True to the Legacy of its predecessors.

Rating: 8/10 (21 May 2011)

For 8 years now the on screen Pirates have kept us captive to their adventurous spirit. The Pirates are back again once more after four years to re-live the magical, sprightly and infectious spirit, And BOY! They do deliver and How! "On Stranger Tides" the fourth installment of the series has received a lot of pre-release hype and anticipation. The production house (Disney), The director, the ensemble cast and Johnny Depp have carried the entire burden on their shoulders admirably and delivered a wholesome fun filled roller coaster ride. This time the movie is a "Stand alone" so to speak. In essence it just conveys to all audience that to enjoy and lap up all the fun in store you need not have to be in touch with the previous movies and rightly so, as Depp, Geoffrey Rush(Captain barbossa) and Kevin Mcnally(Gibbs) are the only characters that return from the previous adventures to reprise their roles here.
The Adventure:
The plot is almost a perfect set piece and winds itself up for most of the first half to unleash wholesome fun and action filled adventure thereon. The premise here is the legendary Fountain of youth. The journey in quest of the fountain, which would give you more life. As is the wont of the series, more than one party takes up the journey and our beloved Jack Sparrow (Oops, I missed it.. It is CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow) gets through all the traps, double crossers, cross fires and charms his way out to be the Last man standing with his complete skill sets. With complete Nonchalance, Wit, unbelievably cheeky one liners and eccentric manners Johnny Depp simply SIZZLES. Penelope Cruz is a woman from Jack's past and she forces and persuades Jack along on the journey. The Spanish and the British army set out on the quest as well and the climax is reminiscent of the First movie with all the characters culminating at the Fountain of youth.
The movie has many varied characters this time around, a religious Christian, a ghoulish villain, charming and vicious mermaids and the feisty and practical Spaniards. The Pirates series have always been about the "Whole being better than the sum of its parts" and this movie keeps the legacy alive. Having said that one must accept the fact that if not for Johnny Depp the whole series would be like Harry Potter without his wand. Jack Sparrow and Johnny Depp are inseparable and they deliver Every Single time.
Crests and Troughs:
If anyone need one good solid reason to watch this movie the easiest answer would be Johnny Depp. But add to that, Penelope Cruz, Hans Zimmer (Music), Rob Marshall (Director) and Geoffrey Rush then you get Five golden reasons to unwind and enjoy the Roller coaster ride. Jack's entrance sequences have been a whale of a ride and here too the openings make you sit up. The action Choreography is simply brilliant, comical as well as cheeky and entertaining.
But all said you do feel a little bored during the intermediate parts of the movie. The half an hour period punctuated in the middle by the interval does get you restless as there is more of talk and less of action but you always know there is Jack poised to explode which he thankfully does. And yes, the movie is in 3D. And yes we all know it, it is completely Unnecessary. Wearing the 3D glasses significantly lower the brightness and contrast of the picture which is a big price to pay for a few effects here and there. Certain portions of the movie are a little vague and subtitles through the movie could have helped understand the plot better.
The Ultimatum:
Overall if you are a fan of the Series, it'd be a sin to miss this movie. You will be clamped in Irons and sentenced if you miss this adventure. If you are new to the series, well you will still be clamped in irons and sentenced for missing this roller coaster. So bring it on and say it aloud,"YO hooo! It's a pirate's Life for all of us!!!"