Today’s Prayer Focus

MOVIE REVIEW

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

MPA Rating: PG-13-Rating (MPA)

for intense sequences of action/adventure violence, some frightening images, sensuality and innuendo.

Reviewed by: Daniel Thompson
CONTRIBUTOR

Moral Rating:	Offensive
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience:	Teens Adults
Genre:	Action Adventure Fantasy Sequel
Length:	2 hr. 17 min.
Year of Release:	2011
USA Release:	May 20, 2011 (wide—4,155 theaters)

Relevant Issues

piracy and other sins

fabled Fountain of Youth

We will ALL live forever—in everlasting life or eternal death.

Occultism

occult supernaturalism / voodoo / zombies

What is the Occult? Answer

THE OCCULT—What does the Bible say about it? Answer

mermaids as dangerous supernatural seducers— see: Timothy’s warning about seducing spirits

Need for heroic followers of Christ

importance of Christians boldly confronting evil, protecting the innocent, self-sacrifice, and attempting to save souls

Romans 1:16

Eternal salvation

role of Christian evangelist/missionary— boldly declaring the Gospel

importance of concern for other people’s souls and our own

Is good works the way to salvation?

Are you good enough to get to Heaven? Answer

grace and faith

savior

Is Jesus Christ the answer to your questions?

Discover the good news that Jesus Christ offers

Learn how to be more effective in evangelism

Stumped about how to share your faith in Christ with others? Our EffectiveEvangelism.com site assists Christians in effectively reaching out to others with love and truth. Learn about the worldview of the people you meet, ways to share the gospel, read stories submitted by site users, and more.

Discover God’s promise for all people—told beautifully and clearly from the beginning. Discover The HOPE! Watch it on Christian Answers—full-length motion picture.

ROYALTY of the Bible: kings / queens / princes

Featuring	Johnny Depp … Jack Sparrow Geoffrey Rush … Barbossa Penélope Cruz (Penelope Cruz) … Angelica Ian McShane … Blackbeard Roger Allam … Henry Pelham Judi Dench Gemma Ward … Tamara Richard Griffiths … King George II Stephen Graham … Scrum Sam Claflin … Philip Astrid Berges-Frisbey … Syrena—Mermaid Keith Richards … Captain Teague See all » Kevin McNally … Gibbs Greg Ellis … Lieutenant Theodore Groves Óscar Jaenada … Spaniard Bronson Webb … Cook Yuki Matsuzaki … Garheng Robbie Kay … Cabin Boy Paul Bazely … Salaman Sebastian Armesto … King Ferdinand Christopher Fairbank … Ezekiel Anton Lesser … First Sea Lord Steve Evets … Purser Ian Mercer … Quartermaster Jade Ryusaki … Mermaid Azmyth Kaminski … Queen Anne’s Pirate Matt Lasky … Queen Anne’s Pirate Kevin Senn … Queen Anne’s Pirate Mark Smith … Queen Anne’s Pirate Lee Nicholas Harris … Jailer Juan Carlos Vellido … Spanish Captain Danny Le Boyer … Yeoman Chuck Williams … Queen Anne’s Pirate Michael I. Rosales … Queen Anne’s Pirate Robert Stone … Gaoler Richard Thomson … Derrick Chuy Garcia … Queen Anne’s Pirate Tristan Laurence Perez … Spanish Fisherman Gerard Monaco … Spanish Officer Salomon Passariello … Queen Anne’s Pirate Tamayo Perry … Queen Anne’s Pirate Emerson Tuitt Malcolm … Queen Anne’s Pirate Rey Payumo … Queen Anne’s Pirate Thomas Christopher Smith … Queen Anne’s Pirate
Director	Rob Marshall
Producer	Jerry Bruckheimer Films Walt Disney Pictures Jerry Bruckheimer … producer See all » John DeLuca … executive producer Ted Elliott … executive producer Chad Oman … executive producer Terry Rossio … executive producer Mike Stenson … executive producer Barry H. Waldman … executive producer
Distributor	Walt Disney Pictures

In 2003, Walt Disney Pictures decided to release a film based on one of their amusement park rides. That film was “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl”. Considering the source material, not much was expected of the movie. Little did Disney know, they had a serious franchise on their hands. The first “Pirates…” film was praised by critics and loved by audiences, and for good reason. It deftly mixed humor, adventure, and romance into a family-friendly blend of a summer movie. Johnny Depp immediately transformed from independent film darling to worldwide movie star due to his unbelievable turn as Captain Jack Sparrow.

