we see that he did not, for the curse is lifted at that moment and Barbossa dies, his final words being, "I feel... cold." This scene never fails to give me chills, not only because of the rather sad ending, but because you as the audience can see how, even at the start of the movie hours prior, they were setting this all up, and it is impressive to say the least.
So, overall, this movie is great in it's writing, but also in it's action. I've watched it a multitude of times and I never get tired of it, and to me that's a sign of a great movie.