The dead have taken command of the sea. They're searching for a girl, a Pearl, and a Sparrow!" This expensive movie had a lot of great ideas - innovative in fact. But, in writing the script, the film delivered something nostalgic, but distinctly lacking in closure. If this was to be the last story of Captain Jack Sparrow, and all the characters that were involved in his pirate's life, then it's a poor show. Regardless of whether every character who was still alive got a chance to share the limelight, it's pointless when you can't do it meaningfully.
Let's start with the positives. Johnny Depp has been the unbreakable anchor in this franchise and created a household name for his character, with little short of bumbling behaviour and a distinctive accent. He is the true saviour of a messy film, that is lifted out of boredom by means of comical interplay. He steals every scene, even from the highly-esteemed Geoffrey Rush and Javier Bardem. There's no denying that without Depp, this series would be much poorer, and perhaps wouldn't have succeeded from the off-set. The music can also be commended, even if its completely lifted from the first three films and lazily adapted. I also enjoyed the flashbacks, giving us insight (albeit short) into the early life of Jack Sparrow and the origin of his antics and his iconic name. The fact that Salazar has been connected to Jack through the compass for all this time, was a nice twist - but it's also a gaping plot hole, considering Jack has given the compass away in the past. Nostalgia is a powerful thing, and it could work wonders for this film, as that final scene between Will and Elizabeth pretty much caps off their entire storyline, meaning that they don't need to be separated any longer. But there are some cons to this final development, that practically undermines previous plots. With the positives out the way, there's a lot left to discuss. First of all, I'm very fond of the original three films - the script, storyline and crazy visions have always been exemplary. The films are also timeless, with so much fun and entertainment that it's hard to stop watching them sometimes. But, Salazar's Revenge (or Dead Men Tell No Tales), lacks the impact of those three films simply because it tries so hard to be original while also relying equally as much on the previous films. Salazar's crew are effectively a mix of Barbossa's crew in the first film and the crew of the Dutchman. The execution scene was a convoluted rehash of the original execution scene in the first film that has ten times more class and style. Not to mention the fact that the growing affection between Henry and Carina is blatantly parallel to Will Turner's and Elizabeth Swan's (hell, Henry is even Will's son). The connections are endless and yet they do the film no justice, because it's all been seen before. Whilst the acting was predominantly top notch, I thought Brenton Thwaites and Kaya Scodelario were both severely lacking in talent and charisma. Perhaps relying too much on the preceding love story (Will and Elizabeth) as the basis for this new relationship, the characters just didn't express themselves enough to make me give them any empathy. The script did them no justice either, as I found myself cringing at some of the most outrageous lines I've heard in cinema, such as repetitively pointing and shouting out the name of people and vessels as they approach, even if the audience is fully aware of what's coming. Unfortunately, they both came across as dim-witted and emotionless. I also thought David Wenham was terribly wasted in his role - script-wise he was portrayed as the stereotypical military officer, who holds more grudges than brain cells. For the script itself, I have no love. It was amateurish, cringeworthy and uninventive. How Pirates of the Caribbean has gone from some of the savy-est sweet-talk in all cinema to this ridiculous nonsense is beyond me, but it becomes quickly apparent that the screenplay is more of a guide than a subsidiary of storytelling, and everyone sounds like they're reading instructions rather than actually living and breathing their characters. I hate to say it, but the directing didn't exactly help this situation. Where this franchise was once renowned for its mesmerising action sequences (I refer you to Calypso's whirlpool in At World's End), as a potential closing chapter, Salazar's Revenge was sloppy and uncreative. Most of the action could be over in a minute, and there'd be barely any blood spilt. As is evident, especially in the final sequence involving the Trident of Poseidon, there's an extreme lack of thought gone into how the action could portrayed believably. The main factor for this film's downfall, for me, was the lack of grit. As I keep mentioning, the first three films had a certain tone that showed a different angle to Disney. Whereas they were pandering for the benefit of kids, here were movies that enjoyed being scary, and had some truly threatening villains to support that terror. Seeing as Barbossa turned good and Davy Jones and Beckett were both killed by the third film, the franchise lost too much substance to be able to continue. Without it, even the sharks, that would normally be blood-curdling, there's no real demand to cover your eyes. I definitely thought On Stranger Tides was a let-down, but this was arguably worse. It's not a complete failure, because there are some genuinely great ideas (if you can find them amongst the nonsensical jargon, mind you), but without Gore Verbrinski, and Elliot & Rossio, it lacks the extra flare that a film this grand needs. For the better of the franchise and its future reputation, I think Disney should leave it there and be content with the fact that they've told three amazing stories, and two half-decent ones to quench everyone's thirst. There's no need for any more. 5.5/10
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8/10/2022 10:14:02 pm
Çok güzel bir konu teşekkür ederim. Kemer transfer: https://www.alanyagroup.com/kemer-airport-transfer/
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AuthorA very passionate Welsh nerd... Archives
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