What Do The Critics Say?

"More straightforwardly piratical than the previous outings and, perhaps the better for it. No monsters and Davy Jones Locker or ghosts returning from the dead. This is more in the Treasure Island vein. We can’t say all’s well that ends well, because there are too many advance notices that the ending is temporary and there will be more to come." Peter Malone CATHOLIC NEWS "There is still some fun to be had here. The scene with the mermaids attacking is easily the best. Blackbeard uses some men as bait in a long boat to attract them. It is the films most tense moment. Never have such seductively beautiful naked women seemed so menacing. Depp is still charming as Jack Sparrow, with his awkward mannerisms and speech, "Captain, I wish to report a mutiny. I can name fingers and point names." As it is, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is better than the previous film but not nearly as good as the first." Eric Nash THREE MOVIE BUFFS "A simple story, overflowing with wit and charm, this is a must watch for those who allow themselves to really embrace and enjoy the magic of the cinema. A fresh and fun-filled addition, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is utterly fabulous, and many will argue, the best yet." Sassi Sam GIRLIE GOSSIP FILES "While On Stranger Tides does patch up some of the more gaping holes that sank the previous film: namely the confusing subplots, the superfluous support characters and the overindulgent CGI action sequences; it still buckles under the weight of an insipid story, tired performances and an inescapable sense of "been there, done that". Simply put, the magic is lost, and I highly doubt it’ll back in time for round five. The plot is comprehendible at least: which is a plus." Anders Wotzke CUT PRINT REVIEW

"Through it all, Depp, sporting a look of guilty confusion that gives way to preening self-satisfaction before returning to the confusion that is Sparrow’s natural state, soars with the sheer force of his personality. This being a flick produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, there are explosions of an epic nature, but there are also magical water effects, and Geoffrey Rush gloating over poison dart frogs." Andrea Chase KILLER MOVIE REVIEWS "The series has become about watching Johnny Depp totter around in a permanent state of inebriation, blurting out the occasional funny quip and committing the odd bit of swashbuckling and slapstick now and again. There is the welcome addition of the brilliant Ian McShane, giving the film a precious gasp of life as a chilling Blackbeard. All too few moments of Depp and Geoffrey Rush as best frenemies, Sparrow and Barbossa bring much needed spark to the slower moments." Diva Velez THE LADY MIZ DIVA "Retained are the two most successful touchstones of the series: Barbossa, always a close cousin of Long John Silver, is now minus a leg; and Jack Sparrow is still wily, still sexually ambivalent and still pirate land's greatest fashion victim, with gold teeth, kohled eyes and dreads dripping more beaded trinkets than a souvenir shop. Blackbeard himself is played by Ian McShane. McShane's glowering panto villainry never gets old. The big plus is that Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom, the series' boring lovers, have been ditched. Instead, there's Penelope Cruz as Blackbeard's daughter." Siobhan Synnot SCOTSMAN "Compared to the previous films, the plot is downright simplistic. Returning screenwriters Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio have clearly learned the lesson that more isn’t always better. McShane makes Blackbeard into a worthy adversary: all gruff bluster and no-nonsense determination. Marshall is a competent director, and some of the actions scenes have the kind of swash-buckling thrills that fans have come to love (especially a chase through the streets of London with Jack leaping from carriage to carriage)." James Kendrick Q NETWORK FILM DESK