In fact, the only unfortunate product of the film was that it spawned two lack luster sequels, “Dead Man’s Chest” and “At World’s End”. While these two films contained the necessary criteria for a summer blockbuster, they were also one big meandering mess that lacked the heart and freshness of the original. While not near the quality of the first, the sequels made almost $1 billion each, assuring the addition of more chapters in the franchise. Needless to say, going into “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides”, my expectations were low. While still not the caliber of the original, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the fourth entry of this series.

“…Tides” corrected some major problems of the last two sequels, chief of those being the plot. The plot of this film is simple, yet intriguing: the search for the fountain of youth. Captain Jack Sparrow finds himself in the middle of a three ship race for Ponce De Leon’s fabled spring of eternal life. The Spanish are after the fountain to protect its lore. The English have hired Sparrow’s nemesis Captain Barbossa to lead them to the fountain. And finally, the infamous pirate Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard, has set sail with his daughter for the fountain to claim everlasting life for his own. This plot is much more direct than that of the two previous “Pirates…” features. It creates a series of excellently staged action sequences, while also leaving plenty of room for Sparrow to get into his usual shenanigans.

The other aspect of “…Tides” that works is the cast. Depp is as good as ever as the cunning Sparrow, and Geoffrey Rush plays Barbossa with plenty of relish. Penélope Cruz is the love interest of Depp, as well as the daughter of Blackbeard, and she fits right in. The best addition to the cast is that of Ian McShane (“Deadwood”) as Blackbeard. McShane is about as good at playing a villain as anyone you will ever see. He is menacing, ruthless, and just about perfect as the world’s most infamous pirate.

While “…Tides” is clearly a huge step in the right direction for the franchise, it still has its issues. One of the side plots in the film is a love story between a passenger on Blackbeard’s ship and a mermaid. This particular plot line is ridiculous, and some of the worst acting and dialogue comes out of these scenes. Also, new director Rob Marshall (“Chicago”) completely overuses the film’s excellent music soundtrack, as it is almost omnipresent from start to finish. While a vast improvement, “…Tides” still cannot recreate the originality of the first movie of the franchise. There are some excellent effects and funny lines, but the film will leave the viewer with a “been there, done that” taste.

The content of “Tides” is on par with that of the previous films in the franchise. There is plenty of violence and several deaths, all of which are mostly bloodless. Some women are seen in corsets and revealing tops. The mermaids in the film appear to be topless, but their torsos are scaly and not human flesh, which gives them a similar effect of the female Navii from “Avatar”. There is also some sexual innuendo present, mostly in the form of flirtation between Depp and Cruz. “…Tides” has a few issues, but is much cleaner than most PG-13 releases.

Just like the previous films of the series, “…Tides” contains its fair share of magic and mysticism. While the pirate Blackbeard was an actual historical figure, the film makes him a master of magic and voodoo. He uses a doll to control Sparrow and, also, has power over his ship. While there is a Christian character represented, the film deals mostly in the realm of fantasy, and thus the viewer should not be surprised by nods to voodoo pirates or flying vampire mermaids. Also, anyone that has seen any of the “Pirates…” films will know that while Sparrow is the protagonist, he is still a pirate first and does not behave in a manner suitable for mimicking.

The fourth film in a franchise usually is not good, much less great. Take into account the quality of its predecessors and the chance for a good film diminishes greatly. Surprisingly, this movie puts the “Pirates…” franchise back on track and restores much of the shine that has been missed since the original. For teens and adults, “…Tides” is a fun adventure with great special effects. A step below the first, but miles ahead of the next two, “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” is a solid addition to the franchise.

Violence: Heavy / Profanity: Minor / Sex/Nudity: Moderate

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.

Positive
Neutral
Negative
Young people

Positive

Positive—I was a bit nervous about going to this movie with my 15 and 12 year old, because I would’ve preferred to have a remote handy, so I could fast forward any inappropriate remarks or actions, but when the movie ended I was slightly relieved, because I didn’t regret taking them. I have seen all three of the other Pirates of the Caribbean movies. I thought it was really well done and a fun movie.

