Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Dir: Rob Marshall Cast: Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Ian McShane, Geoffrey Rush

Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - Movie review

Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
U/A; Drama/Comedy/Action
Dir: Rob Marshall
Cast: Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Ian McShane, Geoffrey Rush
Rating: **1/2

We might hate pirates in real life, but there is no escaping the fact that you love Jack Sparrow.

Sure, he might seem the effeminate type but he's the rascal other pirates hate and yet, look up to. He's the man's man and the ladies' man - and that's a rare combination. Kids love his swashbuckling antics and well, the rest of us geeks just choose to gawk at the scenery while pretending Sparrow/Depp's a part of the whole.

Of course, if it wasn't for Johnny's A-List credentials and prowess at the box-office, this franchise might never have taken off.

And so, we return to watch another yarn set on the high seas. Jack has lost his crew, his ship the Black Pearl and is tricked into being caught and brought to King George.

Barbossa (Rush) has switched sides and is now a privateer in the King's service. While the king wants directions to the Fountain of Youth, Barbossa has an old score to settle.

Sparrow finds his way out and runs into old flame, Angelica (Cruz). She has been impersonating him and he's not too happy about it.

After a brief swordplay, the two escape to safety after being pursued by Brit soldiers. Jack soon finds himself on the ship of the most dreaded pirate - Blackbeard (McShane).

As it later turns out, Angelica is Blackbeard's daughter and since Sparrow last met her has gained in cunning. They set out in search of the Fountain and so the story goes on...

Cruz appears to have jumped straight off the sets of Bandidas (how we miss Salma Hayek!) and makes a fitting partner-in-crime to Depp's Sparrow.

But what really catches your eye are the mermaids. They're bewitchingly beautiful and you just can't take your eyes off them. The sets and costuming, as usual, leave nothing to imagination.

The first half builds up a tempo it cannot sustain and the second half shows signs of fatigue. The ending has an Indiana Jones hangover and you cannot but feel like you've been shortchanged.

Recommended only in Imax 3-D (2D, otherwise), this flick is for Depp fans only. Fans of the franchise will find the earlier three far stronger instalments.