Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides – Review

8 years ago, Disney decided to test the waters, so to speak, and build a movie based on their popular theme park ride. Two sequels and $2.6 billion in worldwide box office grosses later, we get a fourth chapter in the franchise: PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES (or PotC:OST). Much like its predecessors, the movie’s plot is based on the scavenger hunt type adventure to find the mysterious fountain of youth. In a race against the British and the Spanish crowns, Blackbeard (played by Ian McShane) “enlists” the help of everyone’s favorite pirate, Jack Sparrow, to find it.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR_9A-cUEJc

With sequels, you can’t help but compare the movie to that which came before it. The previous Pirates of the Caribbean movies were ensemble casts. Jack, Barbosa, Will Turner, Elizabeth Swan, Mr. Gibbs, Commodore Norrington, Pintel, Ragetti, Murtogg, Mullroy, Jack the Monkey and Mr. Cotton’s Parrot (just to name a few). As well as a love story that spanned all three movies. With PotC:OST, the only returning main characters are Jack, Barbosa and Mr. Gibbs, leaving a big gap to fill with a new cast of characters. A gap which is supposed to be filled by Blackbeard, Angelica, Philip and Syrena. Right about now, some may be asking who are Philip and Syrena. After seeing the movie, I too am asking that. Where the previous Pirates trilogy had a 3 movie love story, PotC:OST has a love story that doesn’t really deliver. Philip is a clergyman or priest (it’s never really specified) that is somehow on Blackbeard’s ship, kept alive by Angelica’s request. Initially one would assume that he was to be the love interest for her, however the love interest for Philip is Syrena, the mermaid. The problem with this coupling, is that they have about 5-10 minutes of total screen time together. Where the love story of Will and Elizabeth is the foundation of the trilogy, the PotC:OST love story is weak at best.

While there are a number of entertaining and adventurous moments, the movie feels too much like a paint-by-numbers. Much like the first PotC movie, there’s a sword fight in wooded rafters, as well as an escape from royal captivity all within the first twenty minutes . Even the score sounds recycled from the original.

Unlike its earlier films, Rob Marshall directed the film, instead of Gore Verbinski who directed the previous three. While it sucks that Verbinski opted out of directing PotC:OST to direct movie based on a video game, its a bit confusing why they tapped Rob Marshall. A director whose credits are far removed from the action/fantasy genres.

While the movie may have not been terrible, it’s certainly not the best in the PotC series. One has to hope that the 5th and 6th installments in the PotC somehow expand or payoff what may or may not have been set as a storytelling foundation. I’d recommend it, but wait for a cheap matinee priced ticket.