Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Name: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Released: May 20, 2011
Duration: 141 min
Rating: 45
Cast: Ian McShane, Johnny Depp, Penélope Cruz

2011

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 39 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 732 Ratings

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6.3

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6.3	Your Score
6.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 732 Ratings

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PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES

Movie Details & Credits

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures | Release Date: May 20, 2011

Starring: Ian McShane, Johnny Depp, Penélope Cruz

Summary: Crossing paths with the enigmatic Angelica, Captain Jack Sparrow is not sure if it's love—or if she's a ruthless con artist who's using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the "Queen Anne's Revenge," the ship of the legendary pirate Blackbeard, Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which heCrossing paths with the enigmatic Angelica, Captain Jack Sparrow is not sure if it's love—or if she's a ruthless con artist who's using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the "Queen Anne's Revenge," the ship of the legendary pirate Blackbeard, Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn't know whom to fear more: Blackbeard or Angelica, with whom he shares a mysterious past. (Walt Disney Pictures)
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Director: Rob Marshall

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 141 min

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Awards & Rankings

14	#14 Most Discussed Movie of 2011
54	#54 Most Shared Movie of 2011

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Boxoffice Magazine Pete Hammond

May 13, 2011

This is the perfect summer movie and perhaps the best Pirates of them all. Read full review

The Hollywood Reporter Ray Bennett

May 12, 2011

Captain Jack Sparrow is back in excellent form for his fourth adventure in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, which is more serious in the hands of a new director, Rob Marshall, and thanks to Penelope Cruz it's also a good deal sexier. Read full review

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Rick Groen

May 20, 2011

Judi Dench is much more of a challenge. Drenched in powder and pomp, the grand old Dame pops up in a London carriage. She's there in a flash and then, as quickly, gone, and her fleeting presence is exactly like the fleeting merit of this fourth galleon in the portly franchise: It prompts stirrings, not quite all the way to feelings. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

May 18, 2011

On Stranger Tides isn't nearly strange enough. Its one real act of piracy is stealing away your excitement. Read full review

The A.V. Club Tasha Robinson

May 19, 2011

Apart from Cruz, who throws herself lustily into her tough-seductress role, the actors give negligible performances, with McShane, Rush, and Keith Richards in a repeat cameo all playing nigh-identical smug glowerers. Read full review

New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman

May 19, 2011

Despite Sparrow's ongoing flashes of charm, Depp himself seems to know he's coasting. Read full review

Miami Herald Rene Rodriguez

May 19, 2011

Even the most forgiving moviegoer will recognize this movie as the blatant cash-grab that it is. Read full review

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User Reviews

Jack_Spurv

May 20, 2011

When I first saw PotC 1, I was overwhelmed by the magic of the story and the characters. Then came the 2nd and the 3rd movie and I was a bit disappointed with those two. It all suddenly seemed to be all about Elizabeth and Wills love story and the other characters were pushed into theWhen I first saw PotC 1, I was overwhelmed by the magic of the story and the characters. Then came the 2nd and the 3rd movie and I was a bit disappointed with those two. It all suddenly seemed to be all about Elizabeth and Wills love story and the other characters were pushed into the background. So when I heard that there was going to be a 4th PotC movie with my two favorite captains - Barbossa and Sparrow - and almost a whole new cast, I was once again excited, and the movie did not disappointed me. It was fun, witty, had lots of action and adventure. And after seeing it, I had that same magical feeling that I experienced after seeing PotC 1. I simply love this movie and I hope there will be a 5th and a 6th one!… Expand

13 of 20 users found this helpful137

NaughtyDog

May 29, 2011

I loved the first Pirates of the Caribbean. But unfortunately Dead Man's Chest and At World's End were horrible movies. Ok, Dead Man's Chest was a ok movie but At World's End was horrible. Therefore I had high expectations for this one. And I was surprised, On Stranger Tides is actually aI loved the first Pirates of the Caribbean. But unfortunately Dead Man's Chest and At World's End were horrible movies. Ok, Dead Man's Chest was a ok movie but At World's End was horrible. Therefore I had high expectations for this one. And I was surprised, On Stranger Tides is actually a great movie. And it's she second best Pirates-movie… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

glend690

May 22, 2011

definitely the best of the franchise.The first one was a good film with an excellent cast but Dead Man's Chest and At World's End were much less original.While this one is just the best summer movie since The Hangover

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

NolanLundgaard

Jun 8, 2018

Wow. Where did Disney go wrong? Gone is the excellent acting that made the Pirates of the Caribbean saga what it was. I’m sorry, but I just didn’t enjoy the fourth entry as much as the first three. It’s predictable, awkward, and unnecessary.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

AlexArvin21

May 30, 2011

ok did i like it? yes, i did. But that is from a fan of the series standpoint. Now let me act like a true critic and really judge the movie.It wasnt all that great. The acting was about the same as the other pirates movies. the fx were up to pare, and the story was somewhat mediocre. I meanok did i like it? yes, i did. But that is from a fan of the series standpoint. Now let me act like a true critic and really judge the movie.It wasnt all that great. The acting was about the same as the other pirates movies. the fx were up to pare, and the story was somewhat mediocre. I mean there were'nt any battles at sea, like in the other pirate movies, when i think of pirates i think of awesome naval battles. This installment just didn't deliver. And honest to god i wish Disney would drop it and a another production company picks the series up. because if they make a new one, i expect blood, i mean there pirates lets push for an R rating.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

