Review: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

Director: Joachim Rønning, Espen Sandberg
Starring: Johnny Depp, Javier Bardem, Brenton Thwaites, Kaya Scodelario, Geoffrey Rush
Genre: Action/Adventure/Fantasy
Release Year: 2017

影評：《加勒比海盜：死無對證》

導演：喬阿希姆·羅寧（Joachim Rønning）、埃斯彭·山德伯格（Espen Sandberg）
主演：強尼·戴普（Johnny Depp）、哈維爾·巴登（Javier Bardem）、布蘭頓·思懷茲（Brenton Thwaites）、卡雅·斯考達里奧（Kaya Scodelario）、傑佛瑞·洛許（Geoffrey Rush）
類型：動作 / 冒險 / 奇幻
上映年份：2017

When Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (released as Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge in some regions) hit theaters in 2017, it promised a return to form for the franchise after the divisive On Stranger Tides. Directed by Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg, this fifth installment attempts to merge the fresh energy of new characters with a sense of nostalgia for the original trilogy. While it delivers some memorable moments and exciting visuals, it ultimately struggles to recapture the magic that made the series a cultural phenomenon in the first place.

2017 年上映的《加勒比海盜：死無對證》（部分地區譯為《加勒比海盜：薩拉查的復仇》）試圖讓這個系列在第四部《驚濤怪浪》後重拾風采。由喬阿希姆·羅寧和埃斯彭·山德伯格執導，第五部電影試圖將新角色的活力與三部曲的懷舊情感相結合。雖然電影確實提供了一些令人難忘的時刻和震撼的視覺效果，但最終未能重現當年令該系列成為文化現象的魔力。

Plot Overview

The story centers on Henry Turner (Brenton Thwaites), the son of Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann, as he seeks to break his father’s curse and free him from the Flying Dutchman. To do so, Henry must find the legendary Trident of Poseidon, an artifact said to have the power to break all curses of the sea. Along the way, he crosses paths with Carina Smyth (Kaya Scodelario), an ambitious astronomer who holds a map that could lead them to the Trident.

Meanwhile, Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) finds himself hunted by Captain Armando Salazar (Javier Bardem), a ghostly Spanish naval commander seeking revenge against Jack for his untimely demise years ago. With Captain Hector Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) also drawn into the fray, the film becomes a sprawling adventure filled with curses, revenge, and the enduring chaos of life on the high seas.

劇情概要

故事聚焦於亨利·透納（布蘭頓·思懷茲飾），他是威爾·透納（Orlando Bloom 飾）與伊麗莎白·史旺（Keira Knightley 飾）的兒子。他試圖打破父親的詛咒，將其從幽靈船「飛翔的荷蘭人號」中解救出來。為此，亨利必須找到傳說中的海神波塞頓三叉戟——一件據說能解除所有海洋詛咒的神器。在這過程中，他與雄心勃勃的天文學家卡琳娜·史密斯（卡雅·斯考達里奧飾）相遇，她持有一張可能通往三叉戟的地圖。

同時，傑克船長（強尼·戴普飾）成為西班牙海軍指揮官薩拉查船長（哈維爾·巴登飾）的獵殺目標。這位幽靈船長因多年之前的死亡對傑克懷恨在心，發誓要復仇。隨著赫克托·巴博薩船長（傑佛瑞·洛許飾）的加入，整部電影成為一場充滿詛咒、復仇與海上冒險的宏大旅程。

Strengths of the Film

Nostalgia and Ties to the Original Trilogy

One of the film’s strongest assets is its connection to the original trilogy. The inclusion of Henry Turner as Will and Elizabeth’s son serves as a link to the series’ roots, while the eventual appearance of both Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley as their iconic characters adds emotional resonance. For long-time fans, these moments provide a sense of closure to lingering storylines.

Javier Bardem as Captain Salazar

Javier Bardem delivers a standout performance as the vengeful Captain Salazar. His eerie, ghostly presence—enhanced by impressive visual effects, such as his floating hair and cracked appearance—adds a sense of menace that the series had been missing since Davy Jones. Bardem imbues Salazar with both rage and tragedy, making him a compelling, if somewhat underdeveloped, villain.

