... meh.

It was a lot of fun. It doesn't have a stand-out action scene like Verbinski's trilogy, but it has a nice focus on characters (while realizing Jack works best in a supporting role), and it's surprisingly heartfelt.

I thought it was a really satisfying conclusion to the series, and then the post-credits scene made me want another sequel.

Idk, I thought the chick and the Turner son were pretty uninteresting. Its not bad but I found myself dozing off.

Henry wasn't overly interesting, but I loved Carina.

Some of the tv spots for this are so AWFUL.

When can we expect reviews on RT?

The embargo ends on the 22nd.

The curse of diminishing returns continues to haunt the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. This fifth entry, the second not directed by the brilliant Gore Verbinski, is not an awful film so much as a flat, rather dull one. It feels perfunctory. It does not pop. Johnny Depp's once-ingenious portrayal of Captain Sparrow has grown considerably stale; the tipsy one-liners and general air of bohemian flamboyance now registers as halfhearted. His routine stunts and elongates scenes rather than enhancing them; a previously delightful rapscallion of a character is now close to exasperating. Javier Bardem appears committed to his antagonistic role as far as it goes—a certain slithery and snarling line delivery, etc.—but his impact is minor; his character, Salazar, is never particularly scary or magisterial or well-utilized, and his ghost crew's handsomely decomposing/dematerializing supernatural aesthetic is squandered by poorly lit action sequences. There are a few clever beats—one involving a guillotine—and Kaya Scodelario is a fetching heroine, and Klaus Badelt and Hans Zimmer's 14-year-old themes still have the power to lift viewers' spirits and send a swashbuckling chill down their spines, but otherwise this entry goes in one ear and directly out the other.

C

Maybe I did not pay enough attention or misread the pre-release press coverage, but I was under the impression Orlando Bloom would be far more involved in this film's story. Keira Knightley's appearance almost feels compiled from archival footage.

Agreed with your thoughts, David. I would add that Brenton Thwaites put on an impressively bad performance here, lacking anything resembling chemistry with his co-star.

The post-credits scene is baffling

I wasn't expecting much after the reviews dropped, but I did not anticipate that there would be a plot point that actually made me angry.



Bloom's involvement in the beginning also set an expectation/hope that we would see his crew face off against Salazar's ghosts to protect his son. I highly doubt these directors could pull that off well, but it still feels like a massive missed opportunity.

It's a goof, but this seems like a really weird thing to get angry over? It's hardly the first continuity error in film.

I guess one could assume Sparrow lost the compass and then traded to regain it (see: the Naomie Harris character saying he bartered it from her). But then Salazar would have escaped much earlier. Of course, Salazar did not exist when Dead Man's Chest was made, just as David was not the creator of the alien when Prometheus was released, Jason Bourne's father was not an assassinated architect of Treadstone until film number five, etc.

As a storytelling beat, it definitely lands with a thud.

It's easily the weakest of the five. But it's still decent and a lot of fun. This franchise was a little fucked after At World's End essentially ended the story. So for the fourth they had a new story and no one liked it. So they really try to tie this one into the original trilogy. But since the fourth one exists, it's difficult. That's what the film feels like: a cross between a sequel to At World's End and a standalone entry like the fourth. And it works in parts, but not others. I loved the bank scene, the executions, the zombie sharks, and the end battle with the sea split was visually impressive. Salazar is easily the weakest villain of the franchise. He holds no candle to Barbossa, Davy Jones or Blackbeard. Depp does a good job, and the new characters Carina and Henry were an improvement over the missionary and the mermaid from the fourth film.

It's a mess, but I liked it, and if they make a sixth, I think it should be focused on Will and Elizabeth and forego Jack. The end credits scene certainly sets up an interesting sequel of that nature.

B

And in no way is this better than At World's End, Magnus.

I agree with this. It had more heart than I expected, which was a nice surprise. Other than that it gave me what I expect from a PotC movie, fun score, good effects, and a mix of humor and action.

B+

I was seriously obsessed with the original trilogy (I saw each one in theaters probably 3-4 times) and thought At World's End was a fairly perfect ending to the series, so I wasn't that impressed with On Stranger Tides. It was fine, but forgettable and lacked the heart that the previous films had. Years later I couldn't tell you one plot point or memorable sequence. I was initially not very excited for this movie until I heard it tied heavily into the original trilogy, as I thought the trailers were fairly lackluster. And while it's definitely not up to the quality of the original films this is definitely a major step back in the right direction for this franchise. Salazar is probably the weakest link, Javier Bardem is committed but the character is dumb and poorly written. And the overarching plot about finding the trident was very underdeveloped. But that being said, I thought the action sequences were great (the bank robbery is one of the best in the entire franchise), and the character beats really landed for me. Johnny Depp could play this role in his sleep at this point but I enjoyed his performance and he had some fun one-liners. Geoffrey Rush was great and I actually loved the twist with his character at the end. Of the newbies Brenton Thwaites does a decent job and Kaya Scoledario is the standout. She's excellent. I was a little disappointed that there wasn't more Orlando Bloom and especially Keira Knightley, but the ending is fantastic and may have elevated my opinion of this movie overall. It was incredibly satisfying and emotional. I'm definitely down for another installment, particularly with a refocus on Will and Elizabeth that they seem to be hinting at. B+

Also, I liked the end credits scene mostly because Davy Jones was a great villain and Bill Nighy was excellent. Logic be damned in terms of how much sense it makes

I realize Keira Knightley only shot a day on this movie but it was so good to see her and Orlando Bloom again. I loved Will and Elizabeth and their absence was so heavily felt in the fourth movie. The end with them gave me chills.

quite enjoyed this movie but it definitely had some issues


the parts involving the compass was some horrendously bad writing


also didn't like the many retcons. And how old exactly are the characters now?

sill I had a good time. This better not be the last one!

Jack looked what, maybe 18 years old in the flashback? If Beckett sinking the Wicked Wench and his deal with Davy Jones happened a year after that, that would make Jack 31 in CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL and 54 in DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES.

So not that old?

If they did one final one that brought Verbinski back and focused on the original Depp/Bloom/Knightley dynamic I think it could definitely increase box-office wise from this one.

It has the best action scenes for a movie this year, and the atmosphere is still amazing. The myth is is great as well...

However...

The storytelling was dreadful

Compromise at a B-?

The more I think about it the more I want to see Pirates of the Caribbean: The Return of Davy Jones.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

There's not much to say really. It is the same tone and made the same way as the other four. I was slightly enjoying it until Jack Sparrow turned up (that's not to say that he's totally useless - some of his jokes are cute). Depp seems to be a parody of his pirate character parody now, which adds a new dimension for the viewer but is not adding value. It's a standard fare pirate movie. Easily forgettable. The story is simple. Salazar is a good villain on paper but not well performed by Bardem (who basically just does his usual villainous role). The 3D is useless.

C-

The small time for this movie is very effective as we don't get unnecessary convoluted story. There are still issues with the main story but I liked it better than OST. Kaya Scodelario is really good in here and carries the movie but disappointed by Sparrow's turn here but it was Brenton Thwaites who disappoints here the most. Bardem is decent but his character is poorly written. I wish the Trident scenes were a little longer though Rush's sacrifice was handled well.