The Inside Story “When three films together bring in $2.6 billion dollars worldwide, you understand pretty quickly that a message is being sent to you by audiences,” notes producer Jerry Bruckheimer of the international response to the first three “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise, subtitled "The Curse of the Black Pearl" (2003), "Dead Man’s Chest" (2005) and "At World’s End" (2007). "The numbers are wonderful," Bruckheimer continued, "but what’s even better is that they tell you something of what these films have meant to moviegoers. Audiences fell in love with the pirate genre all over again after an absence of some three decades, and they certainly fell head over heels for Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow! There are more adventures for Captain Jack to take on, and our screenwriters, Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, had already created a whole world to explore." And exploring that world is just what the audience will do when they travel with Captain Jack on his action-packed journey to the legendary Fountain of Youth. When Jack crosses paths (and swords) with the enigmatic Angelica, a ravishing pirate with whom he shares a dubious past, she forces him aboard the 'Queen Anne’s Revenge', the ship of the legendary pirate Blackbeard. The legend of a Fountain of Youth exists in many cultures, fostered and imagined in the writings and retelling of tales by people through the ages, dating back thousands of years. It was widely believed that if anyone were to drink water from the Fountain of Youth, their youth would be miraculously restored. The Fountain of Youth in modern culture is most often associated with the legendary spring that 16th century Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon was purportedly trying to find on an expedition to what is now the state of Florida in 1513. Finding himself a prisoner on an unexpected journey to the fabled fountain, Jack must use all his wiles to deal with the barbarous Blackbeard and his crew of zombies, Angelica, who can and will match him wit for wit and sword for sword, and beautiful, enchanting mermaids whose masterful cunning can lure even the most seasoned sailor to his doom. Johnny Depp, who had fallen unabashedly in love with the character of Captain Jack Sparrow over the course of the first three films, was certainly game for another new adventure. "The idea of a fourth one after finishing 'Pirates 3' was somewhere in the back of your head, thinking 'I sure hope so.' When you’re done playing Captain Jack, there’s a real decompression getting out of that skin, because I like being in that skin. There’s a great comfort in playing Captain Jack, because you have license to be completely irreverent, completely subversive, absolutely abstract in all situations. I know him so well that it just comes naturally." Depp was also enthusiastic to work for a fourth time with Bruckheimer, who had guarded the actor’s wholly original vision of Captain Jack Sparrow when the first film began to shoot. "We wouldn’t have been able to get away with a third of what we got away with on 'Pirates 1' without Jerry Bruckheimer. Without Jerry’s support, and his understanding of the material, saying 'Okay, I know that some people are scared but this sure seems funny to me, why don’t we go with it,' the first film would have been much more generic, not much fun, and I would have been fired!" "At this point Johnny is the most popular actor in the world, one of the best actors in the world, and certainly the most committed and hard-working. He’s somebody you love working with because every day he comes on the set with a smile, ready to go to work and have a great time, yet work very hard," the 2007 & '08 Rembrandt Award winner Bruckheimer said. When it came to finding a director for the film, both EMMY Award winner Bruckheimer ("The Great Race") and Golden Globe winner Depp ("Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street") found themselves in complete agreement with whom that should be: Rob Marshall, who had directed the Academy Award ® winning "Chicago"(Best Picture of the Year). "Rob is a filmmaker unafraid to take on the biggest challenges and take real risks," says Bruckheimer ("National Treasure" & "Veronica Guerin"). "What’s more, his background in musical theatre and film and choreography were huge benefits to direct a 'Pirates of the Caribbean' movie. You need somebody who can stage huge action and understands movement. Rob is also a wonderful storyteller, and he’s got impeccable taste." Depp (who played Glen Lantz in "A Nightmare on Elm Street") had a very short list of directors with whom he was willing to work on the fourth 'Pirates' opus. "You know, having done 'Pirates' one through three with Gore Verbinski, and Gore not being available for 'Pirates 4' because of his commitment to "Rango", made for quite a large dilemma initially." "I’ve always wanted to do a classic adventure film," Marshall says. "I think some initially thought that it’s a departure from what I do, but for me it’s not really; it’s more of an extension, specifically because 'action' in general is a kind of choreography. The action in 'Pirates', like dance, is choreographed within an inch of its life. To make action sequences work, they are put together carefully like a detailed mosaic and that’s very similar with dance. The action must contain story and develop character." Marshall was also excited about the prospects of working with the man who had given the Pirates of the Caribbean films their very heart and soul: Johnny Depp. "Many people have said to me over the