Jack’s back

Director: Rob Marshall
Starring: Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Penelope Cruz, Ian McShane

Johnny Depp returns as the one and only Captain Jack Sparrow for the fourth instalment of the swashbuckling Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise and faces his most intimidating adversary yet in the form of the notorious Blackbeard.

When Captain Jack (Depp) crosses paths with a woman from his past (Cruz) he’s not sure if it’s love or if she’s a ruthless con artist who’s using him to find the Fountain of Youth.

When she forces him aboard the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn’t know who to fear more – Blackbeard or the woman from his past.

With the previous films being so successful, it would seem silly to change a winning formula, so Pirates Four doesn’t bother – it’s another rollercoaster ride with a succession of breathless chases, sensational swordplay and narrow escapes.

Johnny Depp is back to his cheesy best and Penelope Cruz makes a suitably sultry femme fatale – you can understand why Jack is never quite sure whether to kill her, kiss her or both.

On this evidence, Captain Jack and his merry band can carry on sailing for a few years to come – which is just as well seeing as volumes five and six are already in the pipeline.

Genre: Action | Adventure | Fantasy
Age Restriction: PG-13
Runtime: 130 min approx.