Director: Joachim Ronning, Espen Sandberg Lead Cast: Johnny Depp, Javier Bardem, Kaya
Scodelario, Brenton Thwaites
Screenwriter: Jeff Nathanson,
Terry Rossio, Ted Elliot Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer Editor:
Roger Balton, Leigh Folsom Boyd Musical
Director: Geoff Zanelli
Genre: Fantasy-Adventure Cinematographer:
Paul Cameron Distributor: Walt
Disney Location: United States Running Time: 129 minutes
Technical assessment: 2
Moral assessment: 2.5
CINEMA rating: A14
MTRCB rating: PG
The fifth
installment of the popular franchise, Pirates
of the Carribean: Salazar’s Revenge take an all-new adventure with the usual
not-so-lucky Capt. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) who feels the winds of
ill-fortune blowing even more strongly when deadly ghost sailors led by his old
nemesis, the evil Capt. Salazar (Javier Bardem), escape from the Devil's
Triangle and are now after him. Jack's
only hope of survival lies in seeking out the legendary Trident of Poseidon—but
to find it, he must forge an uneasy alliance with a brilliant and beautiful
astronomer Carina (Kaya Scodelario) and a headstrong young man Henry Turner
(Brenton Thawaites), son of Jack’s old
associates Will (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Turner (Keira Knightley). Henry
is out to free his father from the curse of the Flying Dutchman. Jack, Carina
and Henry sail together to find the Trident of Poseidon for different reasons.
Will they be able get there and survive amidst the rage of Jack’s enemies?
Pirates of the Caribbean:
Salazar’s Revenge suffers
from the usual problems of convoluted storytelling without a compelling center.
The point-of-view is confusing from the very start as it introduces the new and
young characters Henry and Carina. With the presence of these two, it seems
that Jack Sparrow’s presence is just coincidental and does not go beyond from
being merely functional. The characterization seems uninspired with most of
them bordering on the mechanical. There is no depth of emotional development or
human dimension besides superhuman beings and ghosts who appear to be more
powerful than the living—result is a poorly developed story with a spectacular
backdrop of visual effects and production design. Even the action sequences
appear to be as tired as the franchise with no more new tricks and antics to
offer other than extending it for the sake of introducing younger characters.
Lighting seems to be dark at most times, making some scenes hard to understand.
But then the film still tries very hard to live-up to its original appeal—romantic,
naughty, action-packed, mysterious, dark yet has something good to say. Perhaps
it just pales in comparison to its predecessors.
Pirates of the Caribbean:
Salazar’s Revenge revolves
around the unfailing love of a son for his father which is later on compensated
by a father’s sacrificial love for his daughter. Although these are not
attributed to the main character, Jack Sparrow, it is the fuel of the story
though not necessarily well-developed. There are questionable scenes of
adultery and violence that may not be suitable for the very young followers of
the franchise. Such depictions of immorality are easily dismissed as not
central to the conflict. However, given that the franchise is made popular by
its lead—a drunkard, womanizer, criminal, a pirate with no apparent redeeming value
aside from being supportive and instrumental for others to achieve their pure
intentions—the film remains on the borderline of being morally disturbing. Not to
mention the graphic violence with a certain degree of blood and gore in most
fight scenes which might desensitize young, impressionable minds. CINEMA deems
the film as fit only for audiences 14 years old and above. Parents are cautioned to guide their children
while watching this film as its genre will always be misleading as wholesome
entertainment.
