I had a reader ask if I thought Pirates of the Caribbean On Stranger Tides was ok for children. I’ve also noticed that people have searched for this and ended up here at Shibley Smiles so I wanted to briefly give you my take.
As you know I was able to go to the premiere in my local area of Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean On Stranger Tides. It was just my husband and I that went. So here are my thoughts, and please take them as you wish as they are my own opinions.
First I will preface by saying that I do not censor too much when it comes to television with my children. My mother didn’t and I believe I came out all right. That said I will change the channel or stop the boys from watching something with too much profanity or nudity/adult content.
Pirates of the Caribbean On Stranger Tides is rated PG-13. I believe this is a good rating. I would have no problems letting both my 13 and 11 year old boys watch it. As for a 5-6 year old you have to weigh what you allow your children to watch. The movie does contain some creatures that may or may not scare them. There are sword fights, and brawls, at one point it does appear that a character was killed (can’t give too much away). I don’t recall profanity or adult content of any nature. The movie is long at 2 1/2 hours.
If you asked if it was appropriate for my 5 year old daughter. My answer would be I would allow her to watch it with us but I don’t think it would keep her attention and I would not take her to the movies to see it.
Feel free to ask me any specific questions regarding the movie and I will be happy to answer them for you. I loved the movie and feel the rating on it is appropriate PG-13.
Update (June 19, 2011) I’ve decided to help give you a clear picture of the movie to add to t his review that of a commenter below.
“Some mild references to seduction, a brothel, a claim of pregnancy, and questions of paternity” and well as “drinking” and “Non-stop action/fantasy peril and violence (swords, guns, explosions, zombies, monsters) with some graphic images, many minor characters injured and killed, death of a parent”.
FYI:A minimum age of a child in “Middle School”.
Tracey Z says
I usually have to refrain from movies with the creatures in it–tends to keep my kids up for several nights!
Kathleen says
Thanks for answering this! I will have no problems taking my 10 and 9 year olds with me now. My concern was for the language and adult content not the creatures so much, since they have watched the other movies and been fine with them. My younger two will have to wait until it is on video if they even want to watch it, because I don’t think my youngest would want to and the 7 year old couldn’t sit still that long.
Doreen Riopel says
Awesome that you went to the Premiere. I can’t believe it is 2.5 hours long. That is very long. Especially when you are at the movies. At home, you can pause it. Thanks for your thoughts. I haven’t seen it yet but plan too. 🙂
Bonnie D. says
Thanks for the review!
Mike says
This sounds like a great movie. I don’t get out to see movies very often – its seventy miles one way – but I think I will make the drive to town to see this…
mtdoonmeister at gmail dot com
Bob Smith says
To begin with, you completely lost me when you said “I do not censor too much when it comes to television with my children.”. TV today is much more violent, contains much more sex & profanity and much more adult situations than when we were growing up. Basing your parenting skills in regard to TV based on your parents techniques is just plain foolish. I suppose that you also let your children have full access to the Internet as well?
Secondly, I would highly recommend everyone listens to movie mom. She points out that this movies has “Some mild references to seduction, a brothel, a claim of pregnancy, and questions of paternity” and well as “drinking” and “Non-stop action/fantasy peril and violence (swords, guns, explosions, zombies, monsters) with some graphic images, many minor characters injured and killed, death of a parent”.
FYI: Movie mom suggests a minimum age of a child in “Middle School”.
Side note: if you really watched the movie, you wouldn’t say “…one point it does *appear* that a character was killed…”. It is quite clear that someone does.
To be fair, you did warn us that you don’t censor your children so much. For those of you who are concerned about what your children see, I would support the advice of “Middle School” or higher. Honestly, our kids seem much more sex and violence than we did growing up. I really don’t think applying the same rules that we grew up with is such a good idea.
Colleen Shibley says
I prefaced my review so that yes you need to take my parenting style into consideration and you are more then welcome to disagree with it. I do censor somethings and not others but I admitted this up front so that you take my opinion as MY opinion only, as I believe I stressed in the first paragraph.
I’m not sure what the internet has to do with this review and why you felt the need to bring that into the conversation? I have the passwords to all my children’s accounts, emails, and monitor text messages on their phone, and all their emails flow through my own email box as well. Again I don’t know what that has to do with this review however your words have made me feel the need to mention this.
