FILM: Pirates Of The Caribbean - On Stranger Tides 3D (dir: Rob Marshall, 2011)

"I think we've been down this road before, Jack."

The fourth Pirates movie serves its function well as a part-reboot and an attempt to claw back public and critical support after the sprawling confusion of the previous two parts.  On Stranger Tides is a very busy, noisy and spirited movie from the outset, with Rob Marshall handling its three main narrative strands effectively (if not equally) and creates good forward momentum that only gets a little shaky in the final act.  Although there is humour as expected, the tone is generally serious in both word-heavy script and direction, missing the occasional lightness of touch that Gore Verbinski managed previously.  Penelope Cruz, Ian McShane and Geoffrey Rush triumph over often poorly-written lines, all three of them working especially well when paired on-screen with Johnny Depp, whose physical and verbal timing in this role remains a joy to watch.  3D is generally good, especially in the sea-borne scenes, and effects work is impressive, with the London escape chase and the mermaid attack in particular working very well.  The melodramatic orchestral soundtrack grinds away relentlessly, even when clearly not needed.  The action set-pieces are very well-executed throughout, in spite of the occasional familiarity to scenes in the first film in particular.  On Stranger Tides feels overlong at more than two hours and provides few surprises, but in general it provides efficient entertainment overall without ever being great, and it improves considerably on the last two outings for the franchise.