Truth On Cinema

Is there anyone in America who did not lower their expectations for this film as soon as it was released? Or at least as soon as mermaids were so prevalent in the trailers? You four people are in for some disappointment. But honestly, after Pirates of the Caribbean: Save Us, Giant Crab Lady (also known as At World’s End), I’m not sure there was really that much room to get worse. And On Stranger Tides does a manageable job of at least staying on course.

If you ever found yourself thinking “wow, Pirates is a bit dark for a Disney flick…” then this installment of the franchise will do wonders for you. Everyone seems to have cleaned up: even Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp continues to rock this roll) seems less edgy and cuddlier—a word which spell check both assures and insists is a word. Barbosa is now a privateer, something history nerds like me will enjoy, and let’s face it; Blackbeard is no Davey Jones. And why is there a random—but thankfully sincere and less stereotypical—missionary on the ship? This franchise is starting to feel like it has been strapped to a cannon and thrown overboard. But it’s still got a little bit of air in its lungs.

The Captain begins his journey in London, where he makes yet another daringly lucky escape from British custody only to discover that his name is being used by another pirate to gather a crew. Several necessary motivations and cameos later, we find Captain Jack on the Queen Anne’s Revenge with Penelope Cruz, being chased by the competing Spanish and British factions. Somewhere along the line, the project must have passed hands from a storyteller to a fan of stories. The build-up of Blackbeard and his mythology is lackluster, especially in comparison to the complexity of the previous films, but there has been painstaking effort to make this film fit into the scope of history, making statements about modernization in a manner similar to the third installment.

Also, there are mermaids and the fountain of youth. Apparently they are interrelated. Mostly they serve as glue to bind all of the gimmicks together. This film is by no means bad. It’s an interesting enough story, but lacks the excitement and originality of the previous three films, of which the first remains the stand-out. It’s a fun little voyage, but it’s more like a wholesome family cruise than the epic journey we’d like.

For enjoyable knitting together more excuses to take our money (and setting up yet more sequels), I give Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides a 7 out of 10.

Written by: Steven Jones

Disney has released a poster for its upcoming ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ to be released this summer.

You have to ask yourself one question: what is he looking at?

Here is the official synopsis:

“Johnny Depp returns to his iconic role of Captain Jack Sparrow in an action-packed tale of truth, betrayal, youth and demise. When Jack crosses paths with a woman from his past (Penelope Cruz), he’s not sure if it’s love—or if she’s a ruthless con artist who’s using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn’t know who to fear more: Blackboard or the woman from his past.”

What do you think of the poster?