GoCorral

The next in a series of some of my favorite movies, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. What a mouthful.

It’s impossible to think about the new Pirates movie without comparing it to the previous ones. Does it have the novelty of Pirates 1? Does it have the thrilling action sequences of Pirates 2 and 3? Did it feel a little off like Pirates 4?

Good news! Pirates 5 feels most like a return to the characters and plot of Pirates 1 to me with bits of Pirates 2 thrown in. This will probably be good news to most of the long-time fans of the series.

Jack is once again being hunted by a monstrous force from the uncharted waters of the ocean. This time instead of a ship of dead fish people, its a ship of dead ghost people led by ghost Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem).

Jack is accompanied on his journey by his usual crew mates, a female astrologist named Carina, and Henry Turner, the son of Will and Elizabeth Turner.

All three of our main heroes seek the Trident of Poseidon which has the power to do anything (it’s kind of vague). Jack wants it to get the ghosts of his back. Henry wants it to free Will from his eternal service on the Flying Dutchman. Carina wants the Trident because her absent father left her a diary of notes on the Trident and it symbolizes her tenuous connection to her father.

The movie plays out in typical Pirates fashion with innovative action sequences, snarky dialogue, naval combat, and undoing of evil curses. If you liked the previous Pirates movies then I can guarantee that you will like this one as well.

Solid actors, solid score, and great costumes have always been a standard of Pirates and they haven’t left. Hans Zimmer is no longer the main composer, but Geoff Zanelli fills his shoes well.

For those fans of Geoffrey Rush, he returns to play Captain Barbarossa. This is no cameo either, he has a major role in the movie. Kevin McNally also returns to play Gibbs once more.

Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley are relegated to cameos as they reprise their roles as Will and Elizabeth. Paul McCartney also shows up in a cameo as Jack’s Uncle, also named Jack.

Normally I have some criticism to offer of a movie, but I really don’t for Pirates 5. Everything was great and exactly what I wanted out of it. I still struggle to think how they’ll make another movie, but I thought that after Pirates 3 so what do I know?

If you liked the previous Pirates movies, go see Dead Men Tell No Tales. If you like adventure movies, go see Dead Men Tell No Tales. If you like Johnny Depp, go see Dead Men Tell No Tales. If you like excessive eyeliner and tattoos, go see Dead Men Tell No Tales. You won’t regret it.

-GoCorral