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Film: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
Year: 2017
Director: Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg
Writer: Jeff Nathanson
Starring: Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush and Javier Bardem
Review:
I will lead off this review stating that I am a fan of the Pirates of the Caribbean films. It is interesting that this all stemmed from a ride at Disney that has spawned into this series of films. One thing that does help is that there is a lot of lore involving the ocean. I originally sought this out to complete the series. I’ve now given it another go with my wife, Jaime, for the Depp Dive Podcast.
The synopsis: Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) searches for the trident of Poseidon while being pursued by an undead sea captain and his crew.
This film introduces the son of Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley). He is a young boy named Henry Turner and trying to find his father. He ends up performing a ritual that allows him to see Will. He is told that he needs to move on and that there is nothing he can do to help him. He is stuck on the Flying Dutchman for all of eternity.
Henry grows up to Brenton Thwaites and he is working on a British ship. They are chasing after pirates and this takes them to a cove called The Devil’s Triangle. Henry is branded as a mutineer by not following commands. His sleeves are ripped and he’s sentenced to death. This is interrupted when Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem). He was a Spanish navy captain who was hunting pirates. He had scourged most of the waters, but was foiled by a young Jack Sparrow. He has been sealed in the cove since, waiting to be free.
The story then shifts to Jack, who is penniless after a failed bank robbery, leading his crew to abandon him. He trades his compass for rum, unknowingly freeing Salazar. Also on the island, the astronomer Carina Smyth (Kaya Scodelario) is arrested as a witch but escapes. Henry also washes ashore. The three meet at the execution grounds and flee together, all seeking Poseidon’s Trident for their own reasons.
Hector Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) is now a pirate who all but controls the water in his general area. He commands a fleet of ships. This draws the attention of Salazar. A deal is struck. Barbossa is willing to bring Jack to him, in exchange for his survival. This also clues in Barbossa to the trident and the possibility of using it to control the sea. There is more to the history as well of Carina that comes to light as everyone backstabs everyone to survive.
That is where I’ll leave my recap and introduction to the characters. Where I want to circle back to start with the story which does good things. I love the concept of Salazar. He is a pirate hunter who is cursed. Now that he’s free, he’s hellbent on revenge. He eliminates anyone that gets in his way of hunting Jack. It doesn’t go as dark as it could, gearing toward teens, but the mixing in of dark elements and folklore is enough to keep me entertained. I’ll also say it held up with a second watch.
Let’s then delve more into that. Poseidon’s trident is an interesting artifact to seek. Each character has an interesting reason why they’re seeking it. Salazar assumes it is a powerful weapon. Henry wants it to break the curse holding his father to the Flying Dutchman. Barbossa wants to use it to control the sea. Jack is similar there. Since we’re dealing with pirates, there is very little honor which keeps things moving since no one can trust anyone else. This helped hook and keep my attention.
The film successfully returns to the original's formula: Jack is the villain's target, while the younger stars, Henry and Carina, provide necessary conflict, romance, and new energy, which was lacking in On Stranger Tides. Carina's storyline adds another dimension that I’ll explore. What I will say though is that these elements cause it to be classified as a "requel" or legacy sequel.
What I mean is that she’s a woman of science, studying astronomy and horology. The latter is played for laughs. Being a student of the sciences gets her persecuted as a witch. Fitting that she has the diary of Galileo. She is important since she uses the stars to navigate, like sailors due. It also helps her solve the riddle of where the trident is hidden. Exploring mythology and lore behind the constellations is great.
Then other themes that are incorporated would be the legacy of fathers and their children. The obvious is Henry. There is an interesting element as well with Carina with who her father is, humanizing that character which we truly hadn’t gotten yet. There is the enlightenment (science) vs. superstition with Carina being accused and prosecuted as a witch. Revenge and the weight of the past is with Salazar. Also you could see it as self-discovery on this journey for the characters, including the flashbacks for a young Jack.
Let’s then shift over to the acting which is excellent across the board. Depp is again superb as Jack, fully embodying the character. Bardem delivers a compelling performance as the vengeful, hatred-blinded villain targeting a man who has forgotten him. Rush is once more great as Barbossa. Thwaites and Scodelario are strong new additions. It's also good to see Kevin McNally, Stephen Graham, Martin Klebba, and David Wenham (as the British soldier, Scarfield) in supporting roles.
The film is well-made, with good cinematography and framing capturing the action. The extensive, but necessary, CGI was money well spent. I appreciate the curse on Salazar and his men, making them appear as they did when they died. The movie is more violent than remembered, though not bloody. That was appreciated to not tone it down despite catering to a younger audience. Finally, Geoff Zanelli's epic music and the sound design are excellent.
Then as a disclaimer, this isn’t technically a horror film. I include it due to having creatures like ghosts and zombies. This would be a good gateway into the genre since it is approachable. I would consider this to be adjacent for these reasons.
In conclusion, this serves as a strong return to form for the franchise, successfully blending the swashbuckling adventure, supernatural lore, and comedic elements that defined the original trilogy. This film successfully upholds the franchise's legacy by introducing strong new characters (Henry and Carina) and a captivating villain (Captain Salazar). The film explores themes like family, science versus superstition, and the past's influence, making it more than a mere treasure hunt. Ultimately, the visually stunning and engaging narrative offers a satisfying conclusion for key characters, appealing to both long-time fans and newcomers.
My Rating: 7.5 out of 10