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May 26, 2017 · Rated: 2/4 Apr 4, 2022 Full Review David Gonzalez The Cinematic Reel Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tells No Tales is not a great film by any means. It is a passable finale...
- (292)
- Joachim Rønning, Espen Sandberg
- PG-13
- Johnny Depp
May 26, 2017 · “Dead men tell no tales.” Norwegian directing team Joaquim Ronning and Espen Sandberg (“Kon-Tiki") as well as screenwriter Jeffrey D. Nathanson (“Catch Me If You Can”) appear to be addicted to chaos. They even crowd the IMAX-imized screen with no fewer than six schooners vying for the spotlight—which leads to an excess of captains, too.
- On slightly better tides.
- The Coolest Monsters and Villains in the Pirates of the Caribbean Movies
- Verdict
By Jim Vejvoda
Updated: May 26, 2017 4:53 pm
Posted: May 22, 2017 1:00 pm
I’ll say this much for it: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is better than its 2011 predecessor, On Stranger Tides, even if it doesn’t bring much of anything new to the long-running franchise or do much to justify its existence. It’s a less bloated and meandering Pirates film than the last few sequels have been, and has more heart than On Stranger Tides, but all of this is damning it with faint praise. It never quite manages to recapture the magic that launched this film series to such stratospheric heights back in 2003. I left the theater relieved that Dead Men Tell No Tales is better than the last Pirates movie and also hoping that this IS the last Pirates movie.
Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow and the film’s new young leads, sailor Henry and astronomer Carina, all take turns at driving the plot that it becomes tough to discern whose story this ultimately is. All three, as well as the villainous Captain Salazar, seek the Trident of Poseidon for their own reasons, but this only splits the focus on which character we’re supposed to be most invested in seeing attain it. On top of that, Geoffrey Rush’s Captain Hector Barbossa is also back in the mix and playing a pivotal enough role that his choices affect the storyline as much as the main trio does. So, again, who is steering this ship?
Henry and Carina’s motives are in keeping with the Pirates series’ hallmarks of family, revenge and redemption, and love and curses. Brenton Thwaites and Kaya Scodelario try to develop a chemistry between their respective characters and with Jack, but Henry and Carina’s romance feels forced and unearned. It plays out as an obligatory add-on to a story that would work just the same without it.
The action is big but never breathtaking, its most notable, rousing set pieces involving a building being dragged through the streets by runaway horses and our heroes’ escape from a public execution, both of which adeptly mix broad physical comedy with some inventive stunts. These action scenes are certainly more on-point though than the humor, as many of the jokes – and, this being a Pirates movie, there is a constant barrage of gags – don’t always land. Which brings us to Jack Sparrow.
Jack’s schtick is so tired now – it’s been tired since the second film, frankly – but Johnny Depp does seem to be trying a wee bit harder to deliver here than he was in his sleepwalking turn in On Stranger Tides. Still, it is like seeing a classic rock band perform uninspired encores of their biggest hits, with only fleeting reminders of the magic that made you like their music to begin with.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales manages to be less bloated, dreary, and meandering than the last three entries have been, but it still suffers from many of the same wearisome, dredged-up villains and ho-hum action and comedy that have bedeviled the franchise since its second installment. The film’s biggest positive is that it ultim...
May 26, 2017 · All Critics. Top Critics. All Audience. Verified Audience. Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review. This is an unnecessary film that delivers exactly what the audience expects in the most uninteresting...
Parents Say: age 11+ 26 reviews. Any Iffy Content? Read more. Watch Our Video Review Watch now. A Lot or a Little? What you will—and won't—find in this movie. Positive Messages. Despite the fact that pirates are, by definition, Positive Role Models. Carina is an intelligent, logical, curious young w. Violence & Scariness.
- Joachim Ronning, Espen Sandberg
- Sandie Angulo Chen
- Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
May 26, 2017 · Reviewer. Bob Hoose. Movie Review. Captain Jack Sparrow is older and … Well, let’s just say he’s older. This perpetually tipsy ne’re-do-well is still struggling with pretty much the same issues he always has. Behind that wobbly swagger and semi-charming gold-toothed grin is a pirate captain who has a hard time accomplishing … anything.
May 26, 2017 · Directed By: Joachim Rønning, Espen Sandberg. Written By: Jeff Nathanson, Terry Rossio, Ted Elliott, Stuart Beattie. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. Metascore Generally Unfavorable Based on 45 Critic Reviews. 39. User Score Generally Favorable Based on 891 User Ratings. 6.2. My Score. Hover and click to give a rating.
