Film Review: Pirates of the Carribean: Stranger Tides

Rating: * * / ***

in words: between "poor" and "satisfactory"

Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy

Runtime: 137 min.

Directed by: Rob Marshall

Written by: Ted Elliot, Terry Rossio

~

First of all, I'd like to mention that there were things I liked about the film.

For example, surprisingly, the mermaids.

SPOILER Even though one of them looked with her little fangs like a vampire... twilight-like, much?

SPOILER END

They looked realistic, which was fine, and added more suspense to the plot, I wish their "big moment" would have been a bit longer. In contrast, the what-so-called "Zombies" seemed to be left out.

SPOILER There were only two of them in the whole entire film. It surprised me that they were even mentioned in the trailer, they appeared to me so insignificant- I'm sure I wasn't the only one who thought that. They brought nothing to the story line.

SPOILER END

Secondly, I watched it in 3D- and it was good. I had no headache afterwards, so I can recommend you 3D in that case, it was a nice little touch and made it at the more "boring times" of the film a bit more exciting, if you can call it like that.

Thirdly, Hans Zimmer. Enough said.

The fourth and last thing I liked was the actor's convincing and quite enjoyable acting- and no, Redbeard (Ian McShane) was no "fail" as I expected him to be and Angelica (Penelopé Cruz) was OK, but Johnny's (Jack Sparrow) and Geoffrey Rush's (Captain Barbossa) perfomances were simply the best. (what a surprise)

Now to the downside- the plot. Things just didn't make sense, were unnecessary.

The action sequences' purpose was only the fighting itself, sometimes you had to think why they were even fighting.

Jack and Angelica's relationship was unnecessary too. I have to admit, I loved the tension between Jack and Elizabeth in the other films, but there wasn't too much of one between him and Angelica.

SPOILER I couldn't understand how Jack was supposed to somewhat love her or even to be able to do it. This conversation between him and Gibbs in which he told him he had "feelings" for her... it was just not right. For me it didn't fit his personality.

SPOILER END

Maybe Jack could be able to be in love with Elizabeth in a way, but not really with Angelica, there was just something missing which made me think it's not right. I think it was the lack of chemistry, it was not as good as the one between him and Elizabeth.

And what kind of past they shared was not really explained.

SPOILER She loved him and he used her... but in which way? SPOILER END

Why did it appear to be "important" then when there was no "importance" in the past at all?

SPOILER The second unnecessary "romantic relationship" was the one between Philip (Sam Claflin) and the mermaid Syrena (Astrid Bergés-Frisbey). Again, it made no sense. Or it made no sense for me because it was so cheesy, I don't know. And their saying "You are different" bugged me the most, ugh. Unimaginative, that's the right word, unimaginative and cheesy! SPOILER END

Another thing was the look of the Fountain of the Youth. Angelica said "It is beautiful" but there was no "beauty" at all?

It is weird, with a budget they had for the film, the Fountain of the Youth looked almost cheap in a way.

~

About the plot as a whole- completely unnecessary.

The film definitely doesn't stand on its own and shouldn't be watched by "Newbies", I don't think they will enjoy it as much as (maybe) fans will do.

For hardcore-fans, it is good.

For fans like me, it is okay.

But it depends on your mood- whether your in a good or bad one, you will find it atleast to be entertaining or just terribly boring and bad.

Sidenote: My father, with whom I watched it, wanted to go and leave after the first half. (We had a break.) The second half with the ending was a bit more pleasing to him, but he still found the film to be boring, he said he just wanted it to end.

All in all, I wouldn't say I hated it. I just saw better. (For example the first and second film.)

P.S: For all the Johnny fans out there- don't you think these blockbusters are poison for him? When it comes to terms in shining in a role of a film.

All his blockbusters got bad/mixed critiques: Alice in Wonderland, The Tourist, Pirates of the Carribean 4... I think he should do some independent films again. What do you think?