Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is a 2011 adventure fantasy film and the fourth installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean series. It was directed by Rob Marshall, and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. In the film, Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is joined by Angelica (Penélope Cruz) in his search for the Fountain of Youth, confronting the infamous pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane). The script, written by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, draws inspiration from the novel On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers.
After a failed attempt to rescue his former first mate, Joshamee Gibbs, (Kevin McNally) in London, England, Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is brought before King George II (Richard Griffiths), who wants Jack to guide an expedition to the Fountain of Youth before the Spanish locate it. Heading the expedition is Jack's old nemesis, Captain Hector Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), who is now a privateer in service to the British Navy after having lost Jack's ship, the Black Pearl, as well as his leg.
The film was distributed by Walt Disney Pictures and released in the United Kingdom and Italy on May 18, 2011, in Australia on May 19, 2011, and in the United States and Canada on May 20, 2011.The release was presented in Disney Digital 3-D and IMAX 3D, as well as in traditional two-dimensional and IMAX formats. The film was first announced in 2008 and principal photography started in June 2010. The release was the first in the series to be directed by Rob Marshall and not Gore Verbinski. It was also the first movie in the series which featured fictional versions of historical characters such as Blackbeard, George II of Great Britain, Henry Pelham, John Carteret and Ferdinand VI of Spain. It was the first Pirates of the Caribbean film to be released in 3D and Jerry Bruckheimer's second 3D film, following the 2009 movie G-Force. It was also the fifth Disney film to use Dolby 7.1 surround sound. While previous films in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise have been filmed in the Caribbean Sea, On Stranger Tides was filmed mainly in Hawaii, with locations also in the United Kingdom and California.
Jack is taken aboard Blackbeard's ship, the Queen Anne's Revenge, and forced to lead the way to the Fountain and to find two silver chalices that once belonged to Juan Ponce de León, both of which are believed to be aboard his grounded ship. The Fountain's water must be drunk simultaneously from the two chalices. The person drinking from the chalice containing a mermaid's tear has his life extended, while the other person dies, his years of life drained from his body. Meanwhile, Gibbs, having memorized and destroyed Sparrow's map, barters with Barbossa to guide him to the Fountain.Blackbeard wants the Fountain's power to circumvent his predestined fatal encounter with a one-legged man and sets a course for Whitecap Bay. There, he traps a mermaid (Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey) whom Philip Swift (Sam Claflin), a captive missionary, falls in love with and names Syrena. Blackbeard then sends Sparrow to retrieve the chalices from de León's ship.
When Sparrow finds the decaying vessel, Barbossa is waiting inside: the Spanish have already taken the chalices. However, Barbossa only seeks revenge against Blackbeard for capturing the Black Pearl which forced Barbossa to amputate his own leg to escape. He and Jack join forces to defeat Blackbeard, then head to the nearby Spanish camp to steal the chalices. Meanwhile, Syrena, who returns Philip's love, is tricked into shedding a tear, which Blackbeard collects, then leaves her to die while forcing Philip to go with him. Sparrow returns with the chalices and Gibbs, whom he had reunited with while helping Barbossa. Jack negotiates with Blackbeard to return his confiscated magical compass and to let Gibbs go free in exchange for the chalices and his leading them to the Fountain. Blackbeard agrees and Gibbs departs with Jack's compass.
At the Fountain, Blackbeard and his crew are attacked by Barbossa, then the Spanish, sent by their king to destroy the Fountain, believing its power is an abomination against God. After an intense battle, Barbossa stabs Blackbeard with a poison-laced sword that Angelica accidentally cuts herself on. Barbossa claims Blackbeard's magical sword, and assuming command, leaves with Blackbeard's crew. Meanwhile, Philip, though mortally wounded, escapes and returns to free Syrena. After finding the chalices that the Spaniards had tossed into deep water, Syrena gives them to Jack and then retrieves the dying Phillip, taking him underwater to save his life.
As both Blackbeard and Angelica lay dying, Blackbeard wants his daughter to sacrifice herself to save him. Angelica willingly agrees, but Jack secretly switches the cups, giving her the one containing Syrena's tear, thus sparing her life and killing Blackbeard. Despite declaring their love, Jack, knowing Angelica may avenge her father's death, strands her on an island, intending for a passing ship to pick her up. Meanwhile, Barbossa, who now commands the Queen Anne's Revenge, renounces his ties to the crown and reverts to piracy. Jack finds Gibbs, who used Jack's compass to locate the Revenge and retrieve the Black Pearl, as well as the other captured ships that Blackbeard had magically shrunk and bottled. The two head off, hoping to find a way to return the Pearl to its original size.
Main article: List player of Pirates of the Caribbean
- Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow
- Penélope Cruz as Angelica
- Ian McShane as Edward "Blackbeard" Teachescape a prophecy by finding the Fountain of Youth.
- Geoffrey Rush as Captain Hector Barbossa George II and captain of the HMS Providence.
- Kevin McNally as Joshamee Gibbs
- Sam Claflin as Philip Swift
- Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey as Syrena
- Greg Ellis as Lt. Cmdr. Theodore Groves
- Damian O'Hare as Lieutenant Gillette
- Stephen Graham as Scrum
- Óscar Jaenada as The Spaniard
- Gemma Ward as Tamara
- Richard Griffiths as King George II
- Keith Richards as Captain Teague
- Judi Dench as a noblewoman
- Derek Mears as the Master-at-Arms
- Sebastian Armesto as King Ferdinand VI
- Anton Lesser as Lord John Carteret.
- Roger Allam as Henry Pelham
- Paul Bazely as Salaman
