Galaca7

Swim lessons help minority children break cycle By Lan Trinh,...

Sat, 12 May 2012 11:54:00 -0400

Swim lessons help minority children break cycle

By Lan Trinh, CNN Hero

Thu May 10, 2012

President Obama high-fives Jimmy Kimmel at the White House...

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 13:38:00 -0400

President Obama high-fives Jimmy Kimmel at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, April 28, 2012.

Thank the Lord for Blessing me with this award! Also a special...

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:38:00 -0400

Thank the Lord for Blessing me with this award! Also a special thank you to my wife Sharon and my son Andre for the nomination!

Jimmy

Jimmy Gaines wins Jefferson Award! Featured on WTOL Channel 11...

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:57:35 -0400

Jimmy Gaines wins Jefferson Award! Featured on WTOL Channel 11 Toledo.

Thank the Lord! I made the final 4! (Jimmy L. Gaines...

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 12:00:00 -0400

Thank the Lord! I made the final 4! (Jimmy L. Gaines Sr.)

Printed Friday, March 30, 2012

Jefferson Awards down to final 4
Winners share thread of putting community 1st over years
By JENNIFER FEEHAN
http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2012/03/30/Jefferson-Awards-down-to-final-4.html
BLADE STAFF WRITER

Showing off their awards are James Taylor, left, Norma Leslie (accepting for her husband, Ken Leslie), Jimmy Gaines, and Lucas County Sheriff’s Maj. John Tharp. The Jefferson Awards are sponsored locally by The Blade, Buckeye CableSystem, and WTOL-TV, Channel 11. About 70 area residents were nominated this year, and a panel of judges pared the pool to 10 before selecting the four winners.
Toledoan James Taylor accepted his Jefferson Award Thursday at the Toledo Club in the same quiet way he volunteers at his church and works with a charity that helps the poor in Vietnam.
“I just do what I think is right,” Mr. Taylor, 66, said after the awards breakfast.
He was among four Jefferson Award winners announced for 2012. Also recognized for their service to the community were homeless advocate Ken Leslie, former ONYX Executive Director Jimmy Gaines, and Maj. John Tharp of the Lucas County Sheriff’s Office. A 75-member national board of selectors reviews the four winners and chooses one to represent the Toledo area at the Jefferson Awards in Washington in June.
The Students In Action program at Springfield High School also was selected from 24 area high schools to represent the region at the national awards ceremony. The program, which encourages community service among high school students, contributed to the more than 145,000 service hours logged by students from the 24 schools, said David Schlaudecker, executive director of Leadership Toledo.
The idea is to help young people become the kinds of adults as the ones chosen to receive Jefferson Awards.
“It’s not the amount these people do. It’s the amount they do over a long period of time, over many years in service to the community,” said WTOL reporter Jonathan Walsh, who co-hosted the awards ceremony with Melissa Voetsch.
Mr. Tharp, 63, the unopposed candidate for Lucas County sheriff, was recognized for starting a deputy mentoring program that encourages sheriff’s deputies to work with central-city children as mentors and tutors. He said he was floored to be nominated for the award and chosen as a finalist, much less to be one of the four winners.
He said he has gained much from working with young people.
“Seeing others being able to excel and do better with what little they’ve received from us, that means a lot,” Major Tharp said. “If young people learn and get to the point where they can do for themselves, then they’re able to do for others.”
Mr. Gaines, 63, said he was honored to be in the company of so many who do so much.
“I was overwhelmed,” he said. “Not only surprised, I was overwhelmed.”
A longtime city of Toledo administrator, Mr. Gaines had served as executive director of the community development group ONYX, which works to improve housing in the central city and promote urban development.
Mr. Leslie, who started Toledo’s Tent City, 1Matters, and a Veterans Matter initiative, was not in attendance but was introduced, as were the other winners, through a videotaped profile. Mr. Leslie said in his interview he knows eliminating homelessness means eliminating alcohol and drug abuse, domestic violence, and other contributing factors. It’s an impossible task but, he said, “You can end homelessness one individual at a time. Everyone matters.”
Mr. Taylor, who is retired from Ford Motor Co., volunteers three days a week at the Hospitality Kitchen at his parish, Our Lady of Lourdes. In 2000, he and seven other Vietnam War veterans started a charity that blossomed into the DOVE Fund — Development of Vietnam Endeavors. The DOVE Fund has raised about $2.5 million and built 43 schools, three medical clinics, and five clean water systems in Vietnam.
Mr. Taylor lost a good friend in Vietnam, was wounded in combat, and thought he would never want to return to Vietnam. He’s now been back several times. “These people are the most loving people, friendly people,” he said. “It’s just unbelievable.”
The Jefferson Awards are sponsored locally by The Blade, Buckeye CableSystem, and WTOL-TV Channel 11. Mr. Walsh said about 70 area residents were nominated this year, and a panel of judges pared the pool to 10 before selecting the four.
Other finalists were Chris Amato, Randy Barnes, Thomas Grzywinski, Lois Marie Mathis, Chrys Peterson, and Yehia “John” H. Shousher.
Contact Jennifer Feehan at: jfeehan@theblade.com or 419-724-6129

