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patentdragon
reaches its penultimate chapter - and as the story says "...the sky is full of gods."
Review: Pirates Of The Carribean - On Stranger Tides... Okay, Blockbuster Season continues, and Jack is back...
Hmmm.
Okay, that was fun, but is that all? Maybe we've been spoiled rotten with the spectacle of the third movie, 'cause there's scarce little to go "Ooooooh!" about as the "Pirates" franchise steps beyond its original trilogy, leaving Keira and Orlando far behind. The opening act in London has a cool escape, and chase scene, plus a nice exchange between Jack and his dad (Keith Richards again) - "Does this face look like it's been to the Fountain Of Youth...?" - but then...
Penelope Cruz gets her (own) pirate gear on as things get nautical again, but even that's not the draw it could have been. Dammit, even the 3D doesn't quite cut it - is this another movie converted to 3D, rather than filmed specifically for it? If so, that is definitely going to be a problem in the future. 2D movies converted to 3D just don't have the "zing" of Avatar.
The performances are fine - Johnny Depp shines yet again, in his finest role; Penelope Cruz is fiesty and lacking Knightley's demure side (good); Ian McShane is a great Blackbeard, and hooray for Geoffrey Rush reprising the Barbossa role and managing to add to it admirably. The man is a treasure - can't wait for him as the voice of Tomar-Re in Green Lantern.
Cinema-goers will enjoy this movie if they've never seen any of the others - it manages to stand alone well enough - but if you're more versed in Pirates lore, you'll leave wanting more. A final teaser suggests more is to come, and word has it a fifth movie has already been written... and to be honest, it could do with being a sight better than this. Entertaining, but... well, what else can you say? Could have been better.
The Bottom Line... Enjoyable, but lacking in spectacle. Not exactly sparking the excitement that came in anticipation of "Dead Man's Chest" and "At World's End"... Score: 7/10
Next up... X-Men First Class (June 1st)!