But, like the others, there were many innuendos. Early on Jack Sparrow jumps into a carriage with a woman and falls onto this older lady. She responds by saying as he leaves, “Is that all?” As he’s trying to get away from some people, he grabs on to a sign to escape. As the camera backs up, you can see the sign has a picture of a woman’s cleavage, and that’s what he’s holding onto. As the story unfolds, we see that Jack Sparrow had taken advantage of Angelica years ago and had left her. She complains he took her innocence, and he jokes about her not seeming as though she was very innocent. She asks what he was ever doing in a Spanish convent anyway, and he replies he thought it was a brothel. See all »
My Ratings: Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 5

Holly, age 39 (USA)

Positive—This fourth adventure is closer to the first (and best) in the Pirate series. The plot is more straight forward, with some new and interesting characters. The supernatural and the occult abound throughout the movie, including zombies, voodoo, and possibly vampirism.

In contrast, while the first two movies hinted at Christianity, this movie includes a missionary on board. Although Jack refers to him as a “Bible-thumper,” that he is a Christian missionary is more implied. God and faith is mentioned, but there is no mention of Jesus, Christ, or Christianity. However, the young man is portrayed as boldly confronting evil, protecting the innocent, attempting to save souls, which is more than most movies these days and commendable.See all »

Concern for other people’s souls comes up several times, but leans toward works rather than faith. But the movie could provide a good opportunity to discuss Romans 1:16, 3:22, 4:5-6, 5:18-21; Acts 4:12.

The mermaids made me think of 1 Timothy 4:1, warning about seducing spirits. So although this is not a Christian movie, it is better than “At World’s End.”

Johnny Depp as Capt. Jack Sparrow is growing in character. Capt. Barbossa gives an interesting spin on pirate vs. privateer. Penelope Cruz’s pirate Angelica was fun and her concern for Blackbeard was interesting, but a bit confused. Blackbeard was well done, but they could’ve done more with him. Whether or not someone who has done evil can still be saved, the choices each person makes, and regret over past sins are all hinted at, but overshadowed by special effects and the seductive, deceptive promises of another way to eternal life.

Overall, better than I expected, another fun time on the Pirate ride, a positive portrayal of a Christian, and it provides Christians with points of discussion regarding faith vs. works, the danger of the occult, self-sacrifice, boldly declaring the Gospel, and eternal life.

P.S.—We went back for a second viewing (same day) and enjoyed it even more the second time. I carefully listened to certain dialogue and was pleased to pick up on things I missed or only partly heard the first go round. The second time I more clearly saw that Angelica’s faith and genuine concern for Blackbeard’s soul was giving him pause. Rather than simply commenting “maybe you’re right, some are too evil to be saved,” I now see the missionary said it to make Blackbeard think about what he planned to do, hoping to stop him.

Also, more clearly heard when Jack appears to be gingerly asking the Christian what it takes to go where the “goody-goodies go.” Rather than a put down, the second time through I saw it more as Jack considering the earlier statement that anyone can be saved. A door opening, men well aware of their sins, perhaps seeing themselves beyond hope, starting to give ear to the true good news: that even they can be saved. Emphasizes how important it is to share the Gospel and pray for the pirates, terrorists, rapists, murderers, and thieves in our time. Jesus can save, touch, and change even the worst of sinners. If someone cares enough to share Christ with them. So, more to see the second time. Like the real Pirates ride, this is worth getting back in line and riding it again.

My Ratings: Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 4½

Tori, age 40+ (USA)

Positive—This is not a Christian film, as it is too focused on supernatural themes. However, its rebelliousness is trained on the English and Spanish monarchies, and that is a proper focus for an American film. Republicanism (in the non-partisan sense) is culturally authentic and is “as American as apple pie”. There is little in the nature of sex and nudity, by the standards of today. There is violence, but it is not of a graphic character.

