If only we could recycle our waste as efficiently as Disney appear to be able to recycle this theme! Once again, we find "Jack Sparrow" (Johnny Depp) in a bit of bother from someone from his past. This time it is Javier Bardem ("Salazar") who has escaped from his purgatory in the "Devil's Triangle" to avenge himself on his arch-enemy. Meantime, the young "Henry Turner" (Brenton Thwaites) seeks help to track down Poseidon's Trident which will empower him to take control of the seas, and to reunite with his father - the original "Bootstrap" (Orlando Bloom). There's no doubt that this is a great looking film, the effects are spectacular but the story is little better than a regurgitation of voyages gone by. The cuties that were Bloom and Kiera Knightley have been succeeded by the handsome, boyish Thwaites and his feisty astronomer pal "Carina" (Kaya Scodelario) but otherwise, it is another pretty formulaic prolongation of this colourful adventure franchise. It has some humour, there's a tiny cameo from Sir Paul McCartney that raises a smile (if only because you are never entirely sure if it is actually him); Geoffrey Rush still manages to inject oodles of charisma as "Barbossa", and Bardem offers a bit of menace - but Depp can only get away with that hail-fellow-well-met meets a drunk persona so often before he becomes a parody of his own characterisation. It's fun to watch, for a time, but after a while I was just bored. The format offers unlimited opportunity for fantasy and adventure, but maybe it is time for the "Black Pearl" to join the "Queen Mary" and HMY "Britannia" and just settle down as a respectable old lady of the sea - and a tourist attraction!