Copyright 2012 The Blade. By using this service, you accept the terms of our privacy statement and our visitor agreement. Please read them.
The Toledo Blade Company, 541 N. Superior St., Toledo, OH 43660, (419) 724-6000
To contact a specific department or an individual person, click here.
The Toledo Times ®

Photo

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 21:04:57 -0400

Awards Ceremony (03/29/2012). Local Winner!

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 20:54:13 -0400

Awards Ceremony (03/29/2012). Local Winner!

Featured on WTOL

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 20:47:32 -0400

Featured on WTOL

“Front Row Seat” gives “The Artist” five barbecue bones. Before...

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 14:31:00 -0500

“Front Row Seat” gives “The Artist” five barbecue bones. Before going to see this movie, I told my wife, I wanted to go see a silent movie, in order to experience, what the audience does, in a movie were the performers do not talk! I was surprised to see that during this silent movie people acted exactly the same way they do in a talking movie, they sit and say nothing. Also my wife and I, did the same thing we do in a movie, we talked. I would recommend you go see “The Artist”; this will probably be the first and last time you’ll get a chance to see a silent movie. It was very interesting and entertaining to see how the storyline and the characters were developed. You also were guided through the story just as you are in a “talkie”. The dog (Uggie) in this movie gave a great performance. Go see “The Artist” you will be thoroughly entertained.

Hollywood 1927, George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is a silent movie superstar. The advent of the talkies will sound the death knell for his career and see him fall into oblivion. For young extra Peppy Miller (Bérénice Béjo), it seems the sky’s the limit - major movie stardom awaits.

Uggie and Cosmo

TOP: Uggie, 9, The Artist
His barks might all be silent, but the energetic Jack Russell, seen here playing with a toy Oscar, is one of the big stars of Michel Hazanavicius’ tribute to the days before talkies. A seasoned performer — his specialty is riding a skateboard — Uggie also appeared this year in Water for Elephants.

BELOW: Cosmo, 9, Beginners
This all-white long-hair Jack Russell, who previously appeared in Hotel for Dogs and Paul Blart: Mall Cop, is trained by Mathilde de Cagney, who knows a star when she sees one: She also trained the late Moose, who played the long-running role of Eddie on Frasier.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/gallery/dogs-movies-young-adult-huge-beginners-artist-272983

In Theaters

November 23, 2011

MPAA Rating

PG-13 (for a disturbing image and a crude gesture)

Genres

Drama, Foreign

Distributors

The Weinstein Company

CAST

George Valentin

Peppy Miller

Al Zimmer

Clifton

Doris

Constance

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/the-artist-2011/

Man stricken eating ‘Triple Bypass’ burger Las...

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:12:40 -0500

Man stricken eating ‘Triple Bypass’ burger

Las Vegas eatery Heart Attack Grill had customer exhibit signs of a heart attack while eating burger

Julie Jacobson / AP

Menu offerings — including the “Bypass” burger and “Flatliner” fries — and warnings are posted in the window of the Heart Attack Grill in Las Vegas.

updated 2 hours 14 minutes ago 2012-02-15T20:49:18

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46399779/ns/health-heart_health/

LAS VEGAS — Laughing tourists were either cynical or confused about whether a man was really suffering a medical episode amid the “doctor,” “nurses” and health warnings at the Heart Attack Grill in Las Vegas, a restaurant owner said Wednesday.

“It was no joke,” said Jon Basso, who promotes himself “Doctor Jon,” his scantily-clad waitresses as nurses and customers as patients.

Basso said he could tell right away the man in his 40s eating a Triple Bypass burger was having trouble. He was sweating, shaking and could barely talk.

