Most of this review is a spoiler: BEWARE

Rating: Null/10 (15 July 2011)

Having absolutely loved the previous three movies in the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy I was looking forward to the fourth one, hoping it wouldn't be a cheesy let down that all series seem to achieve at some point. I was a bit unnerved by the fact that in one of the posters I mistook the new female lead Penelope Cruz for Keira Knightley. Not a good start. Anyways, I walked into the cinema with reasonably high expectations and was thoroughly let down.
Okay, bad points, let's start from the beginning. After the introduction informing us that the Spanish are after the Fountain of Youth (the name says it all really) it cuts to Captain Jack Sparrow who is running away as per usual. This time he's stuck with Gibbs in a carriage heading to god knows where. This is the first of the explanatory scenes that really annoyed me. They are discussing what Jack's latest goal is other than the obvious retrieval of the black pearl which has plagued him since the first film. They are talking about what Jack plans to do with himself and are generally catching up with each other. I prefer things to be shown through actions rather than sitting and having a nice chat when it comes to well-known action films like this. However they do manage to pique our interest with the mention of a Captain Jack imposter recruiting people.
They progress to their mysterious destination and Jack is forced to talk to the English King (Harry Potter fans will recognise Uncle Vernon at this point) who wants him to go to the Fountain of Youth for him to stop the Spanish claiming the land and glory before the English. It is at this alarming point that Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) comes into the scene and reveals that he's switched sides. Barbossa is no longer a pirate, it's rather disturbing to see his rough, scarred face and peg leg in the uniform of an honest sailor. Jack, who seems extra tipsy throughout the entire film, manages his amusing yet dramatic escape and the soundtrack kicks in with the music we all love, or at least recognise. Saved from a gunshot by his father who randomely turns up in the streets they go inside the pub for a drink. His dad warns him that the Fountain will test Jack before disappearing. Jack continues to go about his business starting with the imposter impersonating him.
A brilliantly choreographed fight then takes place in the back of the pub with Jack fighting himself. They even got up onto the struts in the ceiling. The whole scene is a bit too reminiscent of his fight with Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) in the first film for my liking however. Eventually he realises that his imposter is his old love Angelica (what kind of a name is that!?) who he later discovers is the daughter of ruthless Blackbeard: a fearsome, pirate who owns a magical sword. As the rest of the film progresses you realise it's all about Jack and Angelica in the midst of the search for the Fountain of Youth , plus a mermaid and Christian who are needed as part of the ritual to get to it.
Overall it is every bit as fun as the previous three films but it goes for the drama of the various couples. I couldn't envision Jack ever getting involved with someone who he has real feelings for, or as he calls them: "stirrings". His only love interest has been the Black Pearl as far as I'm concerned so that spoilt the majority of the film for me. The Christian and the mermaid seemed sweet but in comparison to Will and Elizabeth's romance in the previous three films it simply wasn't strong or angsty enough to keep your interest. The plot was ever present and brilliant of course and it's difficult to go wrong with Barbossa but I just don't think it was anywhere near as good as it could've been. However everyone has a different opinion, go see it and decide yourself.