The script is a little muddled. There is a Christian evangelist, and he is portrayed as a good and just man, but his interaction with the mermaid ends in supernaturalism. The contrasting of Christian belief with the ultimately vindicated fountain of youth by the Spanish soldiers is especially unfortunate. See all »
My Ratings: Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 4

Blue, age 53 (Australia)

Positive—This was so much better then the last one; the last one, I left the theater, I was so bored. It was definitely entertaining to watch, too long though. And it was rather funny. The interesting thing was how much talk there was about salvation, being saved and how God is the only Who gives eternal life. I was very surprised, so I am happy about that for such a popular movie to even mention those things to all these people who are going to be watching it. And the 3-D was really good. Some movies don’t need to be, but this was good in 3-D.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 5

Samantha, age 36 (USA)

Positive—The reviewer is wrong in saying that the Spanish were in the quest for the fountain of youth to protect its lore. Did you miss when they got to the fountain? I didn’t see them protecting anything. The Spaniards of that time were Catholic and very against all forms of dark magic and the sorts. So you are incorrect in your assessment.

More so, walking into this movie, you know what you are going to expect. I particularly liked the addition of the Missionary that Cruz’s character wanted to have in hopes of saving her father’s soul. That was a nice touch. I believe we Christians tend to criticize way too much on the dark, while missing much of the light. There were spiritual undertones sprinkled through out this movie, which I found refreshing. See all »
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 5

Matt Wood, age 27 (USA)

Positive—I am a fan of the Pirates franchise. I remember seeing the first three films and wondered if they would ever make a fourth. The first was the best and the other two weren’t as good. Still, I didn’t know what to expect with this newest installment. Overall the movie was pretty good. The acting was impressive, with the exception of a couple characters. The music was just right for this movie and I was impressed with how well it fit with the overall theme of the film.

What really surprised me was that this film had a message behind it, and boy was it stressed throughout this film… faith. I was even impressed that portrayed a Christian missionary in this film in a somewhat positive light, notice I say “somewhat.”

In short, this film was good and I’m almost positive we are going to see a fifth and a sixth. Will they do any good or will they end up like Pirates 2 and 3? Who knows. Only time will tell. However, if you are going to see this film, leave the kids home. Not a children’s movie and should be treated with some caution. Keep up the good work Disney!
My Ratings: Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 3½

Alexander Malsan, age 21 (USA)

Positive—While this film was much better than “At World’s End;” “The Curse of the Black Pearl” will always be my favorite of the “Pirates” movies. Although I liked the new characters, I found myself missing Will and Elizabeth… and yes, even Davy Jones. Ian McShane completely lacked charisma next to Bill Nighy’s unforgettable villain. As for content: the gross-out factor was greatly toned down, compared to the last two films in this franchise, but there is the issue of half-naked mermaids and a somewhat creepy scene involving a voodoo doll. All in all, I’ve seen worse sequels (“…Dawn Treader,” anyone?).
My Ratings: Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 3½

Cindy Harper, age 18 (USA)

Positive—After watching the first movies I was impressed. I have to say that the first and fourth movie are the best. They should have never made the second and third movies. They were highly offensive. This movie was way better. Sure, they could have cut a few of the things out, but, all in all, it was great. I like the fact that they actually mentioned receiving Jesus as Lord. But even as they did that, they did have a few times where they were making fun of it, too. But, I still have to say it was good.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 5

Joanna Childress, age 20 (USA)

Positive—I LOVED this movie! Photography, scenery, special effects, GORGEOUS! Fantastic experience. And the mermaids! I’ve been waiting from movie 1 to see mermaids in those waters. Awesome escapism.

While this is certainly not what we would market as a Christian film, it’s not very offensive; most magical arts were done by villains, and we have not only a missionary of strong character, but Spanish sailors who correctly state that only God can give eternal life and disdain the fountain of youth. Along with this is Penelope Cruz’s character and her determination to save her wicked father, as well as her steadfast faith that he can be saved. See all »
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 5

Jennifer, age 26 (USA)

Positive—Though there is some voodoo and magic, it is mostly portrayed as evil. After the scene in which Jack lands in an old woman’s carriage and leans close to her ear, we see Jack with an earring in his mouth. There is some light innuendo between Jack and Angelica, but nothing worse than the other movies. Jack and Angelica fight and flirt on the deck of the Queen Anne’s Revenge, but no innuendo in this scene.

