Welcome back Cap'n Jack

Rating: 7/10 (20 May 2011)

I am a fan of the Pirates movies. Since 2003, I have enjoyed watching Capt. Jack and Co. stumble their way through adventures. Like many, I thought the last two sequels had a bit of bloat, none the less, they still entertained me immensely, thus I looked forward with fondness to sitting in a theater again to watch a Pirates adventure. I put on my Capt. Jack jersey, as I have for the last two films, and headed off to have fun.
Stranger Tides finds our good friend Capt. Jack continuing his quest for the Fountain of Youth that he set sail for at the end of At World's End. This time, there are two Jacks at the beginning. There seems to be someone going about England rounding up a crew under the guise of Capt. Jack. It isn't long before we learn who said impostor is, thus the quest ensues.
What I enjoyed most about the film was the return in Capt. Jack as a formidable Pirate. We had lost a little of that in the last two films, but here, Jack is in fine form verbally and physically. Depp pretty much wears Capt. Jack as a second skin and continues to throw layers on him. Rush is once again back as Capt. Barbossa, though this time, more of a "company man" in the beginning. Penelope Cruz is a fine addition as Black Beards daughter Angelica. Then you have Black Beard himself, Ian McShane, who turns in a wonderfully vile performance.
We get some zombies and mermaids this go around and enough action to keep you entertained. I thought Hans Zimmer's soundtrack was the best since the first film, it was continually rousing and fun throughout the film. And I think that is the best thing I can say about the film. It was a rousing fun time, exactly what I expected and like out of my Pirates movies. Yo ho, drink up and enjoy.