Daddy Mojo at the Movies-Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

We stopped watching Pirates of the Caribbean after the second one.  Me and my then future wife saw it in the theaters and it was OK, a little long and ended as a cliff hanger.  Any movie that ends in a curt manner with a cliffhanger shall have a pox on their franchise in the Mojo house.  That includes Back to the Future Part 2, as well as, the upcoming Harry Potter and Twilight.

However, as this was a fresh entry into the Pirates franchise it’s a new story so all of the viewers are on a level playing field.  We know the basic character, Jack Sparrow, a loose, likable pirate who has many enemies, but always escapes in an enjoyable manner with stunts and laughs.     Barbossa, who has been in all of the movies is here too as a frenemy.   Barbossa is played by Geoffrey Rush who almost steals every scene he’s in, but more on that in a moment.

Based on the commercial for On Stranger Tides you’d think that the plot was all about mermaids and that’s partially correct.  Mermaids play a large part in this movie, but it’s only to get the tears of one of them so that they can go on to possibly find the Fountain of Youth.

The movie starts out in London with Sparrow being tried in court for some pirate deed.  Gibbs is there too, who is the other common thread throughout the Pirate movies.  Kevin McNally, who plays Gibbs is a great actor who you’ll immediately recognize.  His character is very likeable and you’ll be thankful that the writers kept him in this fourth installment.

Penelope Cruz takes over the role of whoever, played by that English waif that was in the first three, as well as, Love Actually.  Cruz is good here because her role as Angelica the daughter of Blackbeard is a mystery and she plays it very close the chest, literally.  Her wardrobe, while I wasn’t complaining, was meant to bring in the teenage boys and the male demographics.

Blackbeard is the fuel to the movie.  He’s played by Ian McShane and he dominates every scene he is in.  Granted that’s partially due to how the character is written, but McShane kills every scene and his voice is perfect for that gritty, pirate type.

So Jack Sparrow eventually ends up on Blackbeard’s ship, with the English chasing him and a mysterious Spanish ship in pursuit.  Swordfights, pirate ships, a couple PG sexually innuendos and a treasure chest later it all ends up with the possibility of more Pirates of the Caribbean.

The Verdict

Pirates of the Caribbean on Stranger Tides was a very entertaining, summer type movie.  Yeah, summer type movies usually have a lower ceiling and are just meant to be enjoyed and not thought about too deeply.  This move fits the bill perfectly.  While it could be about 20 minutes shorter, it was well worth our time.  Get a babysitter and take the night off from the kids, this is good popcorn entertainment.

We saw the movie in 3D and it was good, but didn’t add too much to the movie.   Granted there were some cool swords coming at us and the landscape was lush, but it doesn’t merit the extra cash to see in  3D as opposed to 2D, aka, normal vision.

Mom and dad love to get out of the house, go to the theater and see a good movie.    Daddy Mojo at the Movies is different from Dad spends a night in the man cave.   In both cases movies will be watched, but Daddy Mojo at the Movies is a ‘date night’, while the later is the more disposable pulp cinema guys will watch.  Daddy Mojo at the Movies won’t divulge and secrets or twists in the movies, but will only evaluate if it’s a good night out for you and your bride.