Strong Visual Effects and Action Sequences

As with previous installments, Dead Men Tell No Tales offers stunning visual effects and ambitious action set pieces. Highlights include the ghost sharks attacking Jack’s crew, Salazar’s cursed ship splitting the sea as it hunts its prey, and the film’s climactic underwater battle for the Trident. These moments are thrilling and demonstrate the franchise’s continued ability to deliver blockbuster spectacle.

Geoffrey Rush as Hector Barbossa

Geoffrey Rush’s return as Barbossa provides a welcome depth to the story. The reveal of Barbossa’s surprising connection to Carina adds a layer of emotional complexity and stakes that elevate his character arc. His ultimate sacrifice is one of the most poignant moments in the film, offering a fitting conclusion to his journey.

電影優勢

懷舊元素與對原三部曲的致敬

本片的最大亮點之一是它與原三部曲的聯繫。威爾與伊麗莎白之子亨利的加入，成為連結系列根源的重要橋樑，而奧蘭多·布魯姆與綺拉·奈特莉在片中的短暫回歸，更是為老粉絲提供了情感上的回報與故事的收尾。

哈維爾·巴登飾演的薩拉查船長

哈維爾·巴登作為復仇者薩拉查船長，交出了令人印象深刻的表演。他那詭異、幽靈般的形象——如漂浮的頭髮與破裂的外觀——加強了角色的威脅感。巴登為薩拉查注入了憤怒與悲劇色彩，使他成為一個引人注目的反派，儘管這個角色的深度稍顯不足。

出色的視覺效果與動作場面

與系列以往作品一樣，《死無對證》提供了震撼的視覺效果與野心勃勃的動作場景。亮點包括鬼鯊攻擊傑克的船員、薩拉查的幽靈船分開海面追捕敵人，以及電影高潮中為爭奪三叉戟的水下大戰。這些場景刺激緊張，展示了該系列依然具備的視覺奇觀。

傑佛瑞·洛許飾演的巴博薩船長

傑佛瑞·洛許回歸飾演巴博薩船長為整個故事增添了深度。巴博薩與卡琳娜之間意想不到的親密聯繫，使得角色弧線更具情感層次。他的最終犧牲成為電影中最動人的時刻之一，也為這個貪婪驅動的角色劃下了令人滿意的句點。

Weaknesses of the Film

Over-Reliance on Johnny Depp’s Humor

While Captain Jack Sparrow remains an iconic character, his portrayal in Dead Men Tell No Tales feels exaggerated and overly reliant on slapstick humor. In earlier films, Jack balanced his eccentricity with cunning and cleverness, but here he often comes across as a bumbling caricature of his former self. This diminishes his role as a protagonist and reduces his impact on the story.

Thinly Developed New Characters

Although Henry Turner and Carina Smyth are positioned as central figures, their characters lack the depth and chemistry of their predecessors, Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann. Henry’s quest to save his father feels underexplored, and Carina’s scientific ambition, while refreshing, is overshadowed by her connection to Barbossa. Both characters serve their roles in the plot but fail to leave a lasting impression.

Predictable and Formulaic Storytelling

The plot follows a familiar pattern established by earlier films, with multiple factions vying for a legendary artifact and culminating in a supernatural showdown. While this formula has worked in the past, it feels repetitive here, offering few surprises or truly innovative twists. The resolution, while satisfying for fans, lacks the epic scope and stakes of the original trilogy.

Underutilized Supporting Characters

Key figures like Orlando Bloom’s Will Turner and Keira Knightley’s Elizabeth Swann, though included for fan service, are given minimal screen time. Similarly, Salazar’s crew of ghostly sailors is visually striking but lacks the memorable personalities that made past antagonists, such as Davy Jones’ crew, so iconic.

