KompetenterMedic

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides tries to set out on a new course, but it feels like a ship without a compass. The film is riddled with the absence of familiar faces and the unmistakable flair that made the original trilogy so compelling. Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley are sorely missed, and with them goes much of the emotional core that grounded the previous adventures. Even side characters like Pintel and Ragetti, who brought a uniquely balanced comedic tone, are nowhere to be found. As a result, this entry lacks the personality and atmosphere that made the franchise iconic.

The film tries to fill this void with new faces and fresh concepts, but most of them fall flat. Penélope Cruz's performance as Angelica feels distant and disengaged, and her character is never given the depth necessary to truly matter in the larger narrative. Ian McShane's Blackbeard, despite the actor's natural screen presence, is reduced to a shallow caricature, his magical abilities veering too far into the absurd, even for this fantastical world. His supernatural control over the ship feels disconnected from the previously established logic of the series' magic. It seems as if spectacle has replaced cohesion. The romance between the mermaid and the clergyman is jarring and clumsily written, offering neither emotional weight nor thematic value.

There are small glimmers of inspiration. The mermaids are a welcome addition, finally giving room to a mythos left untapped by earlier films. Their scenes are visually intriguing and conceptually strong. Similarly, the decision to portray the Spanish as motivated not by greed, but by religious conviction, provides an unexpected and even refreshing twist on an otherwise predictable plotline. And of course, Johnny Depp remains a highlight. His portrayal of Jack Sparrow still brims with energy and eccentric charm, a consistent element in an otherwise inconsistent narrative.

Unfortunately, the film leans far too heavily on overproduced action. The overuse of explosions and empty chaos strays from the more grounded, gritty combat that characterized earlier entries. At times, it feels like the film is trying to dazzle its way past a lack of substance, but the effects are not up to par either. The once-impressive blend of practical and digital visuals is replaced with sequences that feel rushed or unfinished. Even the design choices, like Barbossa's wooden leg, feel forced rather than inspired, more like props than character-driven features.

What remains is a film that wants to be part of the Pirates saga but lacks the emotional depth, world-building nuance, and narrative tightness to justify its place. It is not without moments of enjoyment, and fans of Depp's Sparrow will still find reasons to smile, but overall it feels like a missed opportunity weighed down by its own legacy. Without Gore Verbinski's steady hand, and without the heart brought by its original cast, the film ends up adrift in familiar waters but with none of the magic that once filled its sails.