years 'you guys would be a great fit, a great match and you would love working with him and he would love working with you.' Johnny is this extraordinary person because not only is he a genius and a creative force, but he is also such a kind, thoughtful and elegant man." "Johnny and Rob got along instantly and the relationship only got better through the course of the film," Executive Producer John DeLuca ("Nine") observed. “They were both always happy to be in each other’s company on set; they found that kindred spirit in each other." In writing the screenplay for 'On Stranger Tides', Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio ("The Mask of Zorro") relied on their own instincts first and foremost, but were also careful to consider the first three film's worldwide audience as well. Rossio in particular is noted for engaging in online dialogue with movie fans through his own accessible website. "It was valuable to track the fan base to see how they reacted to various announcements regarding the film," Rossio notes. "And I personally get energized in the designing and writing of the films, knowing how much the fans care, and knowing that if there is something ambitious or nuanced in the films, the fans are going to spot it and appreciate it." Fans will appreciate the new female protagonist they created. Angelica is a woman who can match Captain Jack blow for blow. "It was especially fun to put Jack up against Angelica," says Rossio, "as Jack had not yet faced off with a woman who was completely against him and his equal in terms of selfishness and cunning." Depp thoroughly enjoyed engaging his creative partners in conjuring the story of the film. "Basically, it’s like going into a think tank and just kind of throwing ideas around. They were very receptive to make the film different and to keep it very fresh as opposed to just, well, here comes another sequel." Bruckheimer, Marshall, Elliott and Rossio all knew the great benefits of developing new characters and continuing the arcs of pre-existing ones. Indeed, that aspect of the film was just one of the lures for 2009 Oscar ® winning Best Supporting Actress Penélope Cruz ("Vicky Cristina Barcelona"), as well as the notion of reuniting with Johnny Depp, with whom she had previously appeared in Ted Demme's "Blow" (2001). Marshall and DeLuca took the popular actress to dinner at a London restaurant, but didn’t bring up the role until the end of the meal. A tentative Marshall asked, "Penélope, would you ever be interested in the idea of doing Pirates?" And that's as far as he got. Cruz jumped up in the restaurant and screamed, "I would love to!" It didn’t hurt that Cruz was already an admirer of the entire franchise. "I’m a very big fan of the first three movies, and of what Johnny did in those movies. This is a great adventure for any actor to be a part of. It’s an adventure every day; you can never be bored." For the highly challenging role of history’s most notorious pirate Blackbeard, Bruckheimer and Marshall turned to an actor whose remarkable career in film and television, which has now spanned nearly fifty years: 2004 Golden Globe winner Ian McShane (TV'S "Deadwood"). McShane was also keen to work with Rob Marshall, noting that "I think the phrase to describe Rob would be 'charmingly relentless', which is a great quality if you’re directing a huge movie like this. Rob has a steely determination combined with an honest, personal charm, which is great." "The beauty of the character of Blackbeard," reflects Depp, "is that on the surface he seems to be a rational man. But then the more you get to him, the more you realize he’s a stone-cold killer without an ounce of heart. He would screw over anyone and everyone to get to his objective, which is what makes him so dangerous. And I don’t think there’s a better choice than Ian McShane, certainly, to play him." "Blackbeard is probably the most infamous pirate who ever lived," McShane ("Death Race") notes. "There’s a legion of stories about him, and whether they’re true or not, he’s now part of pirate mythology. I was impressed by the script, which is very funny and charming." Returning for the fourth time as Hector Barbossa is Oscar ® winner Geoffrey Rush ("Shine"), who in the previous 'Pirates' films had created one of the most wickedly beloved characters of the series. "I was very excited when I heard that there was going to be a fourth film because I love working with Johnny. The other thing that is very pleasing to me as an actor, is that Barbossa has been increasingly revealed in each successive film." To portray the two younger leads of the story: the beautiful and enigmatic mermaid, Syrena, and stalwart missionary, Philip Swift: Bruckheimer and Marshall, along with U.S. casting director Francine Maisler and U.K. casting directors Lucy Bevan and Susie Figgis, embarked on a classic worldwide talent search. Selected from thousands of candidates were France’s Astrid Bergès-Frisbey and England’s Sam Claflin. "It was a long process," Marshall revealed, "involving hundreds of actors. But as it came down to the final few, it became pretty clear who stood out." Bergès-Frisbey was gobsmacked when she learned of her selection to star in the new epic. "I couldn’t believe I was part of it until I arrived in Kauai for the first fitting." Playing the Mermaid, Syrena, wasn't a junket. In the two months of filming in Hawaii, Bergès-Frisbey, in order to retain the pale complexion that a mermaid was not permitted to have fun in the sun. "I had to live like a vampire, staying indoors during the day and only able to come out at night!" What's It All About?

