Johnny Depp returns to his iconic, Academy Award -nominated role of Captain Jack Sparrow, newly joined by Academy Award winner Penelope Cruz ("Vicky Cristina Barcelona," Rob Marshall's "Nine"), Ian McShane (HBO's "Deadwood") and newcomers Astrid Berges-Frisbey and Sam Claflin. Also rejoining Johnny Depp and Captain Jack are Academy Award-winner and three-time nominee Geoffrey Rush ("Shine," "Shakespeare in Love") and Kevin R. McNally (first three "Pirates of the Caribbean" films, "Valkyrie").Sounds promising, right? And Blackbeard is a wayyyy better villian than Davy Jones and his tentacle head. I mean, Blackbeard has a miniature golf course named after him. And Ian McShane rocks. So, win. And the Fountain of Youth plotline is cool. Wonder if the crew will meet some conquistadors along the way. May I suggest Antonio Banderas as Juan Ponce de Leon? No? Too much history? Fine.
"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" captures the fun, adventure and humor that ignited the hit franchise --this time in Disney Digital 3D(TM). In this action-packed tale of truth, betrayal, youth and demise, Captain Jack Sparrow crosses paths with a woman from his past (Penelope Cruz), and he's not sure if it's love--or if she's a ruthless con artist who's using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn't know who to fear more: Blackbeard or the woman from his past.
Rush reprises his role as the vengeful Captain Hector Barbossa, and Kevin R. McNally returns as Captain Jack's longtime comrade Joshamee Gibbs. Claflin stars as a stalwart missionary, while Berges-Frisbey is transformed into a mysterious mermaid.
If I may put my old man hat back on, there are still some reasons for concern. First, does this movie really need to be in 3D? I've seen enough 3D movies to realize that the only reason to release a movie in 3D is if it is animated (fine), or if it is bad but the studio needs to break even so they release in 3D because the tickets cost $5 more (cough*AliceinWonderland*cough). And it's directed by Rob Marshall, who is new to the franchise and who directed Nine, which was a complete snore. Also, this movie has "a mysterious mermaid." Hey, remember that awesome movie with the mysterious mermaid character?! No? Yeah, me neither.
Still, I trust in the Bruckheimer to deliver the summer fun. I'll see you in line!
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides hits theatres on May 20, 2011, when it will presumably shatter box office records and destroy any movie that sails in its path.
(image via Screen Crave)
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Related Links:
* Do We Really Need a Pirates 4?
* National Treasure 3: We've Got Writers!
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1 comments:
I've been less skeptical during the planning stages because they recognized the one thing that I had an issue with in the trilogy (the complex epic nature) by talking about how they were going to go for something a little more reeled back. And once i heard Ian McShane was cast, I started salivating. The plot does sound interesting. I do agree about the 3D. At this point, the foray into 3D is no longer about art, it's about the fact that Hollywood found a way to rip us off during a recession under the guise of "art". Curse you, James Cameron!
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