With Jim Sabatini

Pirates of the Caribbean - On Stranger Tides

Rated: PG-13  For violence and intense content.
Reviewed by: Chris
Release date: May 20, 2011	Released by: Walt Disney Pictures

Director Rob Marshall picks up the helm in the newest of the Pirates series.

Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is once again into it up to his mascara-ladened eyes. He's looking for the legendary Fountain Of Youth, but first he has to escape from his latest predicament. The opening is a lot of fun as he tries to escape from being a prisoner in King George's palace. He breaks out of his bonds, jumps from a ledge and an exciting chase ensues. The 3-D effects however, add almost nothing to the action of the film, and are totally unnecessary.

Penelope Cruz plays feisty pirate Angelica and Ian McShane is also new to the cast as the evil Blackbeard. They are both out to beat Sparrow to the Fountain, along with returning Pirate Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), who has joined forces with King George. Barbossa is not only missing a leg this time around, but his face seems to be getting craggier with each additional scene.

Cruz's character adds little romantic intrigue with Sparrow, but McShane is energetic and entertaining as Jack's nemesis.

The action is mostly predictable, except for one scene when pirates that are adrift from Blackbeard's ship are attacked by numerous deadly Mermaids. It is dark, scary and very effective. If it weren't for this one sequence, along with the opening chase, it would appear that the Pirates series has lost a lot of its steam.