The 5th installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is in theatres so I re-watched part 4, On Stranger Tides. I liked that this one took a step back from the way overboard production that was part 3, as it put the focus back on the pirate rather than rely on the spectacle of computer animation (which there was still plenty of anyways). Characters you know are again doing what you like seeing them do, and a few new ones are introduced at an appropriate pace, and help develop the story. Bringing in Penélope Cruz and Ian McShane help give Johnny Depp people to act with and that helps us get to see more of the character that he has built. It would be a mistake for the production to hide his talent behind large scale set pieces and battle sequences (which there are still plenty of anyways). Most of the music felt repetitive, which is tough to say (hear?) because I always find Hans Zimmer composed music amazing, but that might have been expected as this is part 4 of a potentially 6 part franchise based on a theme park ride (which I have been on).

Budget – $250 million

Director Rob Marshall has directed a few musicals, including Chicago (2002 with Catherine Zeta-Jones), Nine (2009 also starring Penélope Cruz), and after Pirates 4, Into the Woods (2014 with Meryl Streep). Writers Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio co-wrote the first 4 films in the franchise, and also The Lone Ranger (2013 also starring Johnny Depp). Composer Hans Zimmer made music for this film between fellow blockbusters Inception (2010 with Leonardo DiCaprio), and The Dark Knight Rises (2012 with Christian Bale). Director of photography Dariusz Wolski worked on this picture between two other Johnny Depp films, Alice in Wonderland (2010) and The Rum Diary (2011). Franchise star Johnny Depp in 2011 also provided his voice for the lead in Rango (directed by Gore Verbinski who helmed the first 3 Pirate films) and starred in The Rum Diary, all one year before Dark Shadows (acting again for Tim Burton). Penélope Cruz followed up Pirates with roles in To Rome with Love (Woody Allen directed in 2012), Twice Born (acting again for Sergio Castellitto), and The Counsellor (Ridley Scott directed in 2013). Geoffrey Rush, who has been in all the Pirate movies, made this film between roles in The Warrior’s Way and The Eye of the Storm. Ian McShane followed up with roles in Snow White and the Huntsman (2012 with Kristen Stewart), and Jack the Giant Slayer (2013 with Nicholas Hoult).

(please do not continue reading if you have not seen the movie and do not want to read a spoiler)