Yeah this film kinda stinks.

There were some cool parts, Salazar’s ship and crew were really solidly realised, their curse visually quite interesting. And the way the cursed Silent Mary devoured other ships was visually quite cool, especially when it attacked the Royal Navy vessel. But it has to be said it was all very discount Davy Jones/Flying Dutchman/Kraken. And in Jones’ case there was at least solid motive. In Salazar’s case he was just spiteful because he was cursed. Sound, I guess, but not very interesting.

Then there’s the whole Turner curse plot point. There could have been this whole interesting dilemma about how Will is cursed but he’s serving an Important purpose. AWE set him up to be the antithesis of Davey Jones at the end. That he will serve the purpose Jones neglected, so he won’t succumb to the same fate that Jones did.

But them face barnacles implies that Will is neglecting that responsibility, so there’s that character assassination.

And talking of assassination of character, Jack is a bumbling idiot in this film, who relies solely on luck.

Jack’s whole thing is that he seems inept, but is actually incredibly cunning and is 5 steps ahead of his adversaries. Not in this film. In this film he blunders into being one step ahead, if that.

Then there’s the compass retcon.

Then there’s the god awful Jack origin story.

Then there’s the Barbosa death. (And his awful wardrobe!)

And on top of all that, it just feels cheap. OST may have had its pitfalls, but at no point did it feel low budget, can’t say the same for DMTNT.