Paramedics were called Saturday night, fire spokesman Tim Szymanski said, and the man was hospitalized. His name and information about his condition weren’t made public.

Giggles can be heard on the soundtrack of amateur video showing the man on a stretcher being wheeled out of the restaurant where patrons pass an antique ambulance at the door and a sign: “Caution! This establishment is bad for your health.”

Eaters are given surgical gowns as they choose from a calorically extravagant menu offering “Bypass” burgers, “Flatliner” fries, buttermilk shakes and free meals to folks over 350 pounds.

Basso said he hopes the man is OK, and added that he felt bad for him because tourists treated his misfortune like a joke.

“We would never pull a stunt like that,” he said.

The Galactic Adventures of Jaedyn Sojourner’s...

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:07:00 -0500

The Galactic Adventures of Jaedyn

Sojourner’s Truth Staff
http://www.thetruthtoledo.com/story/2012/012512/jaedyn.htm

Author Andre Gaines refers to his 11-year-old niece Jaedyn as a “girly-girl,” but says he can’t remember a single Halloween when she’s wanted to dress up like a princess. “She’s always wanted to be a superhero,” Gaines said. “I remember one Halloween when my Mom called me upset because Jaedyn wanted to be Spider-Man. I thought it was awesome”

While Gaines says his niece has a strong personality and isn’t afraid to speak her mind, he notices that for many children her age, speaking up is a unique challenge, especially for kids being bullied. “That’s where I got the idea to write a book.” Gaines, a television writer and producer in Los Angeles, started thinking about the struggles of these bullied kids in contrast to his own spirited, strong-willed niece. “I thought it would be really cool if these kids had a superhero to defend them,” Gaines said.

But he didn’t want a run-of-the-mill superhero. Instead, he wanted a champion for middle-grade readers who are consistently underrepresented on bookshelves. “I realized that there are lots of little girls out there who are starving to see images of themselves in the male-dominated superhero universe. It’s really a shame that there aren’t more adventure books for girls in the marketplace and even more ashamed that few books in this category represent African-Americans.”

Featuring his niece as the fiery, precocious lead character, Gaines was motivated to inspire bullied kids and uplift the presence of African-American heroines in his first novel, The Galactic Adventures of Jaedyn G. (Parkside Press 2012) – a 128-page middle-grade novel that follows the title character on a journey of self-discovery from the schoolyard to the outer galaxy. In the novel, Jaedyn—a straight-forward, self-confident young girl with a talent for wrestling—leads a space alien named Zel to a place called Planet Bob on a mission to recover her stolen wrestling belt. Zel, a softhearted victim of bullying, becomes her friend and confidant, and together they discover that real superpowers come in all forms.

Gaines, who owns the animation studio Cinemation, said he got his entire family involved in the writing process, including his niece, his parents and his brother, Jay, who is Jaedyn’s father.

“My parents Jimmy and Sharon Gaines were especially instrumental in shaping the story. My mom has been an educator for years, and a Specialist in ~~early childhood education~~ educational administration and supervision,” Gaines said. “My brother, Jay, read over ten drafts of the manuscript and was really key in helping me iron out the plot points. He has an uncanny knack for solving story problems, and I often called him in the middle of the day for a fix.”

The most important feedback, however, came from Gaines’ niece Jaedyn, who unwrapped an advanced copy of the book on Christmas Day and says she read all 20 chapters in two days.

“I’ve never seen a book like this about aliens and I really like seeing myself as a superhero. I like it even better than some of my favorite books like Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Spacehedz because it’s about a girl and not a boy,” said the 11-year-old, who is an honor student at the Columbus Spanish Immersion Academy in Columbus, Ohio. “Everyone started circling around my teacher when she was reading the book. Then a friend of mine who bought the book asked me if she was going to get her ten dollars back because we’re friends and I told her no.”

Jaedyn said she liked everything about the book except one very important detail—in The Galactic Adventures of Jaedyn G., the title character’s favorite color is purple, and her favorite color is actually neon green.

Gaines is optimistic about the future of the middle-grade series. “I sent an advanced copy to a good friend and mentor of mine, author Tananarive Due, and she emailed me saying, ‘my son snatched it up right away, so it’s a hit!’” Gaines said. “I got the same reaction from several other friends who bought advanced copies for their nieces and nephews, which is very rewarding.”