Captain Jack Sparrow is in trouble: again. After escaping the Kings guard, he crosses paths with a woman from the past. She turns out to be a woman he seduced just before she took her vows and committed to a life as a Nun. But Jack's not sure if the beautiful Angelica is a ruthless con artist who’s using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth or a wronged woman who while still having feelings for him, seeks revenge. Forced aboard the "Queen Anne’s Revenge (the ship of legendary pirate Blackbeard), Jack now finds himself on an unexpected adventure. One in which he doesn’t know whom to fear more: Angelica, with whom he shares a somewhat mysterious past, or Blackbeard. After an unsuccessful mutiny is quelled by Blackbeard: Jack, Angelica and the crew set out on a dangerous journey: a race against time to find the fabled Fountain of Youth before the British and Spanish ships can.

The Verdict "Don't be fooled into thinking that, just because this is the fourth 'POTC' film, you've seen it all before. Sure there are aspects of "Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" that are comfortably familiar, such as: Captain Jack, Captain Barbossa and Joshamee Gibbs (characters who have now appeared in all four films): and while it is about Pirate adventures, Jerry Bruckheimer and Rob Marshall, together with screenwriters Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio and of course Johnny Depp, have managed to come-up with something that should satisfy the films many fans, who were (let's face it), hoping that one day Jack Sparrow would return to the bigscreen in another exciting, rollicking, adventure. Well, that moment has arrived. "So, what is new," you ask? The fearsome Blackbeard; zombie crew members; beautiful but deadly Mermaids; a Missionary; and Angelica, a vengeful woman who has been seduced by Sparrow and discarded like a dirty rag. While the first three films were mainly shot in the Caribbean, "Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" features a spectacular new location: the almost inaccessible Honopu Beach on Kauai’s fabled Na Pali Coast; a magnificent stretch of sand surrounded on three sides by 1200 feet (366 metres) sheer cliffs. Other locations were: the shuttered remains of the legendary Coco Palms Hotel near Kapa’a, Oahu (where Elvis Presley sang the title song in the film "Blue Hawaii"); Halona Cove, Oahu (aka "Eternity Beach") where Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr shared their famous snog in the sand in 1953’s "From Here to Eternity"; mermaid pools built on the grounds of the North Shore’s Turtle Bay Resort; a huge set for the mermaid sequence in Los Angeles; Puerto Rico for a tiny island and historic Spanish fort and the U.K. for London exteriors and Pinewood Studios. How much did the production cost? $US250 million. Was it worth it? Only time will tell. Rollicking fun. 4 STARS." Who Is Playing Who?

Johnny Depp Penélope Cruz Geoffrey Rush Ian McShane Kevin McNally Sam Claflin Astrid Berges-Frisbey Stephen Graham Keith Richards Richard Griffiths Greg Ellis Damian O'Hare Óscar Jaenada Anton Lesser Roger Allam ... Society Lady

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Captain Jack Sparrow Angelica Barbossa Blackbeard Gibbs Philip Syrena Scrum Captain Teague King George Groves Gillette The Spaniard Lord John Carteret Prime Minister Henry Pelham Society Lady

The Production Team Directed by Rob Marshall Screenplay by Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio Screen story by Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio Characters by Ted Elliott/Terry Rossio/Stuart Beattie/Jay Wolpert Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer Original Music by Hans Zimmer Cinematography by Dariusz Wolski Film Editing by David Brenner/Michael Kahn/Wyatt Smith Casting by Lucy Bevan Production Design by John Myhre Art Direction by Drew Boughton/John Chichester/Robert Cowper/Zack Grobler/Tomas Voth Set Decoration by Gordon Sim Costume Design by Penny Rose Run Time 137 minutes Rated M [AUST] Copyright ©2011 - Walt Disney Films - All Rights Reserved ©1999-2011 - The Movie Pages & Impact Internet Services - All Rights Reserved. Protected by Australian & International Copyright, Trademark Laws & Intellectual Property Rights.