Captain Jack is Back in Another Swashbuckling Adventure!
Johnny Depp is back as my favorite pirate, Captain Jack Sparrow, in the fourth installment of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. I know a lot of people would rather that they stopped making more sequels after the third movie, but why? Everyone old and young loves the Pirates movies. And even though the third movie wasn’t the critics’ favorite, it still made almost a billion dollars worldwide. So if the franchise is making money, the audience keeps turning out and Johnny loves playing the character…I say why jump ship now? Why not make them last. I can see it now…Pirates of the Caribbean 28: Captain Jack Goes to the Pirate Home.
Also, I was looking forward to see Johnny and Penelope Cruz back together again. I loved them both in 2001’s Blow. They had great chemistry together back then, and I was not disappointed this time either. I was also excited to see what Penelope would bring to the film. Being the first major female pirate, even I have to admit Penelope Cruz is hot as a Spanish Pirate. Zombies, Vampire Mermaids and the Fountain of Youth…this all sounds like a great adventure too good to be true. Hold on to your sails, here we go!
On Stranger Tides was produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, directed by Rob Marshall and written by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio. It’s presented in Disney Digital 3D and Imax 3D. I got to see the movie in 3D and let me save you a few dollars…the three-dimensional qualities weren’t really that impressive. But I have to say this. This is my favorite Pirates yet. I’m sure a lot of people won’t agree with me, but I don’t care. I thought it was classic Jack Sparrow. He was fun, witty and adventurous and that is what I was hoping for all along. Can you tell I’m a huge Johnny Depp fan? I didn’t think so. I think Jack (Depp) did a great job without Will (Bloom) and Elizabeth (Knightley). He proved that the character could survive without the two other scallywags.
So this time around, Jack Sparrow is searching for the Fountain of Youth when he finds himself aboard Queen Anne’s Revenge. This ship just so happens to belong to Blackbeard (Ian McShane). Blackbeard’s daughter, Angelica (Penelope Cruz), is also aboard this very same ship. Simply put, Penelope’s character is an ex-lover that Jack had jilted. Blackbeard and his daughter are in search of the Fountain of Youth too. Aren’t we all? Jack is not really sure if Angelica is in love with him, or if she is just a ruthless con artist using him to find the Fountain. And it seems that Barbossa is also on the same quest for the treasure, or is he?
As part of the journey to the Fountain of Youth, there is a ritual that needs to be followed and certain items that need to be collected. I don’t want to give away too much, but one of the items they need is a tear from a mermaid. I have to tell you the mermaid scene was one of my favorite parts of the movie. They are beautiful as they draw the men in and ravenous as they turn into bloodsucking vampires. It’s so cool!
So if you are ready for an adventure, get your fantasy on and just have a good time spending a few hours with Captain Jack, Blackbeard, Barbossa and the rest of the cast. Let yourself carelessly sail away in the search for the Fountain of Youth! And REMEMBER…stay until the credits are over. There is still more to see! SO DRINK UP ME HEARTIES! YO HO! A PIRATES LIFE!
I’m really looking forward to seeing this!
I love this review. I never saw the 2nd or third movies, but I want to go see this one!
Good Review. I would like to go see this movie problem will be finding the time.
i want aaron neuwirth!
Alright…here’s my take on the feature since I was there Tuesday night with Mary.
I liked it for what it was. It’s a PIRATES movie.
However, with that being said here’s my take.
Maybe I am in the minority here, but I liked PIRATES 2 & 3 even though most fans dismissed them.
I loved the crazy and bold risks they took with PIRATES 2. It made it feel fresh. And I loved the dark tone, the epic 30 minute battle and the heartbreaking ending of the third film.
BUT this one…for lack of a better term…just played it S-A-F-E. There were no risks, nothing never seen before, etc… And disappointingly, there was a pregnant Penelope Cruz. Come on 🙁 I love her, but her role was limited because of that.
BUT…I still do agree..this is a MUST-SEE. People can sip the 3-D though. I don;t think it added too much.
When I get my thoughts up, the words “must see” wont be in them, but I do agree with Brian about the sequels, I like 2 the best. It’s a shame that I was looking forward to this Pirates. 🙁
I saw this yesterday at an early showing. This franchise never really did much for me. I thought the first one was decent, and after that they just got mind-numbingly boring for me. I thought On Stranger Tides was better than 2 and 3, but not as good as the first film. Either way, Depp is always brilliant in this role and I agree with you about him doing quite well without Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley. I also agree about the mermaid scene (was great!), but let’s not mislead the masses. They were not vampire mermaids. They have fangs, sure, but so do cats and that doesn’t make them vampires.
You missed it Gregg. As of yesterday, scientists are now classifying both cats and mermaids as vampires.
I’m confused now. I thought cats were ninjas.
Doesn’t have an overly complicated story line?
Those first two sequels are more involved than the other movie we’ve been talking about recently – The Usual Suspects, and yet I love the firs three pirates movies, because of there sense of imagination and fun. I rewatched them in the days before this new movie, and hold the same feelings towards them.
I didn’t get that from this movie. All I got was bored and as much as I can appreciate anyone’s opinion about a film, accusations don’t go very far with me.
A movie review is just a matter of opinion and must be taken with a grain of salt. So, that being said, as the fourth installment, I hardly think anyone expects a masterpiece, but they do expect entertainment and that seems in high supply here. Whether you adore Johnny or not, it’s not about him alone, it’s about the movie as a whole and it seems to do it’s job. You laugh, you go on an adventure and it makes you feel good.
If you go to a movie expecting perfection, then why even go? Everyone will say they loved it or they hated it and thank goodness for differences of opinion.
Penelope Cruz was pregnant during filming?