It was 2017. Everyone thought the franchise was essentially drifting in the doldrums after the lukewarm reception of On Stranger Tides. Then came Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Men Tell No Tales, or Salazar’s Revenge if you’re reading this from across the pond. It arrived with a massive budget, a returning legendary cast, and the weight of a billion-dollar legacy on its shoulders. Honestly, it's a weird movie. It tries so hard to capture the magic of the original 2003 Gore Verbinski masterpiece while simultaneously steering the ship into entirely new, and sometimes confusing, waters.
Jack Sparrow is back, obviously. But he’s different. He’s older, drunker, and arguably less "lucky" than we’ve ever seen him. Some fans loved the vulnerability; others felt like the character had become a caricature of himself. That’s the core tension of this film. It’s a spectacle, no doubt about it. The ghost sharks? Terrifying. Javier Bardem’s performance? Genuinely unsettling. Yet, the lore changes sparked debates that still rage on Reddit and fan forums today.
The Continuity Problem and the Trident of Poseidon
If you’ve watched the previous four films a dozen times, you probably noticed some "wait, what?" moments. Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Men Tell No Tales introduced the Trident of Poseidon, a MacGuffin so powerful it can break every curse on the ocean. On paper, it’s a brilliant stakes-raiser. In practice, it retroactively messes with the logic of the previous films.
Take the Compass. In the original trilogy, Tia Dalma says she gave Jack the compass. In this movie, we see a young Jack receive it from his dying captain during a flashback battle with a young Armando Salazar. It’s a cool scene, but it flies in the face of established history. This isn't just nitpicking. For a franchise built on intricate seafaring myths, these pivots matter. You’ve got to wonder if the directors, Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg, were more focused on the visual "cool factor" than the deep-cut lore.
The film also brings in Henry Turner, son of Will and Elizabeth. He’s desperate to free his father from the Flying Dutchman. It’s a noble goal that grounds the supernatural chaos in human emotion. Brenton Thwaites plays him with a certain earnestness that contrasts well with Johnny Depp’s chaotic energy. Then there’s Carina Smyth, played by Kaya Scodelario. She’s a "horologist" and a woman of science in an age that brands her a witch. Her journey to find her father—who turns out to be Hector Barbossa—is arguably the emotional heart of the entire story.
Javier Bardem and the Horror Influence
Javier Bardem as Captain Salazar is easily the best part of the movie. His design is incredible. He looks like he’s permanently underwater, with his hair floating in a ghostly, gravity-defying drift. Bardem brings a level of gravitas that the franchise hadn't seen since Bill Nighy’s Davy Jones. He isn't just a pirate; he's a butcher. His hatred for Jack Sparrow is visceral.
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The action set pieces in Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Men Tell No Tales are massive. The "bank heist" at the start of the film, where a team of horses literally drags a whole building through the streets of Saint Martin, is classic Disney slapstick. It’s loud. It’s chaotic. It’s expensive. You can see the $230 million budget on the screen in every frame.
- The ghost sailors can’t step on land, or they’ll crumble into dust.
- Jack’s ship, the Dying Gull, is a hilarious contrast to the Black Pearl.
- The Silent Mary is a literal ribcage of a ship that "eats" other vessels.
It’s all very creative. But does it feel like Pirates? Mostly. It captures the "Disney ride" feel better than the fourth movie did. There’s a sense of scale that feels appropriate for a summer blockbuster.
Why the Fans Are Still Arguing
Talk to any hardcore fan and they’ll bring up "Jack the Drunk." In the early movies, Jack Sparrow was a genius masquerading as a fool. He was always three steps ahead. In Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Men Tell No Tales, he feels like a fool who is lucky to be alive. He loses his pants. He gets stuck in a guillotine. He’s washed up.
Some people argue this makes sense. He’s lost his ship, his crew, and his booze. He’s hit rock bottom. Others feel it stripped away the agency that made the character an icon. It’s a polarizing take on a beloved hero.
Then there’s the ending. The reunion of Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann. For many, this was the closure they needed after the bittersweet ending of At World’s End. Seeing Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley together again, even for a few minutes, was a massive nostalgia hit. It felt earned. It felt right. But then, the post-credits scene happens. A barnacle-encrusted shadow enters their bedroom. Davy Jones? Is he back? If the Trident broke all curses, how is he alive? It’s a cliffhanger that, years later, still hasn't been resolved.
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The Visual Legacy of the Caribbean
Technically, the film is a marvel. The CGI used to de-age Johnny Depp for the flashback sequences was some of the best of its time. It wasn't perfect, but it allowed us to see a "fresh" Jack Sparrow outwitting the Spanish Navy. The cinematography by Paul Cameron uses a lot of natural light and high-contrast blues and oranges. It looks sharper and "cleaner" than the grainy, grimy look of the first film.
Is that a good thing? It depends on what you want from a pirate movie. If you like the grit, this might feel a bit too much like a theme park. If you love the fantasy elements, it’s a feast for the eyes.
The score, composed by Geoff Zanelli, sticks close to the themes established by Hans Zimmer. It’s soaring, heroic, and familiar. It hits all the right notes to make you feel like you’re back on the high seas.
Key Takeaways for the Casual Viewer
If you’re planning a rewatch or seeing it for the first time, keep these things in mind. First, don't worry too much about the timeline. It’s a bit messy. Just go with the flow. Second, pay attention to Barbossa. Geoffrey Rush gives a surprisingly tender performance here. His sacrifice at the end is a major turning point for the series. It’s the one moment that genuinely feels like it has permanent consequences in a world where death is often a revolving door.
Third, look at the details of the Silent Mary. The way the ship moves and "breathes" is a masterclass in creature-vessel design. It’s genuinely creepy.
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What’s Next for the Franchise?
The future of the series is currently a giant question mark. There have been rumors of a reboot, a female-led spin-off starring Margot Robbie, and even talks of Johnny Depp returning despite the legal drama of recent years. Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Men Tell No Tales was meant to be "The Final Adventure," but the box office numbers—nearly $800 million worldwide—suggest the audience isn't done with this world yet.
The reality is that this movie serves as a bridge. It closes the chapter on the Turner family (mostly) while leaving enough doors open for new characters to take the helm. Whether we ever see the payoff to that Davy Jones teaser remains to be seen. For now, it stands as a flawed but ambitious entry in one of the biggest film franchises in history.
Your Next Steps for a Pirates Deep-Dive:
- Watch the Post-Credits Scene Again: It’s easy to miss, but it changes everything we know about the "broken curses" logic of the Trident.
- Compare the Young Jack Flashback: Go back and watch the "Tia Dalma" scene in Dead Man's Chest to see how the compass origin story was retconned.
- Check the Deleted Scenes: There are several extended sequences involving the British Navy that provide more context for the political state of the Caribbean during this era.
- Listen to the Soundtrack: Geoff Zanelli’s "The Salazar Suite" is a standout track that captures the villain's tragic backstory through music.
Basically, enjoy it for the spectacle it is. It's a loud, crashing wave of a movie that doesn't always make sense, but it's never boring.