Travis Simpkins: Keira Knightley

Saturday, April 21, 2018

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017)

Directed by Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017) is the fifth installment in the popular swashbuckling franchise based on the Walt Disney Studios concept. This story finds Captain Jack Sparrow in search of the Trident of Poseidon while being pursued by the brutal and undead Captain Salazar. As in the previous films, the action is fast-paced and the CGI effects are top-both throughout. The 18th Century atmosphere and references to horology and astronomy are both fascinating and entertaining. The cast does a great job, including Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Javier Barden, Brenton Thwaites, Kaya Scodelario. Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley and a special cameo by Paul McCartney of the Beatles.

Pirates of the Caribbean. Dead Men Tell No Tales. 2017: Johnny Depp

Pirates of the Caribbean. Dead Men Tell No Tales. 2017: Kaya Scodelario

Pirates of the Caribbean. Dead Men Tell No Tales. 2017: Johnny Depp and Kaya Scodelario

Pirates of the Caribbean. Dead Men Tell No Tales. 2017: Kaya Scodelario

Pirates of the Caribbean. Dead Men Tell No Tales. 2017: Javier Bardem

Pirates of the Caribbean. Dead Men Tell No Tales. 2017

Pirates of the Caribbean. Dead Men Tell No Tales. 2017: Johnny Depp

Pirates of the Caribbean. Dead Men Tell No Tales. 2017: Kaya Scodelario

Pirates of the Caribbean. Dead Men Tell No Tales. 2017: Johnny Depp

Pirates of the Caribbean. Dead Men Tell No Tales. 2017: Johnny Depp and Kaya Scodelario

Pirates of the Caribbean. Dead Men Tell No Tales. 2017: Johnny Depp

Pirates of the Caribbean. Dead Men Tell No Tales. 2017: Javier Bardem

Pirates of the Caribbean. Dead Men Tell No Tales. 2017: Johnny Depp

Pirates of the Caribbean. Dead Men Tell No Tales. 2017: Kaya Scodelario

Pirates of the Caribbean. Dead Men Tell No Tales. 2017: Javier Bardem

Pirates of the Caribbean. Dead Men Tell No Tales. 2017: Johnny Depp

Pirates of the Caribbean. Dead Men Tell No Tales. 2017: Javier Bardem

Pirates of the Caribbean. Dead Men Tell No Tales. 2017: Geoffrey Rush

Pirates of the Caribbean. Dead Men Tell No Tales. 2017: Johnny Depp

Pirates of the Caribbean. Dead Men Tell No Tales. 2017

Pirates of the Caribbean. Dead Men Tell No Tales. 2017: Paul McCartney

Saturday, October 28, 2017

King Arthur (2004): Clive Owen, Keira Knightley as Guinevere

Directed by Antoine Fuqua, and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, King Arthur (2004) adds a big-budget cinematic twist to the historical and often-romanticized Arthurian Legend. The epic story portrays Arthur as a Roman soldier in Britain during the Dark Ages, following orders against his better judgment and leading his knights into battle against the barbarian Saxons. King Arthur, Merlin, Lancelot and Guinevere are all accounted for in the plot… attempting to put a real-life spin on the mythicized Camelot and the Knights of the Roundtable. The battle scenes (including a great scene on the cracking ice of a frozen lake) are well choreographed and the costumes provide a believable period feel. Clive Owen is good in the lead role as Artorius Castus (Arthur). Keira Knightley is beautiful as the pagan Guinevere. The rest of the cast does an admirable job as well, including Ioan Gruffudd, Stephen Dillane, Stellan Skarsgard, Ray Winstone, Hugh Dancy, Til Schweiger and Mads Mikkelsen.