The Captain Jack Sparrow Handbook

I received an awesome new book in the mail the other day. It's called The Captain Jack Sparrow Handbook: A Swashbuckler's Guide from Pirates of the Caribbean by Jason Heller. I must say, this book is absolutely hilarious and a must have for any fan of Pirates of the Caribbean and especially Captain Jack. With a brand new Pirates movie soon to be released in theaters around the world, Pirate mania is at an all time high.

The book begins with this disclaimer:
Ahoy, All Ye Would-Be Pirates, Take Heed: This book is a work of entertainment. The publisher and author hereby disclaim any liability from an injury that may result from the use, proper or improper, of the information contained in this book. We do not guarantee that this information is safe, complete, or wholly accurate, nor should it be considered a substitute for a reader's good judgement and common sense.

Then the fun begins. This book provides insights into the pirate lifestyle, covering everything from the basics of How to Sail a Ship, to more complex issues such as How to Fight Six Angry Men in a Tavern! (In true Captain Jack fashion, the books recommends that you 1. Deflect the blame, 2. Get out of the way, and 3. Don't stick around!) This book features several full color pictures both from previous Pirates of the Caribbean films, as well as a few new photos from On Stranger Tides. There are six chapters full of piratical skills and an appendix of Piratical Lingo.

Chapter One: Piracy 101 - This chapter covers the basics of what a pirate should know about being a pirate, including a section on how to dress the part.

Chapter Two: Maritime Skills - Useful skills such as how to fire a cannon, the many types of Jolly Rogers, and the names for the parts of a ship

Chapter Three: People Skills - From the expected section on how to recruit a crew, to the unexpected on invoking parlay and a list of pirate insults and their meanings.

Chapter Four: Acquiring Booty - Topics include how to acquire treasure as well as how to hide it so that you may keep it.

Chapter Five: Cheating Death - My favorites from this chapter include How to Survive Being Marooned and The Fine Art of Being Somewhere Else!

Chapter Six: Mysteries of the Deep - This last chapter involves dealing with sea monsters, mermaids, curses and Davy Jones.

Appendix: Piratical Lingo - Learn the meaning of common pirate words as well as some that seem more exotic, such as salmagundi: "A makeshift British "recipe" popular among pirates: meat, seafood, vegetables, fruits, roots, nuts, leaves, flowers, oils, vinegars, sauces - just throw in what you've got."

In all, this is a fantastic book full of wonderful illustrations and great ideas for living the pirate lifestyle. Hopefully, with the help of the Captain Jack Sparrow Handbook, you can avoid Jack's mistakes and learn to be a highly successful pirate, perhaps, even the most famous pirate in the Caribbean!

I was provided with a copy of this book by Quirk Books for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.

The Beak and Barrel

All images: Disney

Arrrrrrrr you ready to visit Disney World's new pirate pub? The Beak and Barrel opens near Pirates of the Caribbean in the Magic Kingdom later this month and it looks like a lot of fun. 

Captain Meridian "Merry" Goldwyn and her first mate Rummy the Parrot have opened this pub for buccaneers of all ages to enjoy. Rummy, the tavern's quartermaster, is a chatty fellow who keeps an eye on everything from his roost above the bar.

The pub is made up of two rooms: The Mess and the Captains' Quarters. The Mess was once a mess hall for Spanish soldiers and is filled with long tables. A large bar fills one side of yhe room, made up of pieces from a cursed shipwreck. In addition to an impressive collection of grogs and brews, it holds an Enchanted Rum Bottle, a gift from Tia Dalma to Merry.

The Captains' Quarters were formerly the rooms of a Spanish Comandante. While it once contained fine artwork and draperies, the pirates have been a bit rambunctious over the years and little of the finery remains. Five ships in bottles hold pride of place above the fireplace, representing pirates across the world who banded together to defeat tyranny. These mysterious bottles sometimes come alive and begin to battle.

The pub has a delightful sounding array of drinks and snacks to enjoy. With both non-alcoholic and stronger drinks, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

The Treasure Trove - a mix of ube, lemon, and coconut make up this drink. It includes some sweet treats: a vanilla cake plank, chocolate cannonball, and golden caramel popcorn.

