Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides parents guide

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Parent Guide

While Depp continues to deliver his lines with deadpan skill and panache, this adventure feels a little tiresome (and less family friendly than even the previous outings).

Overall C+

Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) and his band of menacing buccaneers are back in action, hunting for the elusive Fountain of Youth. But along the way, they encounter terrifying zombies and mythical mermaids as well as a ruthless woman from Jack's past (Penélope Cruz) who forces him aboard the famed ship of the fearsome pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane).

Release date May 20, 2011

Violence D+
Sexual Content B-
Profanity B
Substance Use C

Why is Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides rated PG-13? The MPAA rated Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides PG-13 for intense sequences of action/adventure violence, some frightening images, sensuality and innuendo.

Run Time: 137 minutes

Official Movie Site

Parent Movie Review

Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) still staggers and lurches from one tight spot to another. His father Captain Teague (played by the iconic musician Keith Richards) makes another brief appearance to offer some sage advice to his son. And swordfights are as common as seagulls on a fish-strewn shoreline. But the franchise seems to be missing its swagger. The loss of key characters and the previous director Gore Verbinski, along with less computer animation, may contribute to the new flavor of this sequel.

Rumor suggests that Jack owns a map plotting the location of the famed Fountain of Youth and that he is hiring a crew to set sail for it. While Jack does own the map, he isn’t the one offering employment and knows nothing about a planned voyage. Intent on clearing up this case of identity theft, Jack slips into a pub to confront the imposter. However, before he knows it, he’s been shanghaied for service under the command of the nefarious pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane) and his cunning daughter Angelica (Penélope Cruz) who are desperate to find the life-extending waters.

Blackbeard, whose impending death has been predicted, isn’t the only one speeding toward the elusive destination. Jack’s old first mate and rival, Hector Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), has forsworn his plundering ways in exchange for a post (and ship) in King George’s (Richard Griffiths) navy. Affecting British civility, Barbossa drives his crew to follow in the wake of Blackbeard’s boat, along with a trio of Spanish galleons.

In the film’s opening scenes, Jack makes an audacious escape from the clutches of King George before smacking blades with the imposter in a tightly choreographed scene reminiscent of the swordplay between Jack and Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) in the original Pirates’ movie. But beyond that the script often stalls, wandering off into side stories that have little to do with the main action. Without the comedic relief of the frequently duped English soldiers, Mullroy and Murtogg (Anges Barnett, Giles New) or the freebooters Pintel and Ragetti (Lee Arenberg, Mackenzie Crook), the script turns to sexual banter between Jack and Angelica to garner laughs. Yet despite the additional innuendo, the dearth of sexual tension or even an engrossing romance becomes obvious.

With an abundance of flasks (some ingeniously hidden), these sailors tipple imprudent amounts of liquor, which appears to buoy up their nerve when it comes to waging war on their fellow adventurers. Unfortunately these conflicts result in the death of many crewmen who are run through with swords, stabbed with knives or shot at point-blank range. As well, mermaids are lured by song and light to become prey for the sailors.

While Depp continues to deliver his lines with deadpan skill and panache, this adventure feels a little tiresome (and less family friendly than even the previous outings). Apparently, without a beneficial injection from the mythical fountain of youth or an everlasting elixir, even franchises can’t expect to outlast a reasonable life expectancy. Maybe it’s time this one was put to rest gracefully.

Directed by Rob Marshall . Starring Johnny Depp, Penélope Cruz, Ian McShane. Running time: 137 minutes. Theatrical release May 20, 2011. Updated

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Rating & Content Info

Why is Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides rated PG-13? Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for intense sequences of action/adventure violence, some frightening images, sensuality and innuendo.

Violence: Following in the pattern of the franchise’s previous films, this production is replete with fistfights, sword assaults, shootings, stabbings and other means of inflicting death. Fishermen haul in a body with their daily catch. A father and his young daughter happily anticipate a hanging. A crowd angrily voices their displeasure over a judge’s decision. A man steals jewelry from a woman. A character starts a fire as a way to deter his pursuers. Characters are shot with a tranquilizing dart. A man is set adrift in a boat then repeatedly blasted with flames. Men are attacked and drowned by sea creatures. A man is forced to jump from a high cliff. Bloody injuries result when a man’s chest is slashed. A character magically disintegrates. Numerous corpses and skeletons are depicted.

Sexual Content: Men nuzzle prostitutes in a bar. Low cut dresses reveal cleavage. Sexual innuendo includes characters who exchange sexual banter on several occasions. The bare backs of mermaids are seen along with strategically placed hair covering their chests.

Language: The script contains a handful of swear words along with a couple of terms of Deity.

Alcohol / Drug Use: Characters frequently consume alcohol in a variety of situations. They often appear to be intoxicated.

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Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Parents' Guide

Though this script is not based on documented facts, it does include some historical figures. How has Edward Teach’s reputation as the pirate Blackbeard grown over time? The explorer Ponce de León was an early Spanish explorer. What is his claim to fame?

What is Blackbeard’s punishment for mutiny? Does this seem harsh? Why is it important for a captain to be able to maintain control of his ship? The Royal Navy’s Articles of War along with the United States’ Uniform Code of Military Justice outlines the punishments that can be applied to mutineers.

Jacks tells Angelica that a gentleman owes it to a lady to let her retain her fiction. What does he mean by this? Are even pirates held to a code of honor? Does this kind of chivalry still exist? Should it? Or has its time passed?

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides movie is October 18, 2011. Here are some details…

Home Video Notes: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Release Date: 18 October 2011

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides releases to home video on October 18, 2011.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides: Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack

- Bloopers of the Caribbean

- Audio Commentary by director Rob Marshall

- LEGO Animated Shorts: Captain Jack’s Brick Tales

Exclusive HD Content

- Disney Second Screen

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides: Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD/Digital

Includes all of the above, plus:

- Last Sail/First Voyage

- Under the Scene: Bringing Mermaids to Life

- Deleted and Extended Scenes with Intros by director Rob Marshall

- Legends of On Stranger Tides

- In Search of the Fountain

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is also part of the Pirates of the Caribbean: Four-Pack Collection, which releases to home video on October 18, 2011.

Related home video titles:

Seeking for immortality becomes the quest of characters in Tuck Everlasting and Star Trek: Insurrection.

Earlier adventures of the outlandish pirate captain can be seen in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.

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