ROUND 1: BIG BREAK BATTLE
ORLANDO: Orlando Bloom was little more than an obscure blur on the movie scene before landing the role of blonde-haired, blue-eyed Legolas Greenleaf in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Sadly, Bloom is more likely to be remembered as the pretty boy-elf, before an archer.
JOHNNY: After a run-in with television and a few acting gigs in the 1980s, Johnny Depp carved his existence into Hollywood as an actor of “shear” talent, playing Edward Scissorhands. Bizarre, yes. Scary, maybe. However, it was a role Johnny was born to play and he did it oh-so-well.
Orlando may have got his big break in a great story, but his debut is shattered by JD’s Scissorhands.
SCORE: ORLANDO – 0
JOHNNY – 1
ROUND 2: WILL THE REAL PIRATE PLEASE STAND UP?
ORLANDO: Pirates of the Caribbean was an unexpected hit of 2003, though there was only one real pirate on screen. On one hand, Orlando plays Will Turner, a blacksmith-turned-scallywag who joins forces with Johnny Depp’s character to save the governor’s daughter. Sure, it’s noble and all, but he’s got nothing on Captain Jack Sparrow.
JOHNNY: For Johnny’s character, he went so far as to have his teeth capped with gold and his beard braided. His portrayal of the swashbuckling Jack Sparrow was so good that it even earned him a much-deserved Oscar nod for Best Actor.
Gold teeth. Gold Oscar. Need I say more?
SCORE: ORLANDO – 0
JOHNNY – 2
ROUND 3: THE CURSE OF THE FANGIRL
ORLANDO: His boyish good looks have given Orlando, or Orli as his female fans like to call him, a strong fandom all his own. They absolutely adore him, his movies and everything connected to him, save perhaps his ex Kate Bosworth. Play nicely, girls.
JOHNNY: Johnny “hot again” Depp’s fans are equally as obsessive as their Orlando counterparts. His charm makes the ladies swoon and his intelligence transcends beyond his craft.
Ultimately, the Orli fangirls are so hard-core that they would do anything to defend their 28-year-old teen idol.
SCORE: ORLANDO – 1
JOHNNY – 2
ROUND 4: HONOUR ROLE
ORLANDO: A glance at Orlando Bloom’s filmography looks more like a history book, than a résumé. It’s not because his movies are boring, but because most of his roles are in epic war pictures.
JOHNNY: On the contrary, Depp picks and chooses his roles carefully. Unlike most stars, Johnny does his research. He chooses parts that present a challenge, adding to his versatility in films that are sometimes whimsical, sometimes surreal, but every bit as entertaining.
Depp has more depth as an actor. Orlando, if you were waiting for the opportune moment, that was it.
SCORE: ORLANDO – 1
JOHNNY – 3
ROUND 5: SWEET SUCCESS
ORLANDO: Orli’s most recent movie, Kingdom of Heaven, was expected to topple the box office on opening weekend. Instead, it brought in just over $20 million. Not surprisingly when you consider that people may be tired of seeing Bloom in the same heroic role time and time again.
JOHNNY: Johnny Depp is an actor with longevity and his experience upstages that of Orlando Bloom’s. He is sure not to disappoint in yet another starring role with director Tim Burton as the wacky Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Like Gobstoppers, Johnny Depp’s career is everlasting. Johnny scores!
SCORE: ORLANDO – 1
JOHNNY – 4
ROUND UP: This is the day that Orlando Bloom will always remember as the day that he almost beat Johnny Depp. Johnny is simply more experienced and with time, I’m certain Orlando will grow into an actor of the same calibre. Until then, Captain Jack Sparrow said, “The only rules that really matter are these: what a man can do and what a man can’t do.” Johnny Depp can act and that’s not to say Orlando Bloom can’t. Johnny Depp is just better at it.
WEBLINKS:
www.theofficialorlandobloomsite.com
www.depp.ca