Some high points include: A missionary portrayed in a positive light (wanting to save Blackbeard’s soul, protecting the modesty of the mermaid Syrena), Angelica is also keen on saving her father’s soul, Jack supports the Christian missionary, the Spaniard declares that only God can grant eternal life, not the pagan waters of the fountain of youth. The action and effects are superb, and the cast is truly talented. A very good film indeed!
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 5

Chris, age 34 (USA)

Positive—This is a film about the great positives within all of us, whoever we are. It is also great fun. We all loved it, and even our 7 year old could see what a great example Jack Sparrow is… regular bad guy with the right priorities at heart. …
My Ratings: Moral rating: Excellent! / Moviemaking quality: 5

Helen, age 38 (United Kingdom)

Positive—We rented this movie to watch as a family, and I must say we really enjoyed it, and it felt great for ONCE to get to watch a movie as a family and really enjoy it together
My Ratings: Moral rating: Excellent! / Moviemaking quality: 4½

Chris D, age 22 (USA)

Positive—Thus far in my travels with the Pirates Of The Caribbean, I’ve experienced “The Curse of the Black Pearl,” opened the “Dead Man’s Chest,” and sailed the weird and haunted shores “At World’s End.” So, when the opportunity arose for me to set sail once again “On Stranger Tides,” how could I resist? Personally, I enjoy all three previous entries in the series, with my only complaint being that there are no deleted scenes on the DVD of “Dead Man’s Chest” (some scenes were filmed, but ultimately cut; I think it’s always nice to include deleted scenes from a movie and know why they were excised, as some think the scenes were absolutely necessary while others might not, but enjoy seeing them nonetheless), and only two deleted scenes were included on the DVD of “At World’s End” (I know that twenty minutes worth of footage were cut from the film, including a scene where Admiral Norrington tries to persuade Governor Swann from killing Davy Jones, and, for some reason, those twenty minutes were not included on the DVD as deleted or extended scenes).

But I digress. This latest voyage with the “Pirates Of The Caribbean” is another gold mine for Walt Disney Pictures. The twists keep on coming, there’s still action and romance a-plenty, and, of course, a dash of roguish charm. Captain Jack is back, and this time, he’s joined by yet another lovely young lady who is easy on the eyes (as well as a good actress), and Barbossa has apparently switched sides. See all »
My Ratings: Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 5

D, age 26 (USA)

Positive—“Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” was a very good movie in it’s own way. Jack clearly regrets leaving Angelica from long ago (and Gibbs rightfully denounces his friend’s actions). The violence was a bit intense, but there was plenty of “light vs. Dark” morality behind it. Jack’s father does warn him that the fountain will test him, and Jack ultimately decides mortality is a good thing, albeit for somewhat selfish reasons. Angelica clearly loves her father and wants him to be redeemed, and she is somewhat mad at herself when her father dies.See all »
My Ratings: Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 4½

Peter, age 22 (USA)

Neutral

Neutral—Well let me start out by saying, “Pirates of the Caribbean” has taken a huge step in the right direction this time around. This movie was so good, in my honest opinion, it beats the first one. Maybe it’s because of how disappointing the 3rd one was, but who knows? As far as filmmaking goes, nearly everything was perfect. They apparently opted this time around to go for a more stylistic look for the film, and it works, especially when setting the mood. See all »

The best way I can describe it is to look at the Harry Potter trailers, and notice the extensive use of blues, greens, and so forth. While it’s not that extensive in this movie, they use that tactic, and it provides a nice touch. They perfectly blend that fantasy element with the feeling that it’s really the 1600s. The camera work was phenomenal, and instead of shaky camera, we have nice camera work that actually shows us what we need to see to comprehend the story.

The special effects were amazing, partially because they did as much as possible with practical effects, minimizing the use of CGI, and in my opinion, using too much CGI brings a movie down (“Star Wars” Prequels anyone?). The sets and locations were just stunning, as well as the ships they used in the film. Blackbeard’s Ship felt menacing to look at on screen. I mean you see it and in your mind, you know if you saw that in real life, you’d freak out. The set for the fountain of youth as well as rather unexpected from what I thought it would be, and for that, they earn my praise.

Ok, let’s be honest here. Johnny Depp is Jack Sparrow. They are one,, and he proves it again. Jack is just perfect in this movie, as opposed to feeling forced like the last two. Also, the chemistry between him and Angelica is just stunning, and just fun to watch. Blackbeard was also perfect,, and he gives Barbossa from Pirates 1 a run for his money. Not to say Barbossa is weak this time around, also up there with the leaders for great acting. In fact the only bad acting came from the mermaid love story that is so obvious in the trailer, but it’s easily ignored.

