Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Today, I watched Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, actually the last movie in the saga. This film was much more underestimated than the others, and many people find that it is not up to the previous three films. For my part I do not agree. William Turner and Elizabeth Swann are absent in the fourth movie, but there is also the appearance of new characters that deserve attention, for example, the new main villain of the film, Blackbeard, which I will discuss later. And of course, there is the one and only Jack Sparrow, or should I say, Captain Jack Sparrow.

With the death of Davy Jones and Lord Cutler Beckett, and the absence of William Turner and Elizabeth Swann, it was thought that the saga of Pirates of the Caribbean would stop, but no. Jack Sparrow is back, more determined than ever, and this time, to find the fabled Fountain of Youth, which can give eternal life. But along of his way, he will crossing the path with many dangers: mermaids, zombies, and a legendary and very dangerous pirate, Blackbeard. But Jack will also find the former love of her life, Angelica. Although the film was very underrated and criticized, it deserves its place in the saga and I also hope it is the beginning of a new trilogy (with a fifth and sixth film)

What would a Pirates of the Caribbean without Jack Sparrow? It's unthinkable and impossible. Jack Sparrow (played by the excellent actor Johnny Depp) is still the central character in the saga (initially it was to be Will Turner, but the writers have decided to give a greater role to Jack). In the fourth film, Jack Sparrow remains as we love him: with a slightly odd gait, his facial expressions, his funny moments, his legendary cowardice, but also his moments of courage or he does not hesitate to fight. Yes, Jack Sparrow remains as it is, and that's good.

Elizabeth Swann is not there, but another female character is introduced: Angelica (played by Penelope Cruz). Old love of Jack, she first wants to take revenge on him after he had broken her heart. But finally, it appears that she still loves him, and Jack still has feelings for her, even if he does not dare show it. Angelica is not a fragile and innocent girl, on the contrary, it is a hardened woman who knows to fight saber (Jack can confirm) and she has a secret: she's the daughter of Blackbeard. 

In the fourth film, a new villain appears: terror and nightmare of all pirates: Blackbeard (my second favorite villain of the saga, after Davy Jones). At first glance, one might think that he is an old tired and weak, but it is not so: Blackbeard is someone really "inhuman". Able to resurrect the dead, and with his sword, he can give life to his ship and use it as a weapon (as he used to quell the mutiny on his naivre). Blackbeard is a strange man, because it can have feelings (with her daughter), but can also demonstrate an extreme cruelty. 

And also, another recurring character of the saga comes back in the fourth movie: Hector Barbossa, now a privateer in the service of the king of England, surely to hope to be pardoned and stay alive. In the film, Barbossa has only one leg and walks with a wooden leg (we learn that he lost his leg during a battle against Blackbeard) and Barbossa only wants one thing: kill the man who took her leg. Barbossa is still crazy, with his taste for apples, and has a new passion: collecting poisonous amphibians (he uses the poison to coat the blade of his sword). 

And now I will talk about the creatures which have most retained my attention in the film: the mermaids. "Vampires of sea, fish of the devil." as Barbossa describes them. Indeed, the sirens of Pirates of the Caribbean have nothing to do with the nice little mermaids you can see in the movie "The Little Mermaid". In the film, the mermaids are all very beautiful women, but behind these angelic faces are hidden devious and cruel minds, which want to catch a sailor and devour his flesh. But one of them, Syrena, seems unwilling to kill the men (she even falls in love with one of them). Syrena seems to be the opposite of her sisters, perhaps because she is younger and therefore less dangerous and cruel than the other mermaids. Syrena is very beautiful, but I also feel sorry for her, because Blackbeard considers her as an inferior, he showed great cruelty to her, and he seems to delight of her pain (like when he harvests the teardrop of the mermaid, and after, decides to let her die)

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is an excellent film worthy of the saga, and I think others would agree with me. Jack Sparrow is back, and I hope it's also a new start for the pirates. Yo Ho!

                                                                  Mathias, the Lordi Rider