Sometimes, it is better to leave things to the imagination. When we last saw Captain Jack Sparrow, he was in his little dingy with compass, map, and a bottle of alcohol setting off to search for the Fountain of Youth. For me, this was a perfect way to end the series. Jack sets off on other adventures bringing the three films to a nice wrap up, but left the character and adventures of one Captain Jack Sparrow alive and open to the imagination. Hollywood, however, hates those kinds of endings, especially when their is more money to be made. Thus, On Stranger Tides was released this year.
Without spoiling the film, the storyline of the film is simple, Jack is out to find the Fountain of Youth. He has some competition in Barbossa, who is working for the English, the Spanish, a new female lead Angelica, and the newly introduced pirate Blackbeard. As in the other pirate films, adventures ensue and characters turn on each other frequently.
So how was the film. Disappointing in my opinion for several reasons. First, off, I love the character of Captain Jack Sparrow and I love Johnny Depp, yet, this time around I felt as if Depp was just "going through the motions" as Sparrow. I was not as excited or intrigued by the character this go around. Though entertaining in spots, the character of Captain Jack just seemed a bit stale this time. Maybe the character has run its course?
Secondly, I loved the new character of Blackbeard. He had so much potential and started off as an intimidating force within the film. Then, at the end of the film, his dominance seemed to fizzle. He did not compare to villains from the previous films and that majorly disappointed me.
Then there were the new faces. We had Angelica played by Penelope Cruz, Swift the missionary, and Syrena the mermaid to name just a few. I came to care about NONE of these characters. Cruz just seemed like a replacement for Knightley and the love relationship between Swift and the mermaid seemed to just be thrown in to replace the relationship of Knightley and Bloom from the first trilogy. I am not the biggest fan of Orlando Bloom, simply because I feel he plays the SAME character in every film he is in, but I found myself MISSING him and Knightley in this fourth installment. I could not find the connection with the new characters that I did with the previous films.
Finally, there was the ending. I will not give anything away if you have not seen the film, but it seemed like a cross between Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. I had seen this sort of ending before and I expected MUCH more from a Pirates film.
Positives? The mermaids! This was the one sequence that I feel saved the film for me. These new creatures kicked some booty and I am pleased with how the film represented their mythology!
Overall, going into the movie I had high expectations. Those expectations were simply not met. If you look at On Stranger Tides as a fun action film experience, then it delivers somewhat. If you go in expecting Jack to take you to another level, you may leave somewhat disappointed.
Rumor has it this could be the beginning of a NEW trilogy. I am not so sure about that. If Bruckheimer and company want to go this route...PLEASE give us more of the Captain Jack Sparrow we deserve and we love. As Jack states in the film, "It's the pirate life for me!" I want to see him EXPERIENCE that life...to the fullest!
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