Best Character in the Pirates of the Caribbean Movies

Of course, when someone mentions the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, the first image that probably comes to mind is Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow. The second may be Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann or Orlando Bloom as Will Turner. But in my humble opinion, the best character in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies is none other than Captain Barbossa.

Captain Jack Sparrow's former mutinous first mate is the perfect villain, the perfect pirate. Sure, he may be undead for much of his first appearance in the Curse of the Black Pearl, but that only adds to his mystique. With an undead monkey on his shoulder and a voice that would make even the most courageous cringe, Captain Barbossa cuts an imposing figure. And when he chomps down on that apple - an ode to Disney's Snow White - well, he might just scare the hell out of you.

Captain Barbossa is funny, he's intelligent, and he wants what everyone wants - treasure and to be free of any and all curses. With a few memorable lines, Captain Barbossa quickly became a favorite character among many movie-goers worldwide.

In the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, Captain Barbossa is played by the brilliant actor Geoffrey Rush, whose turn as the Marquis de Sade in Quills is one of my favorite film portrayals ever. Geoffrey Rush hails from Australia and has appeared in over three dozen films.

You know a villain is magnificently written and performed when you find yourself rooting for him to win. And more than a few can say that they hoped Captain Barbossa would escape the clutches of the British Royal Navy. Some, such as myself, even hoped Barbossa would retain possession of the Black Pearl. Damned or not, Barbossa was one hell of a pirate captain.