The Desert of the Reel: A Movie Podcast

This movie might have broken Jason's brain (or at the very least his patience). He begs not to be forced to watch any movies as bad as this again. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017) is the last Pirates movie made. Do you agree that it is the worst one? Or at least, definitely in the running as the worst? We have two new young actors taking the stage and Jack doesn't feel like Jack at all. Jason and Ryan have a list of cons and very few pros for this film. Ryan offers some rewrites that might have greatly improved the script, but it isn't the best outing for our Pirate friends. Jason brings up Darwinian Ethics and the confounding aspect of Salazar being a "bad guy" in a world where pirates still murder and plunder. Is this a message, or conditioning from studios? Ryan also explores "Franchise Theory" and how Disney has run this franchise, which has ruined this film. What are your thoughts? Next week, Train to Busan (2016).Email us at [email protected] remember, ghost sharks are good.

Join us as we review and discuss Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)! In this episode, most excitingly, Jason admits he was wrong in his prejudice against all sequels, and gushes like a little kid about the emotional power of this film. Ryan introduces a new lens for looking at film, the cognitive lens. Both Ryan and Jason share personal experiences about making it through very difficult times. Is this film better than The Curse of the Black Pearl? Let us know what you think at: [email protected].

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) is directed by Gore Verbinski and is the sequel to Disney's surprise megahit from a few years earlier. Jason believes it is the same story as the first; Will and Elizabeth are separated from one another to achieve their goals, and Jack is along to add a mix of unpredictability. Is Jason right? There are a lot of pros to praise this movie for, from the visual effects to the musical score. But are there significant cons that creep into this sequel? Do you think that the huge visuals and set pieces make it worthy of looking past some of its flaws? We also look at the brief history of the real India East Trading Company, explore how this movie is teaching us to find our power wherever we may be, and we look at using the lens of conceptism (or conceptismo) to apply to this movie. It would help us out a lot if you rated us 5 stars and left a like wherever you listen!Love you!Think critically! Send us your thoughts and reviews at [email protected]

Welcome to season 5 of The Desert of the Reel! This season we're looking at the five films in the Pirates of the Caribbean series, starting with The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), a film which both Ryan and Jason agree is a 5-star movie. In this episode, we explore what makes this film what Ryan calls a "perfect with a capital P" film. Additionally, Jason introduces and explores two new philosophical ideas (the cultural dimension of rules and the concept of Discourse) and walks us through how Black Pearl is an excellent crash course on understanding all the ins and outs of these concepts. Ryan takes us through the making of the film and helps us explore the role of personal names and titles in the film, as well as the concept of leverage.What are your thoughts on The Black Pearl? Is one of the best movies of all time or just [email protected]

Join us as we review and discuss Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides)! In this episode, we finally see the bitter side of Ryan, as he rips into the film. We discuss how, with minor changes to script and casting, this could have been a really good movie. Ryan introduces a new film studies lens called Star Theory, and Jason offers a new philosophical concept regarding free will and happiness.This film isn't better than an other film, but it does lead to some fun discussion. Let us know what you think at: [email protected].