The Cursed Treasure - a delicious combination of coconut milk and cookie crumbs topped with vanilla foam and pirate’s gold cookie

Kraken’s Catch - a cold salad with octopus tentacles marinated in lemon and lime juice and paired with olives, bell peppers, avocado, and Piquillo pepper-almond foam

Salty Seas mARRRgarita - this drink features Southeast Asian flavors, such as ube as well as Lalo Blanco Tequilla, Cointreau Liqueur, and lime

Siren’s Whisper - inspired by the Fountain of Youth, this drink combines Pot & Column Still White Rum with citrus and spice, and is topped with a special siren tear

Cook’s Corn Griddle Cakes - a warm corn cake stuffed with melted cheese, lime sour cream, and chili peppers topped with cotija cheese and  one of two fillings: roasted corn and poblano peppers or chipotle-braised chicken

Barrels Ablaze - a drink for the bourbon fancier, it features Jack Daniel’s Bonded Bourbon, a hint of honey, and a dash of spice

Hibiscus Rum Punch Royale - a lightly sweet and refreshing rum-based drink topped with prosecco combined with hibiscus, demerara and citrus

Island Provisions - this dish takes flair and flavors from the Caribbean and Central America regions with plantain chips, blue corn tortillas, and toasted flatbread served with various savory dips

Port of Call - for gin-loving pirates, this drink includes London Dry Gin, Ruby Port, lemon juice, and spiced cranberry

Lit Fuse - this drink is made with Los Siete Misterios Doba -Yej Meszal, and flavors of banana, coconut, and smoked chili bitters

Plunderer’s Punch - for the rum lovers, this drink has Kraken Black Spiced Rum, blackberry, vanilla, a hint of citrus, and comes in a souvenir pirate skull mug

The Beak and Barrel opens on August 29th. Reservations begin on August 14th.

Keira Knightly Returns to Pirates

Disney

The latest international trailer for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales features a brief glimpse of a familiar face.

It appears that Keira Knightly will be returning as Elizabeth Swann, although I'm wondering if her role in the film will be all too brief as well. Only time will tell. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales arrives in theaters on May 26.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales on Blu-ray

Disney

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is available on Blu-ray and DVD today. I saw the film in the theater, and I absolutely loved it. It was crazy and funny, and at times incredibly sad, but overall it was a fantastic addition to the series. Caution: There Be Spoilers Ahead. Ye Be Warned.

Disney

Dead Men Tell No Tales starts where At World's End left off, with the love story between Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann. Their young son, Henry, is determined to break his father's curse, with help, of course, from Captain Jack Sparrow, whether anyone likes it or not.

While seeking Jack, a grown-up Henry meets Capitan Salazar, who wants revenge on Jack, and Carina Smyth, an astronomer accused of witchcraft, who is about to be executed alongside Jack. On the way to the execution scene, keep an eye out for Uncle Jack, a cameo by Paul McCartney, who is hilarious.

Disney

Eventually, everyone's journeys collide as they all seek Poseidon's Trident. It's a race to see who will find it first: Henry and Carina with Jack and his ragtag crew, Barbossa and his crew of miscreants, Capitan Salazar and his ghosts, or the British Royal Navy.

I won't reveal any more, but if you liked the first three films, you should definitely see Dead Men Tell No Tales. It is supposed to be the final film in the series and it provides a good stopping point for all the different characters' stories. And while I did cry through much of the end, I can't wait to see it again. Oh, and make sure to watch for the post credit scene. It made me wonder if there are more tales to tell afterall.

Disney

The Blu-ray has a treasure chest full of Special Features:

• Dead Men Tell More Tales: The Making of a New Adventure - take a behind the scenes look at the making of the film with  a collection of stories that can be viewed individually or together
• A Return to the Sea - hear how Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg developed this new chapter and brought it to the screen
• Telling Tales: A Sit-down with Brenton & Kaya - meet Brenton Thwaites and Lays Scodelario, the newest members of the Pirates franchise
• The Matador & The Bull: Secrets of Salazar & The Silent Mary - Javier Bardem speaks about his character and his foreboding ship 
• First Mate Confidential - go on-set with Kevin McNally, the long suffering Mr. Gibbs, Captain Jack's first mate
• Deconstructing the Ghost Sharks - a glimpse into the depths to see how these monsters were created and brought to life 
• Wings Over the Caribbean - Captain Jack and Sir Paul McCartney 
• An Enduring Legacy - One last look at the impact of Pirates of the Caribbean; the ride, the movies, and beyond
• Bloopers of the Caribbean 
• Jerry Bruckheimer Photo Diary
• Deleted Scenes 

Pirates of the Caribbean Mickey Ears

All images: Disney

I just found the coolest Mickey ears: a Limited Edition set of Pirates of the Caribbean Mickey ears with three special pins, all packaged in an awesome hat box. The set is a little bit pricey at $69.95, but still amazing. The box features images from the map stolen from Sao Feng and used by Jack Sparrow in both At World's End and On Stranger Tides. The ears also feature images from the map as well as the figurehead from the Queen Anne's Revenge on one ear and the ship itself on the other.

The two pins on the hat are the skull and crossed swords logo of Pirates of the Caribbean and a Blackbeard bearded skull and crossed bones with flaming ends.

The final pin is hinged and looks like Jack's compass. This hat arrived in Disney parks in May, so I'm sure they've sold out, but it would be an incredible addition to any pirates collection.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Trailer and Poster

Disney

Captain Jack Sparrow is back for one final swashbuckling adventure. And he's just as irreverent and lecherous as always.