While critical reviews for the novel have been strong, with more expected in the Spring, Gaines said he values customer reviews on Amazon.com the most. “My goal was to write something fun and hopefully empower young girls everywhere with a sense of self-determination and confidence in being who they are.”

The novel is currently available on Amazon.com and will be available to major booksellers everywhere through Ingram and Baker & Taylor on January 26, 2012.

Obama channels his inner Al Green Obama singing “Lets stay...

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:39:56 -0500

Obama channels his inner Al Green Obama singing “Lets stay together” Apollo Theatre, New York, January 19, 2012 Four More Years! Source: TheObamaDiary(YouTube Channel)/CNN

My wife Sharon and I take great pride in announcing the...

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:49:00 -0500

My wife Sharon and I take great pride in announcing the publication of this book by our son Andre Gaines. You can purchase The Galactic Adventures of Jaedyn G. from the website jaedyng.com or go to Amazon.com and type in “Jaedyn.”

List Price: $9.99

About the author:
Andre Gaines is a television writer and producer in Los Angeles, CA.

The Galactic Adventures of Jaedyn G.

Authored by Andre Gaines
Illustrated by Michelle Garcia

Armed with her lucky belt, Jaedyn is ready to take the wrestling team, and her school, by storm. Unfortunately, another storm blows through first: A spaceship from Planet Bob, driven by a meek alien named Zel who thinks Jaedyn’s lucky belt has superpowers that will help him defeat an intergalactic bully named Snark. When Snark steals the belt for himself, Jaedyn and Zel zoom to Planet Bob to reclaim it, despite having the school nag Darlene on their trail. Join Jaedyn and Zel on their fast-paced journey through the great beyond, as they discover that superpowers often come from the most unexpected places.

Publication Date: Jan 21 2012
ISBN/EAN13: 0615565182 / 9780615565187
Page Count: 128
Binding Type: US Trade Paper
Trim Size: 5.25” x 8”
Language: English
Color: Black and White with Bleed
Related Categories: Juvenile Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels / Superheroes

Jimmy L. Gaines Sr.

“Front Row Seat Movie Review “The Adventures of TINTIN” I give...

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 13:52:00 -0500

“Front Row Seat Movie Review “The Adventures of TINTIN”

I give “The Adventures of TINTIN in 3D” “One Chicken Bone”. Front row seat movie review for “TINTIN”, save your money! Don’t go to see this movie, unless you’re sleep deprived and you need a good rest. Unfortunately, “TINTIN” is not as good of a movie as “Hugo”. We went to see “TINTIN” because we saw “Hugo” which had great animation and excellent storyline. You know you’re in the wrong movie when on “TINTIN” opening night, you enter the theater and the only people there, are you, and the automatic movie projector. During this holiday season, you will be better served by attending another movie! Oh, I do have something good to say about “TINTIN”. The animation was amazing! It was remarkable to see the animated characters’ hair blowing. There, that’s all I have good to say about “TINTIN”.

Movie Info

Paramount Pictures and Columbia Pictures Present a 3D Motion Capture Film The Adventures of Tintin directed by Steven Spielberg from a screenplay by Steven Moffat and Edgar Wright & Joe Cornish. Starring Jamie Bell as Tintin, the intrepid young reporter whose relentless pursuit of a good story thrusts him into a world of high adventure, and Daniel Craig as the nefarious Red Rackham. — (C) Official Site

PG, 1 hr. 44 min.

Action & Adventure, Animation, Kids & Family

Directed By: Steven Spielberg

Written By: Hergé, Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright, Joe Cornish

In Theaters: Dec 21, 2011 Wide

Paramount

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_adventures_of_tintin/#

The name of my movie review is “Front Row Seat Movie Review”.

Clarification of my rating levels are as follows:

My rating system starts with the lowest level of:

¤ One Chicken Bone: Is the Lowest level “pretty bad!”

If a movie receives this rating you should avoid it during your lifetime! ‘You shouldn’t even see a “bootleg” copy of this movie!

¤ Poor: One Barbeque Bone

¤ Fair: Two Barbeque Bones

¤ OK: Three Barbeque Bones

¤ Good: Four Barbeque Bones

¤ Excellent: Five Barbeque Bones

¤ Outstanding: The upper level rating for a movie is “Five Barbeque Bones with Barbeque Sauce”. If a movie receives this rating, you need to stop whatever you are doing and go to see it now!

