...Perhaps Not

The fifth movie in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise was much like its predecessors: excellent scripting, interesting plot and progressively poor acting from Johnny Depp. Aesthetics aside, there's really one thing I'd like to pay attention to: the obvious piece of imagery at the end of the film. Barbossa is by no stretch an admirable character. He has done deplorable actions, acts selfishly and endangers lives at his own expense throughout the Pirates series. Some would even go so far as to call him cruel, but each to their own. Come the end of the latest film, however, we see a moment of "redemption" for the character. Barbossa is standing on a ship's anchor as the camera moves . By the time the cut happens, all the audience sees is Barbossa standing on top of a crucifix. Have a look for yourself: https://youtu.be/X65jXpOtIT0 At the end, we see the other characters climbing onto the anchor and start clambering up the chain. Salazar, the ant...

It astounds to what lengths Disney will go to exploit successful storylines. The Descendants is an example of such exploitation. Firmly centred on key villains from the most famous Disney films - Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty , Jafar from Aladdin , Cruella de Ville from 101 Dalmations , and the Wicked Witch from Snow White and the Seven Dwarves - we see their collective second attempt at thwarting the most successful of Disney heroes. Within this dichotomy between good and evil lies the subtext of the film: whatever everyone decides you are or what you should be doesn't matter, and you should endeavour to become your own person. Mixed in with a bit of romance and you've got yourself a typical Disney movie. Yet, should you look deeper, you'll find a more insidious message. The story begins with showing the heroes of Disney stories living in something of a utopia filled with luxuries, pleasure and plastic smiles. No one seems to want for anything (besides the...