As the legends, and the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie will tell you, dead men tell no tales. But if they did, then it probably would look a lot like what Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales looks like on the screen, which is absolutely stunning. But, stunning visuals don't always equate to just-as-impressive 3D, which means it's time for us to put Captain Jack Sparrow's latest adventure through one of our favorite evaluations: to 3D, or not to 3D?
It's time to look at Disney's latest pleasure cruise through a pair of black and gray tinted glasses, as we figure out if this latest boondoggle is worth your 3D money, or if you'd be better off buying a nice bottle of rum and a natty tri-corner hat. If you're curious about what we thought about the movie, you can read our official review here. In the meantime, we'll sail for that special horizon of third dimensional delights, and see where this latest adventure takes us!
Some of you are probably hiding in fear at the mention of a Pirates of the Caribbean film in 3D, and we can't blame you. The last film, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, was abysmal in 3D, and that was filmed in the format! However, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales exists in a more refined era of 3D, and as such, this film's visuals are lovingly tailored to a spectacle full of 3D delights. Even better, the film's IMAX 3D presentation takes full advantage of the format, with a specially formatted full screen vision.
Dear Legend 3D: your 3D conversion for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is absolutely peerless. This is one of the clearest, most impressive 3D showings I've ever been to, even with the film's slight issue with brightness. There's no ghosting, no wonk to this presentation, and everything is where it should be. For a series that has experimented with native 3D, Pirates of the Caribbean has made up for its previous misstep with a well crafted third dimensional enhancement.
Among the things that will fly out of the screen during Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales are the following: debris, cannonballs, killer sharks, gigantic animate mastheads, cannons, and various members of the cast. There is a lot going on with the window breaking portion of the 3D effects, and it's all absolutely stunning. There's even a couple moments that are absolutely flinch worthy, and it all works with copious style and aplomb. Also, Captain Salazar's character design was built for 3D, no questions asked.
Much like the visuals that pop out of the screen, the depth and field of vision that Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales exhibits is a true thing of beauty. In particular, the effect of water is portrayed in great detail. When objects and characters submerge and emerge, there's a clear difference between how we see things in water, and how we see them above it. The water itself is a separate filter of spatial detail, and it's used to great effect. Other than that, the rest of the film holds up beautifully, as star fields, crowds, and even just normal close-up shots, are defined with great detail.
You ready for a paradox: my presentation of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales was still a bit washed out in terms of comparing the actual image to that of what I saw with the 3D glasses on. And yet, the film isn't marred by this fact, as I was still able to see the film clearly at all times. What's more, my eyes weren't strained one bit by the darkness, so the problem clearly isn't with the film. This is a good time to remind you that your mileage may vary in this department, as theaters don't always properly calibrate their rigs after switching from a 2D presentation to one of a 3D nature. Color me impressed.
You'll swear you've been drinking some of the finest rum in the realm if you take your glasses off, as even the closest of images is minutely blurred for your pleasure. Facial detail shows up rather well because of this, but when it comes to the heavy stuff, there's blur to go around throughout the picture. This goes a long way towards the depth the picture is trying to convey, as the blurrier an image is, it usually means that there's more depth being conveyed.
Mark my words: Legend 3D deserves tons of credit for providing the audience with a stable, clean 3D picture that doesn't take the usual adjustment period to enjoy. Right from the off, the picture is crisp, and there's no wonk on one frame of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales' 3D presentation. The images are larger than life, but they don't confuse the eye or strain the vision of the audience.
While Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is getting beaten up by the press, the 3D version of the film is certainly the way to go if you're even the slightest bit curious. Then again, I'd expect nothing less from the folks that brought Ghostbusters, Jupiter Ascending, and Hugo to brilliant 3D life. If you're seeing this film in any format other than IMAX 3D, you're doing it wrong. With more picture, and a humongous sound system backing this perfect 3D picture, large format it the best way to get the most out of your money.
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