The “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise has always been popular ever since it’s release in 2003, and this year’s newest edition to the series falls nothing short of being spectacular.

There has always been legends about the Fountain of Youth, and in this adventure Capt. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) must find his way to the fountain before Blackbeard (Ian McShane) does. The Fountain has been led to believe that it provides the user with ever-lasting life, when in reality it takes the life of another to provide the one who drinks from it with someone else’s life, in which Jack is faced with the choice of committing the ultimate sacrifice.

There are  historical aspects to the movie as well, the English are on the brink of war with Spain, who are also searching for the Fountain of Youth, societies are developing, religions are becoming more dominant, and piracy is almost a crime of the past. There is also one more fundamental addition to the movie, The Queen Anne’s Revenge, Blackbeard’s flagship. The Revenge, along with Blackbeard himself, has always been part of pirate lore because it was the most feared ship that sailed the seas because it not only was said to be controlled by whoever captains the boat itself, but that it never lost a fight.

The story really revolves around Jack and his quest to not only find the Fountain of Youth, but to make amends with his previous love interest Angelica (Penélope Cruz) and find out how far he is willing to go to live forever. Along the way there are mermaids, zombies, and much more that keep to story flowing smoothly. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is exactly what the commercials say it is, “the must see movie of the summer”. There is no mistaking that the movie opens many doors and future story-lines for the next installments in the Pirates series, and will always be a phenomenal masterpiece for years to come.