Because I chose to be a little less strict in one area (again my rights as a parent) should not and does not apply to all areas of parenting. If you polled 100 parents I bet more then half if not more do not have the connection and communication that I myself have with my children.
Despite my feelings of being attack regarding my parenting style I have left your opinion and review of my parenting skills as well as the movie up for others to read and take from it to make their own decision as well. I do not expect everyone to agree with my opinion but I also do not expect the disrespect that I feel you have left her on my site.
mamajj says
I have a 10 year son who has been watching the Pirate movies since he was 5. It is his absolute favorite series of movies. I think it really has to do w/the perception your child has. I explained to him at the age of 5…these are actors, playing parts & everything is pretend. I had him watch the behind the scenes stuff so he could see how they do everything. Now some children are more sensitive to seeing “creatures” than other kids are. I think it all depends on the maturity of the child. And how you, as a parent explain things to them. I took him to see it & he loved it & I loved it too.
Colleen Shibley says
Mamajj thank you for your comments. It is nice to know I’m not the only one that does this with their children. After the post above I wondered if I was allow. I speak to my children often regarding the acting, pretending, etc and I speak to my 5 year old daughter like this as well. It is nice to know that we can all parent different and no one’s style is better then the others.
mamajj says
Colleen, your welcome. 🙂 Parenting is a tricky slope. I think that all families are different & you need to parent along the lines of what works best for YOUR family. What is good for one family may not work for another. If there were some golden book of rules about how to be a good parent then I guess none of us would ever have any problems. LOL But we all know there is no such book. So w/that I say good luck to you. 🙂
Andy says
After reading your review and Bob Smith’s comments, I have to go with his take (on the movie). My daughters, esp. the oldest, have very vivid imaginations. They can handle reality versus fantasy, but they are shocked to see violence and death on screen. Personally, I’m glad about this, and I’ll be said when they eventually (like me) can watch someone take disgorged and then take another bite of whatever their eating.
I don’t mean to knock your style, just saying that’s where I am, and where my daughters are. In reading your review, it would help as a parent to get more facts along with your impressions. The impressions make it readable and entertaining, but I came searching for the facts in the end. I think that’s what Bob (over)reacted to, and why he appreciated the other review. I read blogs to learn from real people, and I know enough about my kids to make a choice IF I get a few more facts (e.g., someone dies, someone is burned alive, scary violence by psycho mermaids and zombies, hands poking up through ship decks, etc.).
Andy says
Oops, “sad” not “said” … ; )
Andy says
Agh, I see ALL my typos now…. Anyway…
Colleen Shibley says
Thank you for your comment and it was well written and said and I definitely see your point and thoughts regarding the content of the review. I will definitely think about more detail when giving such a review in the future.
I will admit I did not see it the same way that Bob did therefore I didn’t really “notice”. That may be my own tolerance for such things on TV and in Movies. The thought of paternity and a brothel really didn’t come to mind. However I do agree with Bob that those were referenced in the movie. And my recommended age was the PG-13 and dependent on your children my 11 year old is more mature for his age. For the purpose of what you were looking for I do think more detail would be beneficial.
I appreciate your valued opinion and it really does give me food for thought when writing such reviews.
As for the typo’s I probably wouldn’t notice them myself LOL I’m not the best at editing my own stuff!
Andy says
Thanks for the reply and your efforts. All the best! For the record, my wife and I will probably get out and see the movie ourselves. I hope it’s better than the other sequels. IMO parts 2 and 3 were great visually and generally fun (esp. Depp’s acting) but really lacking in plot and, well, heart/soul. Even Depp’s acting gets to be a bore when there’s nothing to back it up.
Randi says
I have a 5 year old and a 4 year old. They have watched all 3 of the Pirates movies. Is there anything worse in the 4th one that wasn’t in the other 3?
Colleen says
I personally do not think so, but I didn’t pay a lot of attention to all what some people have written. I would let my daughter watch it at home. She has seen the other ones. I just wouldn’t take her to the movies as she would be bored there.
Joan says
I like this. It can be really hard to decide these days what is okay for kids to watch.