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Juhi Pande
Juhi Pande

I like how, every few years, Johnny Depp has the power to drag me to watch his insufferable Pirate films. This year was no different. ‘On Stranger Tides’ released last week and I knew that I had to watch it. I didn’t have a choice.

The  addiction started years ago when I watched ‘What’s Eating Gilbert  Grape.’ After that I was like a moth to a flame when it came to a Johnny  Depp film. Then, in 2003 the first Pirates of the Caribbean released  and I was….. amused, for lack of a better word. Depp was delectable as  a bumbling idiot pirate who seemed to get everything right after  getting everything wrong.

Then came Pirates Deux -Dead Man’s Chest and the only word floating around in my head was ‘What?’

Pirates of the Caribbean.
Pirates of the Caribbean.

And  then of course in 2007 ‘At Worlds End’ released. After watching it I  was certain that the world was going to end soon. This couldn’t be  happening. He couldn’t possibly be making such aimless films. And so,  last week as I walked to the cinema hall like a zombie to a populated  city, I was hoping that I wouldn’t have to walk out with another  singular worded question running through my head.

Lo  & behold! I was entertained. And I was entertained for the entire  137 minutes that I spent in the theatre. This was such an awesome  surprise.
The  film started on a great ‘Enter Jack Sparrow’ note and moved on to a  super fight/carriage-chase sequence with a cameo by Dame Judy Dench. I  was thrilled. I had wanted to like this film and it was actually  happening.

Pirates of the Caribbean
Pirates of the Caribbean

Jack  Sparrow along with Blackbeard (Ian McShane) and Angelica (Penelope Cruz – who, by the way is such a brilliant relief from the ever pouting,  ever shrinking Keira Knightly) are out to seek the ultimate treasure  known to man – The fountain of youth. But they are not alone. Jack  Sparrow’s frenemy Hector Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) and the Spaniards are  in the same race. They all need to get to the fountain of youth for  completely different reasons, which is why the movie stays interesting.  The race is on and it involves a lot of people who just can’t seem to  get along. Throw in some rituals to this already heady concoction and  what we get is swords flying, pirate ships being run by magic, cruel  captains and some absolutely beautiful mermaids.

Depp delivers a spectacular Jack Sparrow and Cruz (with that accent) can do no wrong in my eyes.

Tight story and a stellar cast. I say, bring on the fifth.