From a moral standpoint, I can see how some would be offended. For one, Blackbeard can control his ship with his sword. It’s never really explained why, but Blackbeard also has a voodoo doll he uses to blackmail Jack into helping him, carving a symbol into Jack’s chest in the process. It’s clearly some type of magic, but the way they show it makes it about as mysterious as Davy Jones and the Dutchman, only Blackbeard is better.

As far as language goes, “Pirates of the Caribbean” has always had the fine record of virtually no bad language. At the very most maybe 5 words throughout all four movies combined, and even then it’s deemed suitable for TV. As far as anything sexual goes, many times it’s implied that Jack and Angelica have slept with each other, and even were a couple and planned to marry before Jack ran away. That being said, prepare for mild innuendos for a PG-13 film. Overall, if you can get past the voodoo doll and implied magic that Blackbeard uses, seriously go see this movie.

It’s the best entry in the Pirates series to date, and if they continue down this route with the next entry (hinted at in the end), Pirates may, in fact, be, “That awesome series, minus that third one.” (Yes, I liked “Dead Man’s Chest.” It wasn’t that bad.)

My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 5

Ricky, age 19 (USA)

Neutral—Well, I had already seen the last three films in the “Pirates” series… and I thought I might as well see what this one was all about. While the film certainly could have been worse, I felt that this film had a lot more “mature” themes than expected from the first Pirate movie. There are a few suggestive scenes between Jack and Angelica—both dialogue and physical. Most of the scenes involving the mermaids were scary, to say the least (and pardon me, but thankfully they all have long hair—a small attempt to keep a PG-13 rating).

It is true that there is hardly any bloodshed; however, there is still plenty of violence to keep the young children at home. See all »
My Ratings: Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 4½

Carolyn, age 25 (USA)

Neutral—I agree with Rebekah, age 15. ***SPOILER ALERT*** I was thoroughly disgusted by the way they portrayed the missionary at the end of the movie, discovering that he was “lost” until he met Syrena. ***END SPOILER***

I was excited during the movie at the portrayal of him standing up for his faith and standing against evil. Then… the turn at the end. I did like the conversation Jack had with the missionary while they were on their trek. It can cause people to stop and think about their faith.

I, also, agree with the comment that was made by the lady in Venezuela. Voodoo is very real and from the realm of the evil one. I did enjoy Depp’s performance. My favorite quote—“Did everyone see that, because I will NOT be doing it again.”
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 4

Jason, age 40 (USA)

Neutral—…Not as good as the first one and as I have not seen the second and third, have no opinion on how it relates to them. The first twenty minutes or so were a little disappointing. Jack came across as all work and seriousness and no play, and I was thinking, “This is going to be boring.” But never fear! Jack finds his niche again and is his slightly off, charming self for the remainder of the film.

The movie was more sexual than the first (i.e., Angelica, mermaids) and just about as dark. However, while I feel that the first one stayed fairly consistent with good and evil, in this fourth, the line gets a little blurry. While Blackbeard and his zombie pirates and voodoo are portrayed as evil (Blackbeard is clearly a despicable fellow) and even the fountain of youth could be seen as a misfortune (the curse that was meant to save actually destroys lives), a scene near the end completely confuses and muddies the waters. The film’s mention of faith and positive portrayal of the minister had encouraged me, and I thought things were generally looking up. And then the minister and mermaid scene rolled in.See all »
My Ratings: Moral rating: Very Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 4½

Sarah C., age 21 (USA)

Negative

Negative—Except for the zany and goofy and unique personality of Captain Jack Sparrow, I found the movie just plain boring and stupid.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 3

Halyna Barannik, age 65 (USA)

Negative—The reviews generally miss one point which is mostly invisible to the average American, who is not acquainted to African/Caribbean witchcraft and magic. For us Christians living in this area [Venezuela] dealing and fighting against evil, supernatural evil powers is quite common, though they are at work in America, as well, they are usually denied, because they aren’t so widely spread as actual religions and because of dominant Christian religious beliefs. But this movie does portray aspects of reality regarding factual sorcery practices (just as “Harry Potter…” does) by mingling regular fantasy with devilish work.