Jimmy Sr.

“Front Row Seat Movie Review” I give “The Descendents” five...

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 13:22:00 -0500

“Front Row Seat Movie Review”

I give “The Descendents” five barbecue bones. I just want to tell you that this movie is a “Trip”. If you are a reader of this review and do not understand what I mean by the word “Trip” as it relates to a movie; I’m sorry but I can’t give you a definition. It’s like some jokes “ask a friend for the meaning”. It is tremendously interesting to see how the storyline in this movie relates to the mother, who has an accident. I was intrigued by the performances. Clooney and Shailene Woodley are exceptional. Both are worthy of their Golden Globe nominations. If you are in need of a movie that will challenge your emotions it is “The Descendents”. I would encourage you to see “The Descendents”. You will not be disappointed.

The name of my movie review is “Front Row Seat Movie Review”.

Clarification of my rating levels are as follows:

My rating system starts with the lowest level of:

¤ One Chicken Bone: Is the Lowest level “pretty bad!”

If a movie receives this rating you should avoid it during your lifetime! ‘You shouldn’t even see a “bootleg” copy of this movie!

¤ Poor: One Barbeque Bone

¤ Fair: Two Barbeque Bones

¤ OK: Three Barbeque Bones

¤ Good: Four Barbeque Bones

¤ Excellent: Five Barbeque Bones

¤ Outstanding: The upper level rating for a movie is “Five Barbeque Bones with Barbeque Sauce”. If a movie receives this rating, you need to stop whatever you are doing and go to see it now!

Jimmy Sr.

Movie Info

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_descendants_2011/

From Alexander Payne, the creator of the Oscar-winning Sideways, set in Hawaii, The Descendants is a sometimes humorous, sometimes tragic journey for Matt King (George Clooney) an indifferent husband and father of two girls, who is forced to re-examine his past and embrace his future when his wife suffers a boating accident off of Waikiki. The event leads to a rapprochement with his young daughters while Matt wrestles with a decision to sell the family’s land handed down from Hawaiian royalty and missionaries. — (C) Fox Searchlight

R, 1 hr. 50 min.

Drama, Comedy

Directed By: Alexander Payne

Written By: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash

In Theaters: Nov 18, 2011 Limited

Box Office: $23.6M

Fox Searchlight Pictures

George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller, Nick Krause, Patricia Hastie, Grace A. Cruz, Kim Gennaula, Karen Kuioka Hironaga, Carmen Kaichi, Kaui Hart Hemmings, Beau Bridges, Matt Corboy, Matt Esecson, Michael Ontkean, Stanton Johnston, Jon McManus, Hugh Foster, Tiare R. Finney, Tom McTigue, Milt Kogan, Mary Birdsong, Rob Huebel, Laird John Hamilton, Aileen '

Oscar and Leola Haynes are active participants in their...

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:57:38 -0400

Oscar and Leola Haynes are active participants in their neighborhood Block Watch program

Oscar and

Printed Thursday, September 01, 2011

toledoBlade.com

ON THE LOOKOUT

Block Watch key to safe neighborhoods

By ROSE RUSSELL
BLADE STAFF WRITER

Anybody old enough to remember how safe neighborhoods felt several decades ago also will recall that it was because people looked out for one another and took action if they saw anything that wasn’t quite right.

These days, though, in such a highly mobile society where people constantly are coming and going, residents often know little to nothing about their neighbors. And sometimes younger generations need to be persuaded to look out for their neighbors and to watch for suspicious activity.

Keeping a watchful eye in the neighborhood is key to keeping crime rates low, neighborhoods safe, and to helping law enforcement agencies do their jobs, which is why Toledo Neighborhood Block Watch organizations unite areas and put criminals on notice.

“The key to Block Watch programs is that they are our link to the neighborhoods,” Toledo Police Chief Mike Navarre said. “They provide that avenue … for us to communicate with the neighborhood. It’s so much more efficient to do that in a group setting.”

Neighborly nosiness applies to anyone who wants to stay informed and to maintain a safe living environment.

Toledo’s Block Watch President Leola Haynes knew nothing about the program when more than a decade ago she noticed gang activity in her Forest Avenue neighborhood. She wanted to learn about what others knew, and in the process, she aimed to raise awareness and combat the problem. That’s when Mrs. Haynes invited neighbors to her home to address the issue. That’s when she learned about Block Watch.

