Does anyone realize just how dark and violent this movie is?

I agree. Odd mix of light and dark. I think the filmmakers weren't sure which tone to take, so they settled for both.
Maybe it wasn't that bad of an idea, though - the kid had this romanticized view of high-seas piracy, and seeing some of the reality was probably his best history lesson yet.
I wouldn't have minded a scene in which the kid is alone with Blackbeard, and says, to freak him out, "I know your real name is Edward Teach. One day you'll be slain in mortal combat with an English Captain. Legend says that after being repeatedly shot and stabbed, your headless body circled around the victorious English ship, disappearing forever from sight. And centuries later your name and likeness will appear on gaudy T-shirts sold everywhere on Ocracoke island."


"...and Mrs. Taylor sure seems to use a lotta ice, whenever he's away."

Well, I think that was kind of the whole point; to show young boys that being a pirate, or a boy among pirates, probably wasn't all it was cracked up to be.