Here's the official synopsis from Disney: 

Johnny Depp returns to the big screen as the iconic, swashbuckling anti-hero Jack Sparrow in the all-new “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.” The rip-roaring adventure finds down-on-his-luck Captain Jack feeling the winds of ill-fortune blowing strongly his way when deadly ghost sailors, led by the terrifying Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem), escape from the Devil's Triangle bent on killing every pirate at sea—notably Jack. Jack's only hope of survival lies in the legendary Trident of Poseidon, but to find it he must forge an uneasy alliance with Carina Smyth (Kaya Scodelario), a brilliant and beautiful astronomer, and Henry (Brenton Thwaites), a headstrong young sailor in the Royal Navy. At the helm of the Dying Gull, his pitifully small and shabby ship, Captain Jack seeks not only to reverse his recent spate of ill fortune, but to save his very life from the most formidable and malicious foe he has ever faced. 

“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” also stars Kevin R. McNally as Joshamee Gibbs, Golshifteh Farahani as the sea-witch Shansa, Stephen Graham as Scrum, David Wenham as Scarfield and Geoffrey Rush as Captain Hector Barbossa.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales arrives in theaters May 26, 2017.

Pirates of the Caribbean

Disney

Earlier this month, Disneyland marked the 50th anniversary of Pirates of the Caribbean. Pirates has always been one of my favorite rides. It's rather nostalgic for me, and I never tire of riding it. (Which is a good thing, because it's one of Bean's favorite rides, too.) In honor of the anniversary, the Disney Parks Blog has released a video of Walt Disney telling the tale of the Pirates of the Caribbean. It was the last ride Walt oversaw personally, although he died before it could be completed.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

I just saw the new Pirates of the Caribbean tonight and I have to say, I LOVED it! I have been waiting for months, hoping that the new film would live up to the promise of the previous three and, while there was less action than in At World's End, it was still a great addition to the Pirates of the Caribbean stories. Without revealing any spoilers, here's the basics of the story. Captain Jack is up to his usual tricks and his usual trouble. He is still searching for the fountain of youth, but once again, he needs a ship and a crew. Along the way, he meets up with Gibbs and Barbossa, who has turned Privateer for King George. He also runs into Angelica, an old flame who may or may not be Blackbeard's daughter. After being shanghaied onto Blackbeard's ship, the Queen Anne's Revenge, Jack must find his way to the fabled fountain of youth, beating everyone else to it's miraculous waters. The story is great, full of characters new and old. They've kept with the supernatural feel of the earlier films, introducing mermaids, zombies, and a ship that may be possessed. Overall, I think it's a worthy addition to the Pirates' world. And don't forget to stay until the very end of the credits. As with the first three films, there is a bonus scene that is quite funny.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow

Disney

When I was at Disney World last month, I noticed that they had started to paint what looked like Cap'n Jack Sparrow's map onto the side of the building that used to house the Narnia Experience in Hollywood Studios. I had heard rumors that this was going to be a new immersive experience through the four Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Yesterday, the Disney blog confirmed that this is so. According to their description, the new walk-through attraction, which will open December 6th (popular day, huh), will take guests on a journey into a lost grotto where a skull will test them to see if they are worthy of sailing with Captain Jack Sparrow. Along the way, they must" face the perils of a pirates life" as they explore scenes from the film.

As a Pirates of the Caribbean fan, I think the idea sounds great. I would love to be able to step into the movies, and I know Bean would too. I can't wait to try out this fun new attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales TV Spot 4

The newest TV spot for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is intriguing. It looks as though young Henry Turner will be reunited with his father, Barbossa will be thrust into a battle not of his making, and Jack will be his usual irreverent self. In other words, more pirate-y fun!

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales arrives in theaters on May 26.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Trailer 4 and Poster

Disney

Disney has released another Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales trailer. The voice over by Salazar says, "Pirates had infected the seas for generations, so I vowed to eliminate them all. Jack Sparrow cursed me. I will have my revenge." The new poster from Germany features this face off between Jack and Salazar. It's seems Captain Jack has gotten himself into trouble again, and, according to the trailer, somehow lost his pants.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales arrives in theaters on May 26.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Posters

The posters for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales are quite extraordinary.

Apparently it's going to be called Salazar's Revenge for the international market.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales arrives in theaters on May 26.

POTC 4 Posters

All images: Disney

Disney recently released four new teaser posters for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. The posters feature Captain Jack Sparrow, Hector Barbossa, Blackbeard, and Angelica. I can't wait for the new film to come out and am very excited by this first look at the new characters. And so begins the search for the famed Fountain of Youth.