Voodoo is NOT fantasy. It’s quite real, and it’s a terrible enemy to Christianity, just check out news on Haiti and evangelicals for instance. We as Christians should be aware of this fact when dealing with Hollywood’s trivialization of witchcraft practices which are becoming a common personal religion among many world leaders.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Very Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 4

Antonio Cordero, age 33 (Venezuela)

Comments from young people

Negative—Yes, I know, you all love Johnny Dept, but I’m afraid this movie was not worth the cost at the movie theater. Why? Because it has anti-Christian themes in it, a number of subtle sexual jokes, and suggestive themes. Not to mention the couple of profanities thrown in, as we all know no movie is ready without a few of those. I’ll put my sarcastic tone aside… I thought that it was a good story like the rest, but the themes ruined it for me. ***SPOILER ALERT*** The missionary gives up his faith in god for the pretty mermaid. Jack (and this is to be expected of his character, I suppose) makes it seem “cool” to ditch the girl for his wild life, and leaves her on the island. Also, lots of witchcraft from Mr. Blackbeard (voodoo… etc). ***END SPOILERS***

I didn’t think it was worth it, don’t bring your kids. They should learn to value relationships (in the future when they’re ready) and value faith in God and not in mermaids.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: none

Rebekah, age 15 (USA)

Positive—Next to only the first film, “… On Stranger Tides” is the best one yet! I loved this movie. I went to see it at the midnight showing in IMAX 3D, and it was worth the money. Almost the whole film was in 3D, so you get your money’s worth. The plot is engaging like the others, but manages to make you want another sequel, unlike “… Dead Man’s Chest” and “… At World’s End.” The acting was top notch, as well as the musical score.

The plot flowed well and had great character development. It kept pace as well as not leaving many gaps in the story. Alright, so on the moral side of things, yes this movie may offend some. First and for-most, this is a movie about Pirates. You should already know going into it what pirates are know for and their lifestyle. So sword fighting, stealing, and killing are to be expected. Not justified, but expected. See all »

As for sexual content, I will be the first to agree that the films are slowly putting more and more subtle reference here and there, though none that are overpowering. Jack and Angelica toss around a few references involving past situations and/or things that might have/could have happened. Mermaids are introduces in this movie. These creature are assumed to be topless, but a layer of either scaly skin or hair keeps us from seeing any nudity. So yes, there is a little innuendo, but nothing earthshaking.

As with the innuendo, language is getting slowly more expressed. Words like hell and d*mn are said a few time, (though I only heard one use of d*mn) as well as the ever-common, “Oh my God” getting tossed in the mix. As stated above the violence is present but most is bloodless and/or nothing too graphic. This movie is not for young children. I’m not saying that its inappropriate, it will just most likely scare them. The most scary part was probably when the mermaids attack, as they jump out at you in the 3D version.

On a spiritual level, there is a little occultic references, such as a voodoo doll. Something I found quite interesting was that one character was portrait as a Christian and followed it all the way through. A lot of the time, films try to make them look like idiots, but this one came out on top.

***SPOILER*** To those who might say that he gave up his religion to be with the mermaid, I would say you are wrong. There is nothing said or done that could lead to that conclusion. He simply needs to be physically saves, not spiritually. A loss of blood will physically kill you. Although I will admit I was confused on what happened. Like did she really save him? Did she turn him into a merman? Or did she simply kill him? ***END OF SPOILER***

All in all, this was an excellent use of my money. There have even been report that if this one made enough money, Johnny Depp would sign on for another. Considering its making 80 plus million just in the first weekend, I wouldn’t be surprised. And if future films are as good as this one, I will certainly be supporting. Good job Rob Marshall and Co!

My Ratings: Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 4

Gabriel Carden, age 16 (USA)

Positive— A great addition to the Pirates “trilogy”! Nothing offensive that I can recall. No boring spots… it draws you in and surprises you here and there. I’d say it was better than numbers 2 and 3. Even though Elizabeth and Will weren’t in it, the new characters are better and very interesting. A definite must-see for anyone who liked the first one.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Good / Moviemaking quality: 5

Claire W, age 14 (USA)

Positive—I have long awaited this movie, and I was not let down! The 3rd Pirates movie was a little disappointing, but this gave a new spark into the series. At first, I was disappointed that Elizabeth and Will were not going to be in it, but the new characters/actors did very well in bringing something new and different to the story. I have always loved Johnny Depp as Capt. Jack Sparrow, and he was still as fresh and funny as he always has been. All of the characters were entertaining and fun. (I loved the mermaids!) I wouldn’t take little kids to go see this, but considering the other stuff that is out in the world today, it was clean and not too violent. If you loved the other Pirates of the Caribbean, then this sequel will not let you down.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Good / Moviemaking quality: 4

Ellen K, age 14 (USA)

Positive—I’m fifteen, and I went to see it with my fourteen year old friend and thirteen year old sister. We got there about 15 minutes late, but we totally loved it! We’ve all been big fans since the first, and I think that this is the best one yet, second only to the first. (Nothing tops that one!)

