Great reviews, I agree on the most part about the movies. However there was one part that kinda bugged me.
So... I guess I'll have to make an excuse of a review as well, with all honesty.
Storyline
I liked the way they went back to the less complicated feel, instead of the million different plotline messes they were so accustomed to. Overall, the plotline sometimes may seem forced, but I guess everything's sort of making it's own way to fit neatly into everything. Personally, my favorite part about the story is that it wasn't overly complicated, and it still kept me guessing on what would happen next.
Characters
Ok, before you say something terrible about all this, I have to get this off my chest. I'm glad they took Will & Elizabeth out. There, I said it. I felt like during the 2nd and 3rd movie, they took just as important a role as Jack did. However this story is supposed to be about Jack, so I'm in a way happy they took them out. Other then that, let me say how I liked each individual character.
Captain Jack Sparrow: Loved it, there's a reason why he's the main character. The only problem I had about him was the beginning,
when he dressed up as the judge. I mean seriously, if you saw someone with eyeliner and a laid back accent, wouldn't somebody get suspicious? Other than that, I truly felt it was best with Jack as the main focus of the movie.
Blackbeard: He was actually one of the negative points for me. For some reason, he didn't really feel like he was really Blackbeard. I mean, he's supposed to be this loud tyrant that shoots anyone disobeying his orders at first sight. Although he had some elements, such as his incredible greed, he didn't really feel complete for me.
Angelica (Blackbeard's daughter): I really like how she was a fiery person who could
pretend to be Captain Jack Sparrow. She felt much more needed than Elizabeth, since her role helped more in plot advancement. I especially liked all the backstabbing that goes on, one minute she's your freind and then the next your worst enemy and OH LOOK! Another betrayal! I guess she's good now and... oh no nevermind kinda thing. It even happens with the other characters, I just guess it's one of the movies fun points, you really don't know who's your friend half of the time. Overall, I liked this character, and if there's a POTC5, then I expect to see her with Jack in it.
Barbossa: How the heck did one of the most wanted pirates
become one of the most trusted privateers? Anyways, I loved this character as well, definately one I hope to see if there's another movie. My favorite part with him is
when they're captured by the spanish, and he's got the compartment in his pegleg, much to Jack's dismay.
Overall, great characters, for the most part, excellent casting.
Action
The action was awesome, all the way from the beginning when
Jack's escaping, to the part with the mermaids, which was AWESOME, all the way to the scene with the fountain of youth. Great action, great directing I just... loved it, 'nuff said. If you're bored and you haven't seen this movie, well...
Settings
In the movie, most of the settings were what you'd expect from a pirate movie. It looked pretty interesting for the most part, but that's mainly since most of the movie took place on land rather than on sea. The only problem I had with some of these settings is that there was no real concrete place in which they would stay for an extended period of time. Sure that wasn't too much of a problem, but I would like it if they added a little more time devoted to a certain area than always being on the move.
I know, that was the main part of the plot, and it was good that they had a lot of diversity, but whatever!
Things I didn't really like
Blackbeard: Overall, didn't really add up to my expectations, sort of a dissapointment.
The Clergyman: As the others have said, I didn't feel like this character was really needed that much, although I did like how he was portrayed, and even the thing with him and that mermaid, I didn't feel like this character was all that important.
The Zombies:
ZOMBIES! What are they supposed to do? They go NOM NOM on your face that's what! Now I know that they're supposed to be eternal slaves or whatever, but I actually thought they were gonna be something that had to be fought in order to get to the fountain. All in all, a bit of a dissapointment, alot of hype and little delivery.
The unexplained... whatever just look at the spoilers:
What really happened when the Clergyman went down with that mermaid? Did he become a merman? Aren't mermaids only supposed to be females? If so how do they... uh... What I'm trying to say is, what really happened with them? I guess we'll never know.
Now if you want my verdict on how good the movie is, I'd give it a 8-9/10 Good, but not as good as the first.