(Action/Adventure)

 I have mixed feelings about this movie. Disney should have stopped producing Pirates of the Caribbean sequels after the third installment, which had potential but was stretched beyond its limits.

While the fourth movie retained Jack Sparrow and Barbossa, the inclusion of a female horologist felt forced and preachy, detracting from the plot. Elizabeth Swann was a more compelling female character because her growth was gradual and believable. 

The female character in this movie was irritating, even to a feminist.  There's a distinction between characters who are ahead of their time and those who seem anachronistic.  The best aspect of the movie is the stripped-down story without the new characters.

Jack Sparrow and his crew are enjoyable to watch, but they are overshadowed by the modern feminist storyline and Turner subplot. The effects and designs are impressive.

  The designs of Salazar and his crew are visually striking, with their frozen-in-death appearance and underwater movements. The design of the witch and the various locations evoke the aesthetic of previous movies. The scenes with the trident, starlight, and gemstone paths are visually appealing and add to the film's fantasy elements.

It seems the writers sought a new motivation for Barbossa's character in this film, and they collectively exclaimed, 'Daughter! She's his daughter! We are brilliant!'. Despite these criticisms, I don't outright dislike this movie. While I wouldn't classify it as good, I wouldn't say I dislike it either. I would categorize it as more of a guilty pleasure. 

My favorites in the franchise remain the first two installments, which were exceptional films. Even the third installment retained some semblance of the pirate universe, though it felt somewhat stretched.

However, the story in this film feels particularly thin. If you're curious and simply desire some stunning effects, captivating designs, and witnessing your beloved pirates engage in swashbuckling escapades for a few hours, you'll find some satisfaction in this film.

However, if blatant feminist themes tend to irk you, I would advise avoiding this movie.  I wholeheartedly support films that empower women as characters and provide them with opportunities to explore significant themes.

However, there are more graceful and subtle ways to convey these messages. Instead of a daughter, she could have been a student yearning to be acknowledged or an aspiring teacher. Alternatively, she could have been a dedicated stargazer eager to explore the seas and stars, leading her to join the pirates.

Unfortunately, she is portrayed as an arrogant and sarcastic character who constantly seeks the last word and proclaims her superiority. This trope has become tiresome and has been overused for decades.