Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides: three and a half stars
Rated: PG-13 for violence and mature subject matter
I’ve been a fan of the Pirates movies since the beginning. There’s something so appealing about sailing off into the sunset in the search of buried treasure. Perhaps it’s just the kid in me speaking, but being a pirate is high on my priority list of things to do before I die.
Having said that, this fourth instalment in the franchise is one of my favourites. Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is back, swashbuckling and wisecracking his way to the legendary Fountain of Youth. On his way he meets a former love interest Angelica Malon (Penélope Cruz) who purports to be the daughter of the infamous pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane). The Fountain is purely a MacGuffin here; it has very little relevance to the story. Its purpose is to act as a destination; the journey there is what the movie is all about.
I’ve read many other reviews on this film, most of which trash the movie and the actors in it. Some have gone so far as to say that Depp has grown tired of his hero and plays the character as somewhat of a shadow of his former self. I disagree. Depp is on top of the movie here. He brings Sparrow to drunken life as only he can, with the wit and humour we have all come to expect. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Johnny Depp is one of the most amazing talents working in Hollywood today. No one else gets into their roles to the depth and breadth that Depp manages.
On a final note, if you’ve seen and enjoyed the other Pirate films and are leery of seeing this latest instalment for fear it might disappoint, don’t fret: On Stranger Tides is a pleasure to watch. It made me want to rush down to Disneyland and ride the ride one more time. What can I say? It’s a pirate’s life for me. Savvy?
‘Til next time! See you at the movies.
