Film File - Pirates of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

If you're one of those people who're sick of seeing Johnny Depp and Co doing their pirate antics, you'll not be too happy to hear that the pain is far from over. With this week's fourth instalment of the multi-billion dollar franchise expected to do another bonanza at the box office, talks are already underway for a fifth and even sixth movie. With Harry Potter almost disappearing in the rearview mirror, Disney has no intention of putting this cash cow out to pasture anytime soon. Even Depp himself - the character around whom this entire ball of seafaring wax revolves - has admitted being perplexed at the huge success of the series. "It's not my fault. I did my best. Even to the point of trying to get fired on the first one, but they couldn't bring themselves to do it. It's kind of interesting to experience that kind of ride after 20 years of failures and then suddenly something clicks. The weird thing is I never changed a thing." This time around, Depp has a few old friends on board as well as a few notable new ones. Rob Marshall is the new director - the man responsible for the Oscar-winning 'Chicago' as well as the not so great 'Nine' - but whose well-tuned instincts for choreography are ideal for staging the duels, battles and chases that are such an essential part of these pirate capers. Taking over from Gore Verbinski, who directed all the previous three, Marshall brings a new eye and energy to proceedings. On the love front, Captain Jack Sparrow (Depp) has a new interest to replace Keira Knightley this time around. She's Anjelica (Penelope Cruz), a roguish dame well up to the innuendo, backchat and swordplay of the boys. Could she be the love of Cap'n Jack's life, or a smooth-as-silk con artist leading him down the garden path? She is, in a word, a firecracker. Other minor roles of the sexy siren types are taken by Gemma Ward and Astrid Berges-Frisbey. Opting to put more action on dry land than the three previous outings where shipboard high-jinks did limit the dramatic options somewhat, the opening sees Captain Jack in London taking on the English court system as he attempts to spring his buddy Gibbs (Kevin McNally) from the long arm of the law. Along the way, the lusty Cap'n dodges many a musket ball, jumps multiple market stalls and peers down numerous ladies' bodices as he's chased through the streets and alleys of dear old London town. At one point, he even encounters King George II (Richard Griffiths) himself. The screenwriting team of Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, who worked on previous 'Pirates' outings, are again snappy with the knee-slappers and verbal knockabouts. Cinematographer Darius Wolski and production designer John Myhre, who won an Oscar for 'Chicago', capture the period detail from grand palaces down to the spitoons in the quayside drinking dens. And Hans Zimmer once again demonstrates his command of the musical score to heighten emotions as the pace quickens. Like all the previous 'Pirate' outings, the main plot revolves around the search for something mythical - in this case, it's the fabled Fountain of Youth. Captain Jack, always open to something that will turn him a few extra doubloons for the retirement fund, finds himself once again in competition with the fearsome Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), as well as most of the Spanish Navy who are also after a piece of the action. Add to this rich stew of nautical wretches in pursuit of maritime riches the infamous pirate king Blackbeard (Ian McShane), and the sails are fair well set for more than a little cannon fire and cutlass waving. An intriguing piece of the plot revolves around mermaids - creatures who hold a vital clue to the quest that's got the seas bubbling. Best cameo in the whole film is Keith Richards as Captain Teague - the character Depp has modelled himself on since the first film. Needing to do little in the way of acting - the camera loves those careworn, super-lined and jaded features - this Rolling Stone brings some extra oomph to the whole carry-on. Also, he gets the best line in the whole movie - one that audiences will be spouting to fellow office workers the next day. At this point, 'Pirates Of The Caribbean' does exactly what it says on the tin. It's all action, chases, cannon fire, a few laughs and plenty of heaving bosoms. Its 140-minute length is a tad over-extended, though, not that its fans will notice.