From a Sinking Ship: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

When Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl came out in 2003, it earned a lot of praise, both critical and commercial. Johnny Depp, he of the quintessential quirky movies, had finally made what was seen as a generally accessible and enjoyable movie, and for that he earned an Oscar nod.  The supporting cast all brought something to the table and Disney ended up making a crapload of money. People today may forget how everyone scoffed at adapting a Disney theme park ride into a movie.

The sequels left a lot to be desired, culminating in the mess that was Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. I remember rolling my eyes at the giant whirlpool during the film’s climax and leaving with a headache that was approximately three hours in the making. With each new trailer for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, I was reminded of the physical pain I endured thanks to the last Pirates movie. So, naturally, you’d ask, why in the world would I watch this movie? Well, I liked the story Depp was spinning about how he knew the last one was a mess. He promised a better story and, well, I gave him the benefit of the doubt.