Trailer Tuesday - Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

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I know I'm in the minority when I say I've never been a big fan of the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise. All that monotonous running back and forth over the same territory (literally AND figuratively), and annoyingly stern-jawed young lovers you just want to keelhaul.

When I heard the announcement that Disney was planning another trilogy of Pirates films - bringing the number of entries in the series to 6 - my skepticism was only enhanced. Clearly Disney and producer Jerry Bruckheimer were just out to squeeze more money from the smash hit action-adventure series (inspired of course by one of Disney's oldest theme park rides). Time to milk the public of their hard earned pennies once more - now with the additional, expensive enticements of 3D and IMAX 3D...


However, after watching the trailer for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, I've been forced to swallow my words. Pirates #4 actually looks entertaining. And this despite the fact that there are enough hints in the trailer that the filmmakers have introduced another young, lovestruck and dull couple to replace Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley... and supposedly add dramatic impetus to the story. Why the audience isn't allowed to just have fun with eccentric pirate Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) and his oddball buddies I don't know.

Anyway, count me interested...

Apparently loosely based on award-winning 1987 fantasy/alternate history novel On Stranger Tides, by Tim Powers - which is also the inspiration for the Monkey Island comedy-adventure games out of interest - Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides has a lot in its favour.


The basic plot of On Stranger Tides sees Jack Sparrow caught up in race to find the legendary Fountain of Youth. Along the way he encounters British government officials, old frenemies like Geoffrey Rush's Captain Barbossa and plenty of deadly new threats such as zombies, mermaids and fearsome pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane). Penélope Cruz meanwhile adds some Spanish fire to proceedings as Angelica, a feisty seafaring woman from Jack's past.

Thoughts of zombie pirates and sexy mermaids may be geektastically exciting, but frankly right now I'm more thrilled by the cast of On Stranger Tides. Damn if the filmmakers haven't gathered some serious talent this time around. And speaking of filmmakers, this time it's Rob (Chicago, Nine) Marshall behind the camera instead of series regular Gore Verbinski, so perhaps we should also be expecting some beautifully choreographed dance and fight sequences.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides opens in North America on 20 May 2011. The South African release date has yet to be announced, but expect it to be around the same time, give or take a few weeks.

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