If you think the gold teeth reference in today’s comic is bollocks, do some research. There are interviews with Johnny Depp everywhere and the rumor that he actually went to a dentist to have gold caps put on his teeth is positively true.

SO true, in fact, producer Jerry Bruckheimer asked him to go back and remove a few of them because he felt they were distracting. That Jerry. Always ruining Johnny’s fun.

If you’re reading any of the interviews that discuss the gold teeth, then no doubt you’re also picking up information on how Johnny Deep put such an indelible mark on the character of Jack Sparrow.

Reasoning that pirates were the rock stars of their day, Depp modeled Sparrow after Rolling Stone ax man (and possible candidate for the undead) Keith Richards. He nails it – down to the misplaced center of gravity and slurred speech. Brilliant.

This is what I love about Johnny Depp. He finds the small nuances in characters, explores them and then flaunts them freely. Ichabod Crane in Sleepy Hollow, for example. It was never included in the script that the character was squeamish. That was Depp’s innovation and it added a neat layer to his idiosyncratic behavior. I swear the man is a revelation.

I saw Pirates of the Caribbean on opening night this Wednesday. I don’t know how much I need to go into it because I’m considering writing up a full review.

I will say that I haven’t seen a movie yet this year that is generating the kind of positive word of mouth that this movie has. Everywhere I go, people ask if I’ve seen it. When I tell them I have, they light up. Everyone wants to talk about it. This is the kind of reaction The Matrix Reloaded and Terminator 3 wish wish they had.

It’s kind of an interesting phenomenon to watch. If any of you have seen Mouse Hunt or The Mexican, I don’t think anyone would have picked director Gore Verbinski as the next big thing. But following up The Ring with Pirates cements it for me. This guy has a great visual style. His art direction is top shelf.

I’m seeing The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen tonight with Cami, my sister-in-law and her friend. I’m a little scared to go. I want it to be good, but I’m not holding my breath. I guess if it’s dead on arrival, I’ll just catch a late show of Pirates to restore my faith in movies. This thing is going to be huge – mark my words.