“It’s a beautiful area and I didn’t want to move,” she said about her central city neighborhood that’s just a few minutes from the Toledo Museum of Art and the YWCA in downtown Toledo. “I decided to get with the group to get our community back to where it was.”

Toledo Police Chief Mike Navarre says Block Watch programs are a link to the neighborhoods.

So the retired elementary school teacher and former nurse became involved with Block Watch, a program that is very much alive and thriving in the city. As a result of the recent crime spree that included fatal shootings, Mrs. Haynes said there is renewed interest in the program.

The city’s eight Block Watch sectors have 180 areas, and each sector’s leader oversees nine to 12 blocks, Mrs. Haynes said. Groups’ meeting times vary, from those that meet monthly to others that meet every other month.

Block Watch leaders know the right municipal department to contact when there are other problems in their neighborhoods, such as when yards need to be mowed and refuse containers in the parks overflow.

Mayor Mike Bell wants the police department to be 625 strong, the police chief said. Right now, though, there are only 552 police officers. That number makes the role Block Watch programs play that much more vital.

“We rely on people calling 911 and Block Watch leaders,” Chief Navarre said. “That’s the whole point, to get involved and look out for your neighbors. They do that every day. I can’t tell you that we categorize success stories, but we have a lot of success stories because people call 911, even though it’s hard to measure crimes that you prevent.”

This much is certain about anyone who becomes involved in Block Watch: a resident can’t help but learn about his or her surroundings.

“We found out by getting our flyers out that almost half the houses were empty,” Mrs. Haynes said. “People moved and died, and that invited a lot of squatters in and that’s what the gangs were using the neighborhood for, a place to sell drugs.”

Citizens, however, should not confront anyone suspected of criminal activity. Block Watch teaches that citizens are not to take the law into their own hands. They are only to make observations and to call 911.

“That’s safest for everyone. What we do is watch out for each other,” said Mrs. Haynes. “I believe in Block Watch.”

Contact Rose Russell at rrussell@theblade.com or 419-724-6178.

Copyright 2011 The Blade. By using this service, you accept the terms of our privacy statement and our visitor agreement. Please read them.
The Toledo Blade Company, 541 N. Superior St., Toledo, OH 43660, (419) 724-6000
To contact a specific department or an individual person, click here.
The Toledo Times ®

Photo

Sun, 03 Jul 2011 13:47:45 -0400

AKAs host fourth annual business and health expo by Journal StaffThe Toledo JournalOriginally posted...

Sat, 28 May 2011 15:08:34 -0400

AKAs host fourth annual business and health expo by Journal StaffThe Toledo JournalOriginally posted...

Penelope Cruz, Johnny Depp and Ian McShane in “Pirates of...

Sat, 28 May 2011 00:02:49 -0400

Penelope Cruz, Johnny Depp and Ian McShane in “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” (Walt Disney Co.)

“Front Row Seat Movie Review”

I give “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” “Three Barbecue Bones”. I do not know where Disney was headed with this movie by tampering with the immortality of the pirates. Johnny Depp who played “Captain Jack Sparrow” was excellent in his role in spite of the movie. But I am somewhat confused when watching the show because of the poor quality of the special effects. The “Mermaids” added to the story. But there were times when the animation took away from the performance. I would mildly recommend seeing this movie. It is my feeling if you are a Pirates fan you would still enjoy following the episodes of “Captain Jack Sparrow”. But if you’re not a diehard “Pirates of the Caribbean” fan this movie is not for you.

The name of my movie review is “Front Row Seat Movie Review”.

Clarification of my rating levels are as follows:

My rating system starts with the lowest level of:

¤ One Chicken Bone: Is the Lowest level “pretty bad!”

If a movie receives this rating you should avoid it during your lifetime! ‘You shouldn’t even see a “bootleg” copy of this movie!

¤ Poor: One Barbeque Bone

¤ Fair: Two Barbeque Bones

¤ OK: Three Barbeque Bones

¤ Good: Four Barbeque Bones

¤ Excellent: Five Barbeque Bones

¤ Outstanding: The upper level rating for a movie is “Five Barbeque Bones with Barbeque Sauce”. If a movie receives this rating, you need to stop whatever you are doing and go to see it now!

Jimmy Sr.

Movie Info

PG-13, 2 hr. 17 min.

Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy

Directed By: Rob Marshall

Written By: Ted Elliot, Terry Rossio

In Theaters: May 20, 2011 Wide

Box Office:$90.2M

Walt Disney Pictures

By Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times Film Critic

May 20, 2011

If not for Capt. Jack Sparrow there would be absolutely no fun to be found in “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” the latest edition of Disney’s waterlogged franchise. But Johnny Depp, back again as the swashbuckling miscreant who favors guy-liner and gold, somehow manages to keep this ship of fools afloat. But just barely.

With Rob Marshall newly at the helm, the hope was for a significant course correction after the bloat and confusion of 2007’s “At World’s End.” Though just why the studio turned to a director who has been struggling since helping “Chicago” win a best picture Oscar nearly a decade ago, is stranger than the tides (To wit: “Memoirs of a Geisha” and “Nine.” I rest my case).

It seems his chief recommendations are that A) he’s a really nice guy, something not to be underestimated in Hollywood, which is not the nice-guy capital of the world, and B) he knows his way around sequins and show-stoppers. You can see how that might translate as “Pirates” has long favored flamboyance in all things.

Unfortunately, being fashion forward and light on your feet isn’t enough. Simply put: “On Stranger Tides” is still not seaworthy, nor Sparrow worthy for that matter. At least director Gore Verbinski, who launched the enchanting whimsy of the first “POTC: The Curse of the Black Pearl” in 2003 — only to be upended by the rough waters so often churned up by sequels and threequels — had the good sense to make an exit before completely running aground.

There are some amusements in “Tides,” which is ever so slightly better than its predecessor. Particularly grand is a whiz-bang early number that evokes that brief, shining moment when the franchise was first riding high. It involves Capt. Jack, a hanging offense, a double-cross, a pasty monarch with a pastry buffet (both abundant) and a king-sized dining hall filled with chandeliers and staircases just made for swordplay and foul play. It helps get things off to a fast start.

The newest shipmates include Penélope Cruz as Angelica, a former lover of Capt. Jack whose paterfamilias is none other than the villainous Blackbeard, Ian McShane doing his witty wicked thing. She’s a lethal beauty who has a winning way with a rapier but suffers far worse battles with the bad lighting, which can be the only explanation for the fact that Cruz looks more sullen than sultry most of the time.

The fresh fish come in the form of Astrid Berges-Frisbey as Syrena, an ethereal mermaid with a come-hither look and a nasty bite (she’s part of a mermaid coven with “Jaws”-ian/Jungian issues — so scary); and a soul-saving hunk of missionary love in Philip (promising Brit, Sam Claflin). The old hands are led by Sparrow’s nemesis, Geoffrey Rush once again embodying the hygiene-challenged Barbossa.

Depp, as I mentioned, is in top form, Capt. Jacking his way along, charming the socks off of everyone with those mischievous, ever shifting, slightly winking, always twinkling eyes; the ironic smile exposing a few gold teeth that somehow have always suited him. A cameo that puts Depp across from his inspiration for the character, the Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards, as lad and dad locked in a conspiratorial conversation is pure pleasure — at least for the 12 or so seconds it’s on screen.

Most of the film’s two-plus hours is taken up by the hunt for the legendary Fountain of Youth, a story “suggested” by the Tim Powers novel that gives the film the second half of its name and Blackbeard his zombie crew; the script is from Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, who have been there from the beginning.

Not surprisingly, everyone wants a piece of the action, so the seas are soon crowded with tall ships, some manned by the British with Barbossa carrying an old grudge. There’s Blackbeard’s boat with Angelica, Capt. Jack and the zombies, who frankly aren’t all that fearful, just a bit more motley than the average crew. Then to make things more complicated (one of the franchise’s fatal flaws), we have the Spanish, who show up early for everything and add another layer to the weird religious thread started by Philip and carried through the film.

Finding the fountain is just the start; its powers can only be unlocked by … again, it’s complicated, but if I remember correctly mermaid tears, silver chalices, unfiltered water and a mixology degree are involved.

Now if all that sounds like a promising place to work a lot of 3-D magic, then boy are you in for a major letdown. The Ds in this instance stand for dark and dismal and disastrously claustrophobic. The production design is strangely ancient, as if the actors stumbled onto a sound stage filled with old props. Even the Fountain of Youth, the object of everyone’s desire, looks as if it were carved out of gray Styrofoam. And that, mateys, is no way to steer a ship. Aargh.

betsy.sharkey@latimes.com