In the fifth installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean series, which improbably found its genesis in the Disney World ride, Johnny Depp returns in?Dead Men Tell No Tales, pumping new life into the series which?On Stranger Tides?had left for dead. Brought back into action by the need to find the Trident of Poseidon, Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow joins with new and old accomplices to save himself … and save the world.
Henry Turner (Brenton Thwaites) is a true believer; as the son of Will and Elizabeth Turner (Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley), he knows what Jack can do. But when he discovers that the Trident can in fact break the curse on his father aboard the ghostly Flying Dutchman, well, he does everything he can to convince Jack to get the Trident. Kaya Scodelario joins them as the astronomer (or accused witch) Carina Smyth and Geoffrey Rush’s richly corporate pirate Barbossa, who want to find it, too.
On the other side of the ledger is Captain Armando Salazar (Javier Bardem), who was trapped in the Devil’s Triangle, and is now on a headfirst collision course with Jack, his old nemesis. He wants the trident to destroy piracy and rule the ocean (a reoccurring theme). He’s the ‘big baddie,’ with HMS Essex Captain John Scarfield (David Wenham), as the ‘law’ who is after Jack, too.
All in all, this is a good lark that brings back the feel of the good old days, under director?Joachim R?nning in his first English-language blockbuster. It’s a good vibe and one that will leave audiences cheering, whether they’re for piracy or not. It’s inspiring to see the lengths the young Turner will go to save his dad – and even the way that Jack can find his way to heroism before it’s all said and done.
The special features include a full squad of behind-the-scenes looks with the new actors (Thwaite and Scodelario), the making of the ghost sharks, and the look at Bardem’s ship and mystique. You’ll also get some more laughs with the bloopers and some scenes that didn’t make the final cut. The film is available now on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD.?
