'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' -- 1 1/2 stars

PG-13; 2:19 running time

Director Rob Marshall's chorus of yo-ho-hum does remind us that Johnny Depp really was a good time in the first and second "Pirates" movies. But "Pirates 4" reminds us of this without being any fun on its own. Marshall directs the seafaring traffic, taking over the hugely successful franchise from Gore Verbinski. Say what you will about the combined 127-hour running time of the first three, but Verbinski, particularly on the second picture, managed some creative and engaging set pieces (the giant hamster-wheel bit, for one). -- Michael Phillips

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