Into the Fire

Okay, some of you are bored with the Pirates’ films. Fine. Go elsewhere for your entertainment. None of the sequels will ever top the first one. Almost everyone can agree on that. And, yes, “Dead Man’s Chest” was my least favorite, but I enjoyed “At World’s End”. And since Captain Jack Sparrow maintains a special place in the annals of unique movie characters, it’s fascinating to see how Johnny Depp manages to still keep him interesting.

“On Stranger Tides” takes a different turn on the tropical seas in search of man’s desire to never die. The wicked and feared pirate Blackbeard must find The Fountain of Youth to insure he doesn’t succumb to his imminent death at the hands of the one-legged man. That one-legged man is a familiar character to fans of this series. It’s just that we’re introduced to him in a totally unfamiliar position as the film begins with Jack in disguise to save his pal Gibbs from a hanging and then in his usual trouble clapped in irons before one of the British royalty who wants to use him to also find The Fountain of Youth.

When Jack manages to escape his dilemma which leaves Gibbs at the mercy of the one-legged man, he teams up with his former lover Angelica (Penelope Cruz) who has managed to convince Blackbeard she is his daughter. We’re never quite sure if she is or isn’t. In fact we’re never quite sure if she is or isn’t anything other than a beautiful conniving wench. Off they go in search of The Fountain. As is the case with these pirate films, odd characters participate in the plots for unknown reasons, and this one features a young missionary man who insists—for a brief time—that even Blackbeard can be saved. The interesting inclusion of this character gives the typical secular film ample opportunity to mock God. It doesn’t happen. In fact, this character is played well and sympathetically for the most part. His final scene keeps the fantasy of the film in place, but scores some major points to Rossio and Elliot for giving this character a positive voice overall.

The morbid mermaid feeding frenzy will keep fantasy lovers laughing or grimacing, and the special effects fans will enjoy one of the results of drinking from The Fountain without properly completing the ritual required.

Captain Jack Sparrow exhibits moments of his original gallantry always infused with personal motivations, but this time around he manages to do the right things more often than the wrong and reminds us why we continue to root for him in spite of him.

The film is available in 3D, apparently retrofitted post-production and not too effectively, but we viewed it without the glasses this time.

If you go to the Pirates’ films looking for cinematic masterpieces, you’re not going to be impressed with POTC 4. If you’re going to watch the antics of Captain Jack Sparrow at the continued mercy of adventurous and imaginative scriptwriters Rossio and Elliot along with two additional writers since this film was adapted from the Tim Powers’ novel On Stranger Tides, then you can sit back, munch your popcorn, sip on your pop or eat your candy, and laugh occasionally while enjoying the magnificent waters and gorgeous fauna of Kauai where much of this entertaining movie was filmed.

Some critics have called it “old and tired”, but it’s still got life as far as this viewer is concerned. A fun film with no requirements from the people in the seats.

Lord, you know how  and for whom I pray. Please lead them to yourself. They are lost without you. I know because I was there, too. Please, Lord, salvation is available to us all. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.