A departure from the previous films, but still an adventurous, yet emotional adventure.

Rating: 8/10 (27 April 2016)

It's a departure from the previous adventures. I had a feeling that Will (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth (Kiera Knightly) would not be returning after the events of the third film, but it wouldn't be the same without Johnny Depp! The scene in the courtroom with Jack impersonating the judge is very amusing and I was surprised to see that Barbossa is now a Privateer. The following chase through London after is entertaining, but I would've preferred it if Jack and Mr. Gibbs had escaped. In that disguise, Angelica looked just like Jack! The way Jack confronts her never fails in its humour and the search for the Fountain Of Youth gets started really well. The ritual of the Fountain was not what I thought it would be: I originally thought that whoever drinks from the Fountain would gain eternal youth, but in actual fact two people drink from two chalices with one containing the tear of a mermaid. The drinker of the other chalices dies and "donates" their remaining years to the other drinker.
The effects are impressive and it got rather tense aboard Blackbeard's ship. During the mutiny scene, I agreed with Philip as he made his stand. Sam Claflin plays him convincingly and strongly. I'm also a Christian, though I've never thought anything linked to missionary. Blackbeard certainly had an evil presence. Ian McShane plays him well and his scenes with Jack are tense, but not without humour. The mermaid attack at Whitecap Bay is also tense, but Jack brings humour to the scene again when he falls off the tower. I was concerned for the mermaid Syrena from the moment I saw the front cover of the film. Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey plays her wonderfully and on the DVD front cover, she is holding onto Philip as if to say, "Keep me safe." I was pleased that Philip protected her as Blackbeard's crew journeyed to the Fountain. During that time, Syrena saw that Philip was not like Blackbeard's crew. Jack's meeting with Barbossa on Ponce de León's ship is also fun to watch - they try to keep the balanced ship stable as they discover that the Spanish have taken the chalices. Jack stealing the chalices is also a great scene and Barbossa's story of losing the Black Pearl is interesting as I was wondering what had happened to it.
I felt so sorry for Syrena when she was tied up and Philip apparently killed in front of her when Blackbeard saw that they had feelings for each other. It was like a knife through my heart. I thought Philip had been killed, but I was VERY relieved when it turns out that Philip is alive. His attempt to rescue Syrena is so moving, but I was annoyed when the Blackbeard's crew suddenly appeared, tied Syrena up again and forced Philip to go with them. The remainder the journey to the Fountain is inspiring, as are the effects, but I couldn't stop thinking about poor Syrena. The Fountain of Youth is certainly a sight that's not easily forgotten, and the confrontation between Barbossa and Blackbeard is entertaining. I was surprised when the Spanish arrived to destroy the Fountain and the climatic battle is fun to watch. I was relieved when Philip saved Syrena. I would've done the same but I was still unsure about how she felt about Philip. Blackbeard gets what's coming to him. I should've known Jack would switch the chalices so that Anjelica would end up drinking from the chalice containing Syrena's tear!
I've always found it tense when someone loving someone, but not knowing the outcome. Philip is injured during the battle, after freeing Syrena, he applies water to himself and Syrena appears before him in the water. It's a very sweet moment. Philip asks for her forgiveness, but I think Syrena had already forgiven him. She forgave him a long time ago. You can tell by the way she looks at Philip. She loves him and wants to give him the power to breathe underwater. Now THAT is a gift! Serena kisses Philip and takes him underwater. Philip and Serena together at last.
It seems that Blackbeard's evil has rubbed off on Anjelica as she states her hatred of Jack as he maroons her on island with a pistol containing one shot. However, that shot is quickly used as an attempt to kill Jack, which fails. I had a feeling Barbossa was going to return to piracy as he claimed Queen Anne's Revenge but the scene is still entertaining. Jack's meeting with Mr. Gibbs on a beach and his charm on explaining how he prefers to not know what moment will be his last never fails. I hope the Black Pearl gets restored to its original size.