In theaters now. Runtime: 2 hours, 18 minutes. Rated R for violence, language, and some thematic elements.
Carlos Rivera-Ortiz Starring: Diego Luna, Ana de Armas, Pedro Pascal (voice), and newcomer Mateo Uribe La bahia pirata
Rating: ★★★½ (3.5/5)
Moreover, the plot follows the Treasure Island playbook so closely that few twists will surprise veteran adventure fans. The “traitor in the crew” is obvious from their first close-up, and the final third-act twist about Elena’s past is telegraphed so early it might as well have its own flag. The score, by Mexican composer Camila Fuentes, is a triumph. It blends flamenco guitars, pounding taiko drums, and mournful cellos into a sound that feels both fresh and classic. The sound design, too, deserves praise: the crack of a flintlock, the shing of a cutlass being drawn, and the endless hiss of the Caribbean surf create an immersive audio landscape. Final Verdict: A Worthy Voyage La Bahía Pirata is not the revolutionary pirate epic its marketing promised. It’s too long, too familiar, and occasionally too sentimental. But it is also a passionate, beautifully acted, and lovingly crafted adventure that respects its genre while injecting new cultural DNA into it. In theaters now
When Mateo’s mentor is murdered by Vargas’s men, he teams up with (Ana de Armas), a cynical tavern owner and former pirate’s daughter, and the disembodied, sardonic voice of a ghostly parrot (Pedro Pascal, having a ball). Together, they assemble a ragtag crew to find the treasure—not for gold, but to buy their freedom from an empire that has used them all as pawns. The High Points: Blood, Salt, and Chemistry The film’s greatest weapon is its sense of place. Rivera-Ortiz shoots on real Caribbean locations, not a green screen. The sand is hot, the water is blindingly blue, and the sword fights are bruising, messy, and wet. One mid-film skirmish on a sinking galleon is a masterclass in practical stunts—ropes snap, wood splinters, and you feel every stumble. Carlos Rivera-Ortiz Starring: Diego Luna, Ana de Armas,
, as the voice of Loro (the parrot), provides scene-stealing comic relief without becoming a nuisance. His muttered asides (“We’re going to die. I told you. I told everyone. Nobody listens to the bird.”) land every time. The Lower Decks: Pacing and Predictability Where La Bahía Pirata springs a leak is in its midsection. The second act drags, spending too much time on a jungle trek that, while beautifully shot, feels like filler. A subplot involving a rival English pirate crew is introduced and then abandoned so abruptly you’ll wonder if a reel went missing.