«Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar's Revenge»

Cinema Wednesdays - Jonas Follonier

Who among the younger generation hasn't marveled at the fantastic universe of this story of pirates rampaging through the oceans? Based on the adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow, played by Johnny Depp, Pirates of the Caribbean is a film series that's still making waves. What was supposed to remain a trilogy had finally given birth to a fourth film, The Fountain of Youth, in 2011. The latest baby has just arrived: Salazar's Revenge.

Harry Potter fans can rest assured that Slytherin has nothing to do with this film. Salazar is a former Spanish captain who died with his ship in the dreaded Bermuda Triangle. The ship was wrecked thanks to the skill of the young anti-hero Jack Sparrow. The ghost of Salazar, gnawed by hatred and condemned to remain in the darkness of this mysterious triangle, awaits only one thing: revenge.

Sparrow, therefore, fears for his life more than any other pirate. Running parallel to this plot, young Henry seeks to save his father, Will Turner, who has been struck by a curse binding him to the ocean floor. Ancient texts are unequivocal: the only way to break all maritime spells is to find Poseidon’s Trident. This quest will intertwine the fates of Henry Turner and Jack Sparrow and bring into the story a well-known character from the saga. Pirates of the Caribbean: Barbossa, played by Australian actor Geoffrey Rush.

This captain, who captivates with his terrifying eyes, his drunkard’s nose, the monkey on his shoulder, his voice, and his famous wooden leg (the embodiment of what we’d all like to be if we were pirates), is one of the film’s greatest successes. The one-legged man will even turn out to be at the center of the story. However, we won’t give away this plot twist: Le Regard Libre is not a «spoiler»; besides, if it were, he would find a French word to express it.

Other highlights of this American feature film—as in the previous installments—include the music, sound, special effects, makeup, and Johnny Depp’s performance, all of which contribute to a very Hollywood-style suspense. It’s both epic and comical; those seeking something tragic or romantic should see another movie. To each his own.

Will Salazar and his crew manage to get their revenge? Will Sparrow have any other goal besides drinking bottles of rum? Will there be a love scene? Will Norwegian directors Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg offer something new and exciting for adventure fans? Find out in theaters.

Write to the author: jonas.follonier@leregardlibre.com

Photo credit: © braindamaged.fr