Welcomed return to shipshape form

Rating: Null/10 (14 June 2017)

Captain Jack Sparrow with the help of some new companions tries to end all curses while being pursued by an undead Spanish sea captain who wants revenge.
Directors Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg offer an enjoyable Pirates adventure which almost briefly reunites the original cast including Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom. With impressive, locations sets and setups packed with effects and stunts, it's a more than satisfying instalment. Granted it loses some wind in its sails in the latter half but it holds enough water to remain charming and well staged throughout.
With quality props, makeup and costumes the cast are on sea worthy form. There's a wave of returning crew members of the series. The new cast additions are likable, Kaya Scodelario as strong female Smyth is refreshing and Brenton Thwaites captures Turner's spirit. David Wenham is his usual reliable self and Paul McCartney cameos humorously as Jack's uncle. Sadly, with a great backstory (where we see a de-age Johnny Depp), as good as Javier Bardem is as the menacing Captain Salazar he's not actually given much to do.
Depp thankfully holds screen presence as usual as Sparrow and it's nice to see Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann incorporated at arms length into the secondary plot. Geoffrey Rush deservedly steals the show as Captain Hector Barbossa offering some weight to the fantastical on screen antics that are accompanied by a swashbuckling score.
Writer Jeff Nathanson offers a few little twists and turns here and there and the comedy mostly hits the mark. If only Barbossa had popped up at the end and returned Jacks hat!
Overall, a shipshape return to form with a strong revival feeling that heightens this instalment and points to more promising things to come.