Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

REVIEW:

I was curious to see how the Pirates of the Caribbean movies would continue following the explosive ending to At World’s End, as that truly felt like the concluding chapter of an epic trilogy. The third movie tied everything up neatly with emotional payoffs, final duels, and a sense of closure that felt earned. So when a fourth film was announced, I was both intrigued and cautious. Could Disney really extend this swashbuckling series without it feeling like an unnecessary cash grab? Unfortunately, the answer became painfully clear within the first twenty minutes.

It’s a massive shame that Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley did not return for this sequel, particularly because Elizabeth being crowned Pirate King was a pivotal scene in At World’s End that is never mentioned again here. Considering how essential Will and Elizabeth were to the emotional backbone of the trilogy, their absence is felt in every scene. However, after watching this lifeless follow-up, I honestly think it was lucky for them not to appear in this terrible sequel. The film completely forgets what made those characters and their arcs so vital to the franchise’s identity.

There’s also a very brief and rather odd cameo from Judi Dench, who appears for just one scene in a carriage with Jack Sparrow. It’s not necessarily bad, just strangely random and out of place, the kind of moment that makes you wonder what purpose it served. The film does at least manage to recruit some strong talent in Stephen Graham, Ian McShane and Penélope Cruz, but even they can’t inject any spark into the dull, lifeless script. McShane’s Blackbeard should have been a menacing presence, yet he’s given no real backstory or motive, and his supposed powers come with no explanation.

This was the first Pirates film not directed by Gore Verbinski, and it shows. Rob Marshall steps in with a clear intention to reboot the series while keeping it within the same universe, but his direction lacks energy and imagination. The movie desperately tries to recapture the charm of The Curse of the Black Pearl with supernatural elements, a notorious pirate villain and a hint of romance, but none of it clicks. Instead, it feels like a checklist of Pirates tropes with no heart or soul connecting them.

The new characters, especially the young missionary Philip (Sam Claflin) and the mermaid Syrena (Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey), are painfully underdeveloped. Their romance feels forced, hollow and completely unearned, how Philip even learns her name is a mystery that the movie doesn’t bother to answer. The story lacks any real sense of adventure; everyone seems to know where the Fountain of Youth is, so there’s no tension or mystery driving the plot. Instead, the film becomes a tedious series of scenes that drag the viewer from one uninspired set piece to the next.

Visually, the film leans heavily into the 3D craze of its time, with objects flying toward the camera and action sequences framed awkwardly to exploit the effect. Watching it in standard format now only highlights how gimmicky those moments are. Even the ship that comes alive, something that could have been spectacular, looks more like a Disney theme park attraction than a believable part of this world. The earlier films never relied on cheap gimmicks; they were immersive because they felt real, lived-in and dangerous.

The drop in quality between At World’s End and On Stranger Tides is staggering. The first three films balanced chaos and charm with epic storytelling and memorable character moments, but this one feels like an empty shell. Blackbeard can somehow create zombies and control his ship with his sword, yet none of it makes sense or adds to the plot. Worst of all, the Black Pearl, the ship that defined so much of the series’ mythology, is sunk off-screen, which feels like a complete betrayal to fans of the saga.

When the credits rolled, I couldn’t shake the feeling of disappointment. It tries to end on a cliffhanger to set up more adventures, but by that point, I didn’t care. The first time I watched it, I left the cinema thinking, “They seriously need to up their game.” Seeing Captain Jack Sparrow again should have been a joy, but even Johnny Depp’s charisma can’t save a film that’s this uninspired. On Stranger Tides isn’t just a weak sequel, it’s a reminder that without vision, even the most beloved franchise can lose its way.