電影缺點

過度依賴強尼·戴普的幽默

儘管傑克船長仍是經典角色，但他在《死無對證》中的表現顯得誇張，過於依賴滑稽動作和喜劇效果。在早期電影中，傑克的古怪與機智形成了良好的平衡，但在這部電影中，他更多時候像是自己過去形象的笨拙模仿，削弱了角色對故事的核心作用。

新角色發展不足

雖然亨利·透納與卡琳娜·史密斯被定位為核心角色，但他們缺乏前任主角威爾與伊麗莎白那樣的深度與化學反應。亨利拯救父親的追求未被充分挖掘，而卡琳娜的科學家身份雖然新穎，但最終被她與巴博薩的關係所掩蓋。這兩位新角色完成了故事的功能性需求，但缺乏令人難忘的個性。

預測性強且公式化的劇情

影片遵循了該系列熟悉的模式——多方勢力爭奪傳奇神器，最終以超自然對決告終。雖然這種公式過去曾經奏效，但本片在創新上乏善可陳，缺乏真正讓人驚喜的情節轉折。儘管對粉絲來說，結局令人滿意，但其宏大感與前作相比稍顯不足。

配角角色未被充分利用

像威爾·透納（奧蘭多·布魯姆飾）和伊麗莎白·史旺（綺拉·奈特莉飾）這些關鍵角色，雖然以粉絲向的形式回歸，但出場時間非常有限。同樣，薩拉查的幽靈船員雖然在視覺上令人驚豔，但缺乏像大衛·瓊斯船員那樣的鮮明個性與深度。

Themes and Symbolism

The film explores themes of legacy and redemption, particularly through the arcs of Henry Turner and Hector Barbossa. Henry’s determination to free his father speaks to the enduring power of familial bonds, while Barbossa’s redemption through his sacrifice highlights the potential for growth and selflessness, even in a character who has spent much of the series driven by greed.

The Trident of Poseidon, as the ultimate symbol of power and control over the seas, reflects humanity’s eternal struggle to dominate nature and fate. However, the film’s focus on action and spectacle leaves little room for these themes to be explored in depth.

主題與象徵意義

影片探討了傳承與救贖的主題，尤其是在亨利·透納與赫克托·巴博薩的角色弧線中得以體現。亨利決心拯救父親，凸顯了家庭羈絆的力量，而巴博薩透過犧牲完成自我救贖，展現了即使是以自私為導向的角色也能成長與改變。

波塞頓三叉戟作為海洋控制力的最終象徵，反映了人類對自然與命運的永恆鬥爭。然而，影片過於專注於動作場面與視覺效果，對這些主題的探索深度有所欠缺。

Critical Reception

Dead Men Tell No Tales received mixed reviews from critics. Many praised the film’s visuals, action sequences, and ties to the original trilogy but criticized its uneven tone, underdeveloped characters, and reliance on franchise tropes. Fans of the series were more forgiving, appreciating its nostalgic elements and the emotional payoff for long-running characters.

評論回響

《加勒比海盜：死無對證》獲得了褒貶不一的評價。許多評論家讚揚了影片的視覺效果、動作場面以及與原三部曲的聯繫，但批評其基調不穩、角色刻畫不足，以及過度依賴系列中的老套元素。系列粉絲則更為寬容，欣賞影片的懷舊元素以及對長期角色情感上的回報。

Conclusion

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is a visually stunning but narratively uneven installment in the beloved franchise. While it offers plenty of action, humor, and fan service, it ultimately falls short of recapturing the charm and depth of the original trilogy. For die-hard fans, it serves as a bittersweet farewell to familiar characters and a nostalgic return to the high seas. For others, it may feel like a franchise running out of fresh wind in its sails.

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

影評總結

《加勒比海盜：死無對證》是一部視覺震撼但故事敘述不平衡的系列作品。雖然提供了大量動作場景、幽默與粉絲向情節，但最終未能重現該系列首三部電影的魅力與深度。對於死忠粉絲來說，這部電影是一場對熟悉角色的苦樂參半告別與懷舊的海上冒險。但對於其他觀眾來說，可能會感覺該系列正逐漸失去前進的動力。

評分：★★★☆☆（3/5）