High seas just a soggy mess – Kankakee Daily Journal

The infamous Jack Sparrow is back in the fifth "Pirates of the Caribbean" film, "Dead Men Tell No Tales." The Disney franchise continues in its effort to reel in viewers who love Johnny Depp and his drunken pirate antics. A few new additions join beloved characters in an attempt to keep it fresh, but this version is nothing more than a soggy mess.

Henry Turner's (Brenton Thwaites) father, Will (Orlando Bloom), has been lost at sea, taken by the curse placed upon him. Young Henry vows to find Poseidon's trident, the one item that can break the curse and return his father to his rightful state. Henry's quest leads him to the dead Capt. Salazar (Javier Bardem) and Sparrow. As with all these movies, there's a young, beautiful damsel in distress who actually is quite smart and savvy on her own. This fare maiden, Carina Smyth (Kaya Scodelario), holds the key to unlocking the map to locate the trident and, in turn, Sparrow's safety. Meanwhile, Capt. Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) makes a deal with the devil of the sea and Sparrow and his gangly entourage must outwit the dumb-witted seafarers and Red Coats.

"Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales" is filled with exactly what you would expect: nonstop chase scenes, spectacular acrobatic stunts and amazing CGI. If you're a fan of this franchise, you're used to quite a bit of humor, too. Unfortunately, this version, in its 2-hour-and-9-minute running time, lacks it. The few laugh-out-loud moments are rather off-color. Double entendres aren't the signature style of Disney. The violence, sometimes graphic, also seems harsh by Disney standards.

Ultimately, it's slow-paced, even in the midst of high action. The film meanders, piecing together subplot after subplot. Between Capt. Salazar's soliloquy and Capt. Barbossa's long-winded mutterings, it is difficult to stay focused. Focus is exactly what this film needed and couldn't produce. And that's not even to mention all the inconsistencies in the story.

While the plots are lost at sea, the one-dimensional characters can't breathe life back into the drowning film. Depp, although the lead, has more stunts than lines, and Rush seems to have lost his edge on this evil character. Bardem, always an intimidating "bad guy," serves his role well, but the CGI upstages his portrayal. Thwaites is the handsome "prince" and hero, and Scodelario counters his looks with her beauty -- and that's as deep as these characters go. There's just no personality.

"Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales" is a lackluster story filled with mesmerizing special effects. The amount of violence and off-color humor gives this film its PG-13 rating, but it also gives Disney a different look as well. Spending your time and money on this one would be like walking the plank. I'd advise against it.

Visit link:

High seas just a soggy mess - Kankakee Daily Journal