How many lives does a Sparrow have? Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is back and is, as usual, in deep peril and in danger of losing his life. He goes to the guillotine, and in what could be a tragic end for the pirate scoundrel turns out to be instead a very hilarious moment in the movie. Without giving it away let’s just say it is not the Captain’s body that is separated from his head, but the guillotine goes through a separation of sorts. Many of the familiar faces from the other Pirate movies are back including Gibbs (Kevin McNally), Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) and even a couple of scenes featuring Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swan (Keira Knightley).
The movie mixes the old with the new, featuring new faces such as Henry Turner (Brenton Thwaites), Will and Elizabeth’s son, who is determined to end the curse on his father Will, which binds him to the underwater Flying Dutchman. Also featured is Carina Smyth (Kaya Scodelario) who, like Will, is on a quest regarding her father. And her father’s identity turns out to be a major plot twist. Carina and Henry hook up in their journey and their adventures wind up being fast-paced and breathtaking all at the same time. Also featured is a new villain, Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem). The quest for a Trident is the one thing that can break several curses at the same time. The question is—who will get to it first? It should be noted that Sir Paul McCartney has a cameo in the film as Uncle Jack, Jack Sparrow’s uncle and it is definitely a funny scene and a treat.
This fifth installment in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise is action-packed, funny, and spins an interesting tale. Captain Jack, trying to escape trouble as always, even answers Carina when she says she’s not looking for trouble, with the comment, “What a terrible way to live!” Fortunately for the viewers, Captain Jack is always on the edge of getting into a serious pickle and the fun is watching him try to get out. It is regrettable that due to the sexual content and violence that we are unable to award the film our Dove Family-Approved Seal. For those who appreciate Johnny Depp’s rascal of a pirate, this one shows that there is still some life left in the franchise. Even near the conclusion of the film he is funny, as he watches two couples kissing at the same time and says, “What a truly revolting sight!” Complex characters are always interesting and Captain Jack is still a lovable scoundrel who wants to save his own neck, but yet remains loyal to those who are loyal to him.
