I count myself as a fan of this franchise, but its fourth episode offers less adventure, less romance, less scenery and even less sailing. As Captain Jack Sparrow, spray-tanned Johnny Depp is less askew and louche than usual. And Keith Richards makes but a fleeting appearance. The Capuchin monkey gets two screechy cameos. The real scene-stealer is plummy Richard Griffiths as King George. The plot of “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” is a listless three-way race by Brits, Spaniards and pirates to reach the Fountain of Youth. With luck, the fifth and sixth “Pirates of the Caribbean,” now in development, will get dosed with this legendary elixir. Director Rob Marshall uses Disney Digital 3D™ to stab us with swords more often than needed. More startling are all the serpentine ropes and rigging via CGI. The fanged mermaids are the best new element. Returning writers Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio draw from Tim Powers’ 1987 novel “On Stranger Tides,” titled after verse appearing as an epigram attributed to a made-up poet named Sir William Ashbless. Historical detail in the film, where tides play no part, comes from Crispin Swayne, who lent his military advice to the makers of “Atonement” and “Shaun of the Dead.” With Penélope Cruz, Geoffrey Rush, Kevin R. McNally, Ian McShane, Sam Claflin, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey. 139m. (Bill Stamets)
Ray Pride is Newcity’s Senior Editor and Film Critic. He is a contributing editor of Filmmaker magazine.
Ray’s history of Chicago Ghost Signs is planned for publication next year. Previews of the project are on Twitter and on Instagram. More photography on Instagram.
Seeing The Elephant: A Review Of Babylon The boisterous, brawling yet melancholy "Babylon," is a variation on film history, but more drawing for drama. It's gaudy and mean, celebratory and sorrowful.
Heart: A Review of Soul The real world is soulful, too, in Pixar's bountiful life of the mind.
Uncanny Ally: A Review Of M3GAN "M3GAN" sells itself in its first handful of seconds in how it introduces the handiwork of roboticist Gemma (Allison Williams, "Get Out") and her present product, PurrPetual Petz from Funki.
I count myself as a fan of this franchise, but its fourth episode offers less adventure, less romance, less scenery and even less sailing. As Captain Jack Sparrow, spray-tanned Johnny Depp is less askew and louche than usual. And Keith Richards makes but a fleeting appearance. The Capuchin monkey gets two screechy cameos. The real scene-stealer is plummy Richard Griffiths as King George. The plot of “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” is a listless three-way race by Brits, Spaniards and pirates to reach the Fountain of Youth. With luck, the fifth and sixth “Pirates of the Caribbean,” now in development, will get dosed with this legendary elixir. Director Rob Marshall uses Disney Digital 3D™ to stab us with swords more often than needed. More startling are all the serpentine ropes and rigging via CGI. The fanged mermaids are the best new element. Returning writers Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio draw from Tim Powers’ 1987 novel “On Stranger Tides,” titled after verse appearing as an epigram attributed to a made-up poet named Sir William Ashbless. Historical detail in the film, where tides play no part, comes from Crispin Swayne, who lent his military advice to the makers of “Atonement” and “Shaun of the Dead.” With Penélope Cruz, Geoffrey Rush, Kevin R. McNally, Ian McShane, Sam Claflin, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey. 139m. (Bill Stamets)