TVJerry

May 21, 2011

The plot revolves around the Fountain of Youth, two other pirate captains and Penelope Cruz. Their quest involves mean mermaids, mediocre fights and grand escapes, but nothing especially inventive or delightful ever occurs. While hardcore fans may accept the comfort of familiarity, I foundThe plot revolves around the Fountain of Youth, two other pirate captains and Penelope Cruz. Their quest involves mean mermaids, mediocre fights and grand escapes, but nothing especially inventive or delightful ever occurs. While hardcore fans may accept the comfort of familiarity, I found it plodding and uninspired.
NOTE: Stay thru the credits for a final gag.… Expand

3 of 8 users found this helpful35

Nostalgic9tails

Jul 7, 2013

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. First off, I want to make it clear that I highly enjoyed every PoTC film, even the sequels up to AWE. Even with all their flaws, they still kept the charm of the franchise. This film, however, takes all that away.

Something I want to mention first, that no one here seems to have done, is that Penelope Cruz's character is such a blatant Mary-Sue. For anyone familiar with bad fan-fiction or books, that's how this character feels the entire time. She's the one woman Jack Sparrow ever 'had feelings for', she's just as good of a swordsman as him, and she's not only Blackbeard's first mate but also his daughter. She begins as Jack Sparrow's impersonator, then after a sword fight with him, he claims that 'only one other person knows that move' when they both do a tactic that negates each other. Then he pulls her into his arms and kisses her.

That's another severe issue of this film. This is the one time I've ever seen Capt. Sparrow act so out of character. He isn't the same, sarcastic, get-my-own-way person. They've exhausted his character to the point that he's been forced to be something he's not supposed to be. He's now cowardly and bumbling, almost like either Pintel or Ragetti from the first three films.

Then there's Blackbeard. He's apparently not only a pirate, the most infamous and horrifying pirate in existence, but a wizard. Yeah, he can control ropes on his ship to wrangle his crew, steer his ship with a gesture of his sword and stores ships of his victims in tiny bottles on his shelves. Now, I don't mind the mysticism if done well, like with characters like Barbossa and his immortality from the curse, or Davy Jones and his curse to ferry the dead. But at least they were both fictional and given a proper back story. Blackbeard was a real pirate, and a damn frightening one. But he was anything but a wizard. And he wasn't given any back story as to how he could do everything he did.

Next, there's Barbossa, or whatever's left of him. In between the third film and this one, he lost his leg and became a Captain in the Navy. When in history has ANY Captain of a pirate ship and crew managed to become a member of the Navy, especially with such ill intent as Barbossa? And the whole 'prophecy' at the beginning about a one-legged man leading to the downfall of Blackbeard was made so painfully obvious, I felt a physical pain in my head.

Then there's the mermaid subplot. Alright, I have to admit, I like the lore of mermaids being vicious vixens of the sea. But even that lore gets brushed under the carpet almost immediately with the mermaid they capture. They need a mermaid's tear to make the Fountain of Youth (a point I'll get to next) work. The one they capture acts fierce at first, but then falls for the priest on the ship because 'he's different from the others'. First off, at one point, the priest gets angry that they don't call her by her name, but then he thinks it's ok for him to give her a name instead of properly ask her what hers really is. Second, at one point, he's threatened with his life when the mermaid doesn't cry. Instead of telling her not to do it, a cliche but a noble one, he says, and I quote, "If you could produce a tear, I would be grateful". A bit of a douchy move, and he still gets his throat slit. But it's ok, because she REVIVES him shortly after. Vicious vixen you are not.

Now for the Fountain of Youth. In the film, it requires a sacrifice, where one person must give his/her remaining years to another. It also requires two goblets, the mermaid tear being in the life giving one. Ok, that's a nice take on it, if it wasn't already used hundreds of times before. And the whole switchero with Blackbeard and Cruz was the most predictable thing I've ever seen. If it was the Jack Sparrow from the first film, he would have tricked them both into sacrificing their combined years so that HE could get extra life.

I can't really say how the film's 3D effects were, because I only watched a TV film version. But from the scenes where it was obviously made for 3D (a spear up close to the camera or a skeleton hand reaching forward), I can tell, they're unimpressive. The whole gimmick of 3D is a waste of money, time and vision. Some of the scenes that could have been enhanced by it, like the Fountain of Youth or the scenes at sea were either so foggy or so shaky that 3D would have made it worse than better. Once again, I can't speak from experience, that's just how it felt watching it in 2D and wondering how it must have been for those who shelled out the extra $5 for blurry, cross-eyed inducing glasses.

I'm running out of characters, so I'll make my final thoughts brief. I do not consider this a PoTC film. I consider it Live Action PoTC Fan Fiction. From self-inserts to out of character moments to plot inconsistencies, that's exactly how it felt for me. Perhaps if it was made separately, without Capt. Jack or the few recurring PoTC characters, it could have worked. Otherwise, it's just a mess.… Expand

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

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