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Pirates of the Caribbean - On Stranger Tides

Argghhh it be another swashbuckling adventure with the classic Jack Sparrow, ahem sorry, Captain Jack Sparrow and this time minus the bumbling pirate wannabes Will and Elizabeth. As Jack Sparrow(Johnny Depp) journeys fourth on another adventure, this time to find the fountain of youth he comes face to face with the legendary and fearsome pirate, Captain Blackbeard(Ian Mcshane) and his saucy minx of a daughter Angelica(Penelope Cruz). Not only Jack and Blackbeard are after eternal youth but also on the same trail is Jack's former first mates, Gibbs(Kevin Mcnally) and the treacherous Captain Barbosa(Geoffrey Rush) who is now working for king and country after losing the pearl when facing Blackbeard. Each group make their way to find eternal youth in a daring race with double crossing and deceiving writhe in the air, the fourth installment really does have the feel of a true pirate tale, adding the usual fantasy elements of supernatural ideas of everlasting life, mermaids and of course trasure.

As always it feels as if Johnny Depp was born to play the maverick and unhinged Captain Jack sparrow and as its the fourth in the franchise luckily his insane charm still is essentially what pulls the crowd to the seven seas. Another returning cast member, Captain Barbosa(Geofferey Rush) is also on good form as the corrupt and shallow former captain of the Black Pearl, this time bitter at the loss of his ship seems to share an unspoken truce with Jack and as such the scenes with the two are greatly entertaining. Gibbs(Kevin Mcnally) is back as usual in more a small part and side character which works well, while a new character in the shape of Peneope Cruz as Angelica acts as a verbal sparring partner for Jack and potential romantic sub plot. As for  the other characters the main standing ovation goes to Ian Mcshane and his portrayal of the villainous Blackbeard, who isnt as evil as stated more of a cold hearted bastard to be fair but he plays it damn well.

Yes, i know its the fourth in the series and the whole idea could be seen as getting stale but alas matey, you'll be forgetting one key feature of the film, he's Captain Jack Sparrow. Though the story of dangerous pirates on the seven seas and each one being more evil then the previous one, has the sensation of fading away the point of the series, it still shows that Jack Sparrow can hold a film by himself without Will and Elizabeth and there silly romantic love story. So fair enough this actual trip out to sea isn't perfect but it's an adventure of pirates and their mischievous attempts to find treasure, without all the weird scenarios of family ties, being turned into a boat and creating a pirate league as in 'Dead Man's Chest' and 'At Worlds End' (come to think off it i'd rather forget the silly story of the Mermaid and the clergyman...) This is an adventure story plain and simple which relates more to the 'Curse of the Black Pearl' which in essence is a good thing and lets be fair it's likely theres going to be more of Captain Jack Sparrow's tale surfacing on the horizon and as long as it continues to in the footsteps of the first film, i wont mind seeing more of the swashbuckling tales Disney have to offer.

7  /  10

FIN.

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