Movie Review: Pirates of the Carribean 4 'On Stranger Tides'

Storyline: Captain Jack Sparrow (Depp) crosses paths with a woman from his past (Cruz), and 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 (McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn't know who to fear more: Blackbeard or the woman from his past.

Captain Jack is back... in an all new adventure! This time he's accompanied with the menacing Blackbeard, the beautiful ex-gal Angelica, the mermaids, the zombie pirates and the infamous Captain Barbossa. 

Firstly, allow me to say that I absolutely loved this movie. Sure I definitely missed the ol' pirate crew of the previous three films including Will and Elizabeth, but the fresh start to this movie, the new plot, the new settings and the new characters definitely lived up to the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' expectation.

Wait! Before you proceed, you are now reading the warning that this review contains spoilers.

The movie started off in a very fast-paced motion with the humorous and witty of wittiest Jack Sparrow saving the life of his first mate Mr. Gibbs, which I found out his real name to be Joshamee (in preparation for your future son), with a nice English beard and wig, the only white and curly, before setting up to escape in what he thought was going to bring both of them out of the Crown's way, but only to be fooled by a fool's gold. Of course.

Next thing you know, Jack Sparrow is fighting another Jack Sparrow and is off to another big adventure... this time, on a conquest to find the Fountain of Youth.

Acting-wise: 
Perfect! Absolutely perfect! You can't get a better Jack Sparrow than Johnny himself, Penelope did quite brilliantly opposite Mr. Depp. Geoffrey Rush as Barbossa, may I say was a real stand-out. I think this man just gets better and better in the 'Pirates' franchise; very witty and humorous. Ian McShane did a swell menace as the infamous Blackbeard but what I loved the most was the sheer intensity and dedication of the two newbies of the franchise, Sam Claflin and Astrid Berges-Frisbey. 

25 year old Claflin played the stalwart missionary, Philip Swift while same-aged Berges-Frisbey played the beautiful mermaid, Syrena, who later on captured the heart of the young cleric. The duo did so well, I wanted to cry. They were very much in character and had a special chemistry that not only brought their characters alive, but also allowed their story to be a favourite with the many viewers making us want more of them. 
I believe, wholeheartedly that they had more chemistry than Will and Elizabeth... and that's saying something! Brilliant lad and laddie.

Even though the film was shorter than the previous Pirate films, I still enjoyed the Spanish swashbuckling, the Barbossa humour and of course, the newly introduced mermaids in the time frame of 136/7 mins. As a BIG fan of the franchise, I can happily say that this movie is a two-thumbs up movie for the fans, the non-fans, the about-to-be's and the action/adventure type of movie-watchers.


It's definitely a film not to miss.