<Review by: Sailesh Ghelani>

Directed by Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg. Starring Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Javier Bardem, David Wenham, Kaya Scodelario, Brenton Thwaites

Running time: 2 hours 10 minutes

[The film is also known as Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales in some countries.]

The Pirates saga got a bit tiresome after a while repeating the same old gags ad nauseum. But Salazar’s Revenge turns out to be quite a thrilling ride.

I think Disney has found the magic of those old films again. No one knew how to create fantasy like they did and they seem to have regained their lost spirit over the years. They’re very lucky to have found Johnny Depp to helm their Pirates’ series in the role that he was born to play.

Jack Sparrow (Depp) is back and this time he’s fighting the dead Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem) and his cursed crew who are hellbent on avenging their misfortune at the hands of the camp and comical Sparrow. In a side story that segues perfectly with the main one, Will Turner’s (Orland Bloom) son Henry (Brenton Thwaites) is in search of the Trident of Poseidon to break the curse that has marooned his father in Davy Jones’s locker. Thanfully for them all, astronomer and ‘horologist’ Carina Smythe (Kaya Scodelario) is there to give them a helping hand.

There’s action and lots of awesome set pieces from the get go. Plenty of great CGI and stunts, surprisingly funny and original lines from Sparrow and a coherent screenplay. Bardem’s villain is gritty and scary. Lines like “I don’t get into trouble,” and “What a terrible way to live,” are clever and inspirational.

I love the pace of this new Pirates. Most of it’s not original but it’s done with precision and executed perfectly. There’s so much imagination put into the scenes: one involving a guillotine is particularly hilarious.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge (or Dead Men Tell No Tales in some countries) is the perfect summer blockbuster to entertain you in the heat and get your mind off all your troubles as it takes you out to sea for a voyage of magical merriment and arduous adventures.

PS: There’s an end credits scene so wait for it.