Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - Movie Review

movie review rating guide for parents and families

MPAA Rating
PG-13

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

Genre
Action, Adventure, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Comedy

Director
Rob Marshall

Starring
Johnny Depp, Penélope Cruz, Ian McShane, Astrid Bergés-Frisbey, Geoffrey Rush

Studio
Walt Disney Pictures

Release Date/In Theaters
5/20/2011

Movie Summary

The adventures of Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) continue in the 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides', now in 3D.

Movie Review for Parents

-by Ginger

Captain Jack and Barbossa are back for another round of seafaring tales! This time they are after the elusive fountain of youth. But, as always, they must race Blackbeard and his daughter too. As with the last Pirates of the Caribbean movies, this movie is just good fun. Yes, there is violence and black powder pistols. There are insults and mayhem galore. It is a swashbuckling adventure that is made for kids. This movie follows suit with all of those that preceded it. It has beautiful, tough heroines, and rotten scallywags, all making for a fantasy trip of fun and adventure on the high seas.

History beefs: don’t take this movie too seriously in terms of historical accuracy. Barbossa is a real pirate who was hired by King George II. King George II ruled from 1727-1760. However, Blackbeard, who is also in the movie died in 1718, nine years before the reign of King George II. The costumes in the Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides are fun and iconic, but many are pure fantasy. This family movie review still considers it to be a lot of fun for the whole family. It was not meant to be historically accurate, just fantasy fun.

You must be forewarned that there is kissing in a swimming hole. It also contains a few mermaids with little above the tail. This was all filmed tastefully and blended into the story. It shows nothing but bare shoulders. There is overt violence against mermaids and a mermaid must be sacrificed to gain the fountain of youth. Don’t worry there is a hero who will step in to save her. This is just a fair warning for mermaid fans in the household. Overt violence, swordfights, and explosions rule the day in this pirate’s world.

Walt Disney intended this movie to be for children of all ages, yet it has received a rating of PG-13. Violence is the key reason for this rating. It might be too frightening for the very small ones. Violence and frightening images might make it too much for the very young, this parental guide to the movies would consider it OK for those 13 and older. It does not contain anything overtly adult, but it is a pirate movie. There were few nice pirates to be found on the high seas. Keeping this in mind, this family movie review would consider it kid-safe for those who are not too sensitve for adventure movies. As always, it is up to every individual to decide for themselves whether this movie would be appropriate for their crew.

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