Movie Reviews

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (10/18/2011)

May 24, 2011

Rated PG-13 for Intense sequences of action/adventure violence, some frightening images, sensuality and innuendo.

Starring Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Geoffrey Rush, Ian McShane

Directed by Rob Marshall (Nine and Chicago)

Not as good as the first one…but better than the last one.

Captain Jack Sparrow (Depp) crosses paths with a woman from his past (Cruz), and he’s not sure if it’s love — or if she’s a ruthless con artist who’s using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn’t know who to fear more: Blackbeard or the woman from his past.

OK, here’s the simple fact…if you love Captain Jack Sparrow you will love this movie. On the other hand, if you find him overplayed and annoying…then you will find On Stranger Tides overplayed and annoying.

I happen to fall into the category that is closer to loving him. I think his demeanor is pretty funny, his reactions are priceless and his one-liners (not eyeliners) are memorable. My favorite from this film was, “Did everyone see that? Because I will NOT be doing it again.”

It’s a good thing I like Jack Sparrow, because there really isn’t much of a story. I actually heard someone say something like, “The Pirates of the Caribbean ride at DisneyWorld lasts nine minutes, and I’m bored within 6 minutes. This is the fourth movie and there really isn’t anything new to get excited about.”

I’m not sure I agree with that, I think Ian McShane and Penelope Cruz bring a fun new element to the franchise. And this time we see a different side of Jack. Early in the film when he admits to Gibbs that he has “stirrings” for Angelica, Gibbs clarifies with, “Stirrings? Do you mean emotions?” Jack struggles with his response and then finally admits, “OK yes, feelings.” We also see him be a little less selfish…just a little bit though, And when he learns that the Fountain of Youth ritual will actually claim someone’s life, he says, “I find my desire for the fountain greatly lessened.”

With the same sharp wit, perfect delivery and now a greater sense of morality…I found the new Jack Sparrow…er, Captain Jack Sparrow, even more likeable so I’m going with “Theater Worthy.”

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
The PG-13 rating is all about the action/adventure violence and some frightening images. And while there are still scenes of sensuality and innuendo, I thought it was more tame than the previous films.

Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):

Q: What’s the message/theme of this movie?
A: This time the adventure centers on the crew looking for the fabled Fountain of Youth. As you can imagine, the topic of eternal life is a reoccurring theme. In the film, Jack has to find two silver chalices, a tear from a mermaid and an unlucky soul…who will lose their life – giving their years to Jack. That’s interesting, but what really is eternal life and how does one really receive it?

Q: How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
A: Well first we need to understand what we are talking about when we say “eternal life.”

The Bible has a lot to say about eternal life and what happens to us when we do die. Let’s take a minute to read these verses.

No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven.

Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.

31 But when the Son of Man[d] comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.

34 Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.

37 Then these righteous ones will reply, “Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?”

40 And the King will say, “I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!”

41 Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, “Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. 42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.”

44 Then they will reply, “Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?”

45 And he will answer, “I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.”

46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.

Jesus spoke a great deal about this subject and declared that He Himself had come down from heaven and that after His death He would go there to prepare a place for those who would follow Him. He also said that we will spend eternity in one of two places.

So here is what we know: life continues after the physical death of the body. God created man with a natural, temporal body and an eternal soul. The soul of man consists of who we really are. It is the center of our mind, will and emotions. The Bible teaches that life is eternal (1 John 2:25, 2 Corinthians 5:1).

Q: How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
A: The Bible gives us a small glimpse of what Heaven will be like. Here are just a few things the Bible says about Heaven:

It Is A Place of No More Thirst, Hunger, Sorrow, Pain or Death – Revelation 21:4

Heaven Is A Place Where Nothing Can Be Corrupted – Matthew 6:20, Rev. 21:27

It Is A Place Of Pleasures Forevermore – Psalm 16:11, 1 Corinthians 2:9

It Will Be A Place Of Worship – Revelation 15:4

It Will Be A Place Of Constant Illumination – Revelation 21:23

So how does one gain eternal life?

1 John 5:11 says, “And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”

We don’t earn it…God has given it to us. And He tells us what we must do to spend eternity with Him in Romans 10:9, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Finally look at 1 John 5:13. John writes, “I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.”

Do you KNOW you have eternal life?