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After the third Pirates of the Caribbean film, At World’s End was released in 2007, it seemed like the end of the journey for Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow. But, no matter how many of his mates may desert him, a good pirate won’t back down—so, with a new director, a new cast, and just a couple of old friends and rivals, the persevering pirate returns (in 3D, no less!) for the franchise’s fourth installment, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.
On returning to London to save his old friend, Gibbs (Kevin McNally), from the gallows, Jack discovers that his old rival, Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), has been hired by King George (Richard Griffiths) to set sail for the legendary fountain of youth. But Barbossa isn’t alone. The Spaniards have already begun their quest, and the notorious pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane) has teamed up with Angelica (Penélope Cruz), a woman from Jack’s past, to recruit a crew of their own.
Forced aboard Blackbeard’s ship, Jack wreaks all kinds of havoc as the crew faces mermaids and races against rivals to be the first to reach the fabled fountain.
Like the three previous installments in the franchise, On Stranger Tides is another high-energy swashbuckling adventure, filled with dizzying chases and cleverly choreographed sword fights—all of which are made both thrilling and comical by Depp’s typically over-the-top antics.
Sure, a fourth film wasn’t exactly necessary. After all, it doesn’t add anything especially new or surprising to the franchise (other than blood-thirsty mermaids and zombie sailors, that is). Fortunately, the story is substantially simpler than the last two installments—but, for the most part, it’s more of the same, with the same action, peril, and a touch of romance. Without Keira Knightley’s Elizabeth Swann and Orlando Bloom’s Will Turner, however, the romance—both the tension between Jack and Angelica and the awkward romance between cleric Philip (Sam Claflin) and mermaid Syrena (Astrid Berges-Frisbey)—falls a bit flat.
Still, what really matters is that Disney has found a sure-fire formula: Johnny Depp + crazy pirate action = great summer fun. And On Stranger Tides has every bit of the swashbuckling action that fans have come to expect from Captain Jack and his band of scallywags. Though the film’s runtime is still a bit bloated, there’s rarely a dull moment. New director Rob Marshall (who took over for Gore Verbinski) keeps the action moving right along, complemented by a perfectly pulse-pounding Hans Zimmer score.
Meanwhile, most of the star-studded cast pales in comparison to Depp, who’s once again in his element as Captain Jack, prancing around the screen like a crazy, dreadlocked, funky chicken. He’s absolutely ridiculous, but he’s also ridiculously entertaining.
Of course, if you’re looking for something new and unexpected from this latest Pirates installment, you’ll be disappointed. But if you’re looking for the same silly sword-fighting action, you’ll find that On Stranger Tides is a treasure chest full of imaginative, adventurous summer fun.
Blu-ray 3D Review:
Though the 3D process may take away some of the film’s crispness, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is still pretty impressive in 3D. And if you pick up the massive five-disc 3D combo release of the film, you’ll get loads of extras to enjoy, too.
The 3D disc doesn’t include any special features, but the two Blu-ray discs more than make up for it. The Blu-ray feature disc includes the basics: an audio commentary, the Disney Second Screen feature (which includes all kinds of interviews and behind-the-scenes footage), and the fun-filled Bloopers of the Caribbean. You’ll also find five quirky LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean animated shorts, which were loosely based on the film.
For even more extras, you can check out the bonus Blu-ray disc, which includes all kinds of behind-the-scenes fun—like Legends of On Stranger Tides, a 36-minute making-of feature that travels to Hawaii, Los Angeles, London, and more with the cast and crew to offer a surprising look inside the movie-making magic (just wait till you see some of these sets!).
You can also dig a little deeper into specific aspects of the film. In Search of the Fountain shows the search for—and the creation of—the legendary fountain of youth. Blackbeard’s ship, the Queen Anne’s Revenge, takes center stage in Last Sail, First Voyage, which follows the voyage that the ship (formerly the Black Pearl) took from Long Beach, California, to Hawaii for restructuring and, finally, filming. And the beautiful but deadly sea creatures take the spotlight for Under the Scene: Bringing Mermaids to Life.
From commentaries and deleted scenes to behind-the-scenes features, the On Stranger Tides Blu-ray release is packed with extras. After watching the film, be sure to check out the bloopers for a little more Pirates fun. And, if you have the time, I recommend the all-encompassing Legends of On Stranger Tides. But, depending on your interests, any of the features are worth a few extra minutes of your time.
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