Film Review: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017)

SYNOPSIS:

Captain Jack Sparrow searches for the trident of Poseidon while being pursued by an undead sea captain and his crew.

REVIEW:

Directors Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg also directed Kon-Tiki (2012) together before they directed Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, which was released overseas as Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge.  Joachim Rønning is currently working on Pirates of the Caribbean 6.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is the fifth installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise. I must confess that before seeing this film, I had only seen the first film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003).  I know I’m in the minority when I say I wasn’t a big fan of the first movie, but this film was such a fun ride (pun intended) that I now feel the need to watch the rest of the series.

Twelve year old Henry Turner goes aboard the Flying Dutchman to tell his father Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) that he can break the curse that binds his father to the ship if he can find the mythical Trident of Poseidon, which will release all curses of the sea, and he intends to get Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) to help him.  It feels like Johnny Depp was born to play Captain Jack Sparrow. Will doesn’t believe the Trident exists and demands that Henry leave and never come back. Nine years later, Henry is working on a British warship that is sailing towards the Devil’s Triangle.  He warns the ship’s captain not to sail into the Triangle and is locked up for attempting mutiny. After entering the Triangle, The warship is attacked by Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem) and his undead crew. Captain Salazar was a ruthless pirate hunter who terrorized the seas for years, killing thousands of pirates, until Jack Sparrow led him to his death in the Devil’s Triangle. The dark powers of the Triangle resurrected Salazar, but cursed him to roam the world as a ghost for eternity. Salazar has been searching for the Trident of Poseidon so he can kill Jack Sparrow and avenge his death. I thought every character was perfectly cast in this film and I really loved Javier Bardem as Salazar. Even his makeup was fantastic.

In Saint Martin, Carina Smyth (Kaya Scodelario) has been sentenced to death for witchcraft because she has been studying astronomy and horology. She possesses a book, left to her by her father who she never knew, that gives the location of a map that will lead to the Trident of Poseidon. Carina meets Henry and tells him she knows how to find the Trident. Jack Sparrow has been captured by the British army and his crew helps Henry save Carina and Jack from execution and they agree to work together and set sail on Jack’s ship, the Dying Gull. Carina tells them that the stars are actually the map that leads to the Trident. Salazar teams up with Captain Hector Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) who is also looking for Jack Sparrow. The special effects in this film are astounding and believable and I especially loved a wild scene with a ghost shark full of holes flying through the air.

Salazar’s ship catches up to the Dying Gull and Jack realizes that the ghost crew cannot step foot on land, so he, Carina and Henry escape to a nearby island. Once on the island, Barbossa switches sides and decides to help Jack, Carina and Henry. Jack’s original ship, The Black Pearl, which had been shrunken down and trapped in a bottle, is restored to its original size and Carina navigates the ship to the island where she believes they will find the Trident.  Along the way, the true identity of Carina’s father is revealed.  An insane, highly entertaining sequence of events is set into motion when they arrive on the island where the Trident is supposed to be located, including some epic battle scenes.

Will they find the Trident of Poseidon and lift all the curses of the sea? Will Henry finally be reunited with his father Will? You’ll have to see the film to find out. I also suggest that you watch the end credits all the way to the end because you will be rewarded with a very interesting bonus scene featuring a familiar character, that you won’t want to miss.

Bonus features include*:

BLU-RAY & DIGITAL in HD:

• Dead Men Tell More Tales: The Making of a New Adventure – Get unique access into the making of this exciting new “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie with this collection of revealing and entertaining stories that you can view individually or as a “play all.”
  • A Return to the Sea – Two talented filmmakers, Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg, team up to bring “Pirates of the Caribbean” back to the screen. Hear how this new chapter of the tale was developed.
  • Telling Tales: A Sit-down with Brenton & Kaya – Meet Brenton Thwaites and Kaya Scodelario, the young actors behind Henry and Carina. The two sit down together for a revealing conversation on becoming a part of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” film franchise and its continuing legacy.
  • The Matador & The Bull: Secrets of Salazar & The Silent Mary – Oscar-winner Javier Bardem reveals more about his menacing new character and the foreboding ship he helms.
  • First Mate Confidential – Go on-set along with Kevin McNally, the affable actor behind the feisty Mr. Gibbs, Captain Jack’s reliable first mate from all five movies.
  • Deconstructing the Ghost Sharks – Peer below the depths at how these ferocious, mythical monsters were designed and brought to life.
  • Wings Over the Caribbean – Captain Jack has a memorable encounter with Sir Paul McCartney – rock ‘n’ roll royalty.
  • An Enduring Legacy – Take one more look at the “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” experience and the impact of “Pirates of the Caribbean” — the movies, the ride and beyond.
• Bloopers of the Caribbean
• Jerry Bruckheimer Photo Diary
• Deleted Scenes
  • Highwayman
  • Henry Turner Learns a Lesson from Captain Jack
  • A Whale in Poseidon’s Tomb
  • Alternate Coda: Murtogg & Mullroy “Flogging”

DVD:

• First Mate Confidential

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017)  –  4.5 Out of 5 Skulls

Now available from Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer Films