The ladies dresses did not bother any of us. We’ve seen other movies that have been set in this time era, and they all seem to have this (not that I’m condoning it.) And, on the whole, you see a lot worse of stuff like that when you go to the beach.

There were a few things that bothered me: one, I NEVER FOUND OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MISSIONARY! two, the mermaids are supposed to have scaly tops I guess, but they were basically naked on top. Most of the time their hair covered them, but that was pretty much the only thing that bothered me in the whole movie. There were some jokes, slightly sexually related, but those didn’t bother me either, and they are few. There is violence but, hey, this is a pirate movie, and it’s to be expected. I’m not saying it’s good, but it’s to be expected. There was very little, to no, blood. There is drinking, but again that’s to be expected. (“Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.”…) See all »
My Ratings: Moral rating: Good / Moviemaking quality: 5

Jessica, age 15 (USA)

Neutral—Pirates of the Caribbean 4 was an unexceptional movie. The original trilogy had its high and lows, but was mostly average in terms of moviemaking quality, and I felt that the third film in the series gave a sense that the story was complete; Jack was off on another unimportant adventure and the rest of the characters appeared content with the situation. Enter Pirates 4. This movie, was reasonable in moviemaking quality, but that was its major flaw. It wasn’t good enough to compare with the first three. Characters like Will and Elizabeth are no longer present to level out Depp’s hilarity, the action was somewhat boring and the plot unimpressive.

One positive feature was the missionary character, at least at the beginning of the film. He is portrayed in a positive light, a Christian who is unafraid of death and the evils that he encounters, while being still merciful and compassionate. Aside from that, the references to voodoo and black magic and (surprise, surprise) the inclusion of zombies were irritating, somewhat unnecessary and anti-christian. Unlike the first three, where the villains, grotesque as they were, were still comical, the antagonists in Pirates 4 were dark and malicious.

Overall, I was disappointed with many aspects of the film. I hope Disney does not make another sequel of the same caliber.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 3

Patrick, age 16 (Australia)

Positive—To start with the most simplest of things I have read on this site: It’s a movie. Everyone knows that, that is why you paid your money to go see it in theaters. How many other movies out there have been against Christian ideals? Many. How many movies have witchcraft and things that Christians see as wrong in them? Many. The thing is, as much as Christians can continually rag on the entertainment industry, they will continue to produce movies that are against Christian ideals. It’s the thing about faith. Even though there are things out there that are against your ideas, what could be the harm in going out and watching a movie? Sure, it is against your ideas, but you have the POWER to understand that it’s not real. It is a movie. So, if you would like to complain on how offensive the movie is, go watch something like “There’s Something About Mary” (Peter and Bobby Farrelly, 1998).

This movie was well made with good special effects and good locations, as well as a good mix of humor and action. A-
My Ratings: Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 4½

Devin, age 17 (USA)

Positive—After watching POTC “Dead Man’s Chest” and then “At World’s End” (which was an improvement to some degree in my opinion on “Dead Man’s Chest”) I wasn’t too optimistic about the 4th one. However, upon watching it, I was HOOKED! By far at the same level with the 1st one! The tone is far less dark, and you get the impression of seriousness, without being submerged into the gloomy, and rather depressing atmosphere of 2 and 3.

Jack is much more likable in this one, although he still has his faults. Barbossa is the usual scalawag, , and he and Jack end up teaming up, in order to beat the Spanish, and Blackbeard.

There is much more of a Christian message in this one than in any of the predecessors, in my view; from the missionary (although the way he runs off with a mermaid, and asks her to “save” him is ridiculous, and non-Biblical) and then from the Spanish leader, who yells out, “God is the only way to eternal life, not these pagan waters!” and whose motive for finding the fountain is different than that of the other parties.See all »
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 4

Michael Niroski, age 16 (USA)