Okay, I lied. 1) I said that the next review would be Thor, and 2) I said that I would not settle for another Pirates movie. Even though I said Thor would be next, I felt that while Pirates was still fresh in my head, I should review it first. Pirates 4 was certainly unexpected, and we all thought that we'd seen the last of Captain Jack Sparrow after the third film back in 2007. We were wrong, and, surprisingly, Pirates 4 delivers one of the most exhilarating adventures in years, and is miles better than the second and third films.
On Stranger Tides is a refresh to the Pirates film series. Gone are the boring Will Turner and Elizabeth Swan, and they are replaced with new blood in the form of Sparrow's old flame, Angelica, and her father, the dreaded Blackbeard. The story in Pirates 4 is certainly not it's strong point, but when it came down to it, I didn't care. The film begins with Jack having escaped the hands of British soldiers, and he's in search of a crew. He meets up with Angelica, and boards the Queen Anne's Revenge, Blackbeard's cursed ship. This begins a long race to reach the Fountain of Youth, with Captain Barbossa and his soldiers in hot pursuit. Along the way, they all encounter zombies, mermaids, and a cast of new and familiar faces. The plot is simple, and easy for anyone to follow. It's quite predictable, but that doesn't really take away from the film, as you'll find out in a bit.
Pirates 4 is certainly not breaking any boundaries, but the film is just pure fun. Johnny Depp is once again a laugh riot as Jack Sparrow, and Penelope Cruz and Ian McShane do a good job as Angelica and Blackbeard, respectively. It was nice not having the non-pirate duo of Will and Elizabeth in these films, since their boring relationship never really pushed the plot anywhere at all. Thankfully that's gone, and replaced with a love story between a crew member of Anne's Revenge, and a mysterious mermaid. Like I said, the movie is a lot of fun, and their are some very cool action scenes, including one in particular, when the crew has to capture a mermaid, which is thrilling and unexpected.
The special effects are good, and the ships and locales in Pirates 4 look better than ever. Queen Anne's Revenge comes alive at the wave of Blackbeard's hands, and the last battle at the Fountain of Youth is a sight to behold. Of course, Jack Sparrow's catchy pirate tunes are back, and whenever you hear the first notes of "He's a Pirate", you know you're in for a treat.
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is a bold step forward in the franchise, boasting a grand scale adventure that must be seen.
Overall: 4.0/5.0
NEXT REVIEW: THOR
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