It looks like Jack is up to his usual shenanigans. He's in trouble with the law, battling other pirates, on the run from everyone (including zombies), telling lies with every breath and just generally being Captain Jack. Will he reach the Fountain first?

Angelica is a new character. She has a mysterious past, she may or may not the daughter of the notorious Blackbeard, and at some point, she was in a relationship with Captain Jack Sparrow. She wants, more than anything, to save Blackbeard's soul, and she'll go to any lengths to do so.

Barbossa, it seems has not fared well in recent years. He's lost a leg and turned privateer, a legal pirate for the crown, answering to the King of England. He's once again joined forces with Captain Jack, likely against his better judgement, in the race for the Fountain of Youth.

Perhaps the most infamous of all pirates, Blackbeard was the most feared pirate to sail the seas. His ship, the Queen Anne's Revenge, is crewed by zombies and covered in the bones of his victims. Blackbeard fears his prophesied death, so he seeks the fountain as his only hope of escape.

Pirates Fans First

I received an email from Disney a few weeks ago. They asked me to take a survey to see if I was a true Pirates fan. The survey was fairly involved, but fun. Today, I got another email saying that I had been chosen as one of a select group of Pirate fans who will be kept up to date on the adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow as well as receiving a bit of plunder to show my allegiance. When I accepted and went to the new site, they offered me a Captain Jack poster, free! My sister thinks it's crazy, but I was super excited. The poster was from Disney Movie Rewards. I love the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, so this is the perfect Fan Club for me. I'll share the news whenever I receive updates. So keep a weather eye open!

Pirates of the Caribbean Inspired Clothing at Kohl's

Kohl's and Disney have teamed up to create a very cool collection of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales inspired clothing. There are several different shirts and dresses, most of which are not your typical fan gear. They are a very subtle nod to the colors and fashions of the series.

I really like this flowing Bohemian top with red embroidered flowers.

This lace-up t-shirt is more obviously Pirates, with the Black Pearl emblazoned on the front.

They also have a new makeup collection from Lorac. The packaging is gorgeous, as are the colors. But at $52 for the eye shadow palette, it's a bit expensive for the average fan.

The eye shadow palette says "Treasure in the stars" and looks like Captain Jack's compass.

The cheek palette says "Verum omnia simul astra" and was inspired by Carina Smyth's journal. On the inside, the mirror says "Chart a course for the stars."

More New to Me Disney

I had another great weekend going garage-saling. As a result, I found some fantastic deals on fun Disney collectibles that I wanted to share.

The first thing I found was the best deal by far. I found a 20th anniversary collectors edition of Star Wars Monopoly, complete with all of the pieces, for $1. I was absolutely amazed. I honestly just glanced inside before I bought it and figured it was worth it for the pewter figures if nothing else. But, we're a major, board game loving family, so I was really hoping it was playable. When we got home, we put everything in order and checked the contents list. Then we decided to play. Bean had never played Monopoly before, but she obviously took to it like a duck to water because she creamed us! When we finally decided she'd done enough damage and totaled up what we had, Bean had $7, 612, my sister had $3,333 and I came in last with just $690 because I'd mortgaged nearly everything I had just to keep up with what I owed. It was crazy!

The next find was the one I was most excited about; I found a CD of Voices of Liberty. (I've been searching for a copy of this CD for some time, but just wasn't willing to pay what people were asking on Amazon or Ebay.) If you haven't heard them sing in EPCOT's American Adventure Pavilion, you've really missed something special. I love listening to them and try to make time to hear them every trip. The CD was in perfect condition, and at only 50cents, it was well worth the money. I've listened to it twice already and it's just like being in the rotunda, sitting on the floor and listening to the amazing voices sing classic American songs.

The last item wasn't exactly something I needed, but something I have a hard time passing up: anything Pirates of the Caribbean. I found a Pirates book called the Secret Files of the East India Trading Company. It has removable maps, a piece of cursed Aztec gold, portraits of young Jack Sparrow, and more. And it was only $1. Bean and I are both huge Pirates of the Caribbean fans, so I'm not sure who is more excited to pore over the pages of this great book.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Is Now On Blu-ray!

Disney

If you're a Pirates of the Caribbean fan, you know that the fourth film in the series, On Stranger Tides, is available on DVD and Blu-ray today. I am so excited to watch this again. Bean and I LOVED it. We watched it in the theater twice and really enjoyed it both times.

Disney Movie Rewards members can get a $5 off coupon from the website towards purchase of the 5-disc combo pack. If you purchase the combo pack from Target, the price will be $24.99 after the coupon and you will also receive a mini Lego ship. Pirates and Legos, what could be better?

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Character Posters

The new Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales posters feature the five main characters from the new film: Captain Jack

Captain Barbossa

Captain Salazar

Henry Turner

and Carina Smyth.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales arrives in theaters on May 26.