Pirates of the Caribbean 4: On Stranger Tides

Avast, me hearties! Pirates of the Caribbean 4: On Stranger Tides has landed in theatres nationwide, and to help celebrate, Disney sent me an awesome activity pack for kids! It includes face masks, coloring sheets, door hangers, mazes, etc. You can download the activity pack on my Scribd page or via the link below:

Pirates Activity Pack


I was invited to an advanced screening of the movie a few days ago, and having loved the previous 3 movies I was eager to see what sorts of new adventures Jack Sparrow (sorry, Captain Jack Sparrow) was up to. I was really bummed that Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley were no longer in this one -- I'm not a big Penelope Cruz fan so I don't think her presence made up for the lack of theirs -- but I was delighted to see Geoffrey Rush as Captain Barbossa, Kevin McNally as 1st Mate Gibbs, and the incomparable Keith Richards as Jack Sparrow's dad. And of course, there's Johnny Depp. I'd watch almost any movie he's in, and he really is brilliant as Captain Jack.


One thing I really like about this latest Pirate of the Caribbean movie is that it doesn't feel like a sequel. It's a completely new story -- the search for the Fountain of Youth -- and you don't need to have seen any of the previous movies to understand what's going on. There's lots of sword-fighting and special effects to thrill moviegoers, and lots of romance provided by the most unlikely of couples, Phillip the missionary and Syrena the mermaid. Personally I hated the way their love story ended, but the 2 actors who played them were great, almost worthy of Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley (in looks, that is -- I can't say much about their talent because Phillip & Syrena's role was smaller than Will & Elizabeth's in the previous 3 movies).

The only part I disliked about the movie was Penelope Cruz's performance -- I just don't think she has the comedic talent that the others have to really pull off the role -- but hey, I'm sure her gorgeous good looks will be enough to make up for it for most people. Other than that, I really enjoyed the movie and would definitely watch it again. I read in Newsweek magazine today that based on early audience reactions, they're already planning a fifth Pirates of the Caribbean movie. As long as Johnny Depp returns as Captain Jack Sparrow, I'll be there!

Hmmm, I wonder if they'll be putting some mermaids in the waters of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride?


About the Movie:
Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Rob Marshall, “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” captures the fun, excitement and humor that ignited the hit franchise—this time in Disney Digital 3D™.

Johnny Depp returns to his iconic role of Captain Jack Sparrow in this action-packed adventure that finds him crossing paths (and swords) with the enigmatic Angelica (Penélope Cruz). When she forces him aboard the “Queen Anne’s Revenge,” the ship of the legendary pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected journey to the fabled Fountain of Youth. Along the way Jack must use all his wiles to deal with the barbarous Blackbeard and his crew of zombies, Angelica, the ravishing pirate with whom he shares a dubious past, and the beautiful, enchanting mermaids whose masterful cunning can lure even the most seasoned sailor to his doom. The international cast includes franchise vets Geoffrey Rush as the indestructible Captain Hector Barbossa and Kevin R. McNally as Captain Jack’s longtime comrade Joshamee Gibbs, plus Sam Claflin as a stalwart missionary and Astrid Bergès-Frisbey as a mysterious mermaid.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary movie pass to an advanced screening of the movie to facilitate my review. Movie information is provided by Disney and is indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.