 RED does not mean "stop." GREEN does not mean "go." Click on the CAPCon Alert image for explanation |
A ministry of the ChildCare Action Project: Christian Analysis of American Culture (CAP Ministry) A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Christian Ministry. www.capalert.com/ Entertainment Media Analysis Report A service to His little ones through you in His name by His Word MAR2010-001 daysofsummertitl225x49.gif){kind=small} (2009), PG-13 [Hard R-13*] (1hr 30min) The #1 Christian entertainment media analysis service on the Internet. We give you OBJECTIVE tools NO ONE ELSE CAN to help YOU make an informed decision for yourself whether a film is fit for your family. Over 1200 analyses for parents, grandparents, pastors, youth leaders and more. |
  (a PayPal account is NOT required) OR (preferred) by Check or Money Order. The CAP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Christian ministry. Donations to us are TAX-DEDUCTIBLE |
on what Hollywood feeds your kids. SUBSCRIBE (or unsubscribe) to our FREE text-only email version of these reports and our COMING SOON notices. |
  Christian Long Distance |
(While the Scriptural references are certainly not subjective, my commentary may be and sometimes is somewhat subjective.)
daysofsummer200x338.gif) Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database Production (US): Sneak Preview Entertainment, Watermark Distribution (US): 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Director(s): Marc Webb Producer(s): Veronica Brooks, Scott Hyman, Mason Novick, Jessica Tuchinsky, Mark Waters, Steven J. Wolfe Written by: Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber Cinematography/Camera: Eric Steelberg Music: Mychael Danna, Rob Simonsen Film Editing: Alan Edward Bell Casting: Eyde Belasco Production Design: Laura Fox Art Direction: Charles Varga Viewed on 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment DVD  This analysis is sponsored by the generosity of E&HP. This was just a movie I picked off the shelves at Blockbuster because I had developed an appreciation for Zooey Deschanel from Bridge to Terabithia where her outstanding performance was 100% free from anything sexual. Then I sat down with the DVD to begin the analysis. At first I thought this was going to be one of the most boring films of the more than 1200 I have analyzed. Then, after about half way through the show, I still thought it was going to be one of the most boring films I have analyzed. The pace is the same. There is no crescendo. No "roller coaster" ups and downs. Throughout. Except maybe for a couple seconds a couple seconds before the rolling credits. It seems to build a little as the frames creep by but there is nothing about this movie to make it one of those movies one remembers. It is a story about "boy meets girl...but not a love story." That is a disclaimer at the beginning of the show. And it is correct. But the disclaimer might have added "cardboard story" and still would have been just as correct. Greeting card writer Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) has a doldrum existence believing that he would know when the right girl came along. And she did in the person of Summer Finn (Zooey Deschanel), the boss's new assistant from Michigan. Tom, thinking Summer was "the" girl, was now ready for hopefully maybe possibly conceivably perhaps a serious relationship. But Summer made it known from the start she did not want to be confined by such a relationship. That, however, did not stop the pair from eating out together, from going to the movies together, from sharing thoughts with each other ... or from getting in bed with each other. Well!? It's PG-13 isn't it? (No, it is R-13.) And viewing a couple getting in bed together is okay for your 13 year olds, right? At least the MPAA thinks so. Fortunately the MPAA does not have the authority to say what is and is not acceptable for your child(ren). YOU do. And maybe this analysis report will help you be in a better position to make an informed moral decision whether this film is fit for your kids. Both Tom and Summer are victims of divorce. Tom also claims to be victim of the influences of corruptive entertainment, both music and movies -- one movie in particular and his misreading of it. Tom let down his guard against getting involved with a girl but Summer's sprightly mannerisms and electric personality slowly broke down Tom's shields. Summer, however, maintained her shields thinking there is no such thing as love. She goes through all the motions with Tom that so many people associate with love but refuses to let their relationship be anything more than "good friends." "Good friends" in her mind, anyway. But the addiction of such close intimacy as Summer let happen destroyed Tom's resolve to protect himself from getting hurt. Now Tom is hooked. But Summer, who gives all appearances of being hooked, keeps her distance with the "good friends" fallback. After parting (in deed only) Tom ran into Summer on a train and the hopes started all over again. On the train, Summer invites Tom to a party she is throwing. Now Tom's ears perk up and his expectations of again being with Summer soared. The filmmakers used a clever technique of showing Tom's expectations for a rekindle of a relationship with Summer at the party on the left side of the screen with what really happens on the right side. But at the party Tom found out Summer was getting married. Crushed, Tom ran off. Soon Tom's pain took over his character and personality. His pain took over his life so much that he quit his job thinking that all those sayings he and others had written for greeting cards were fake and useless. Tom is now suffering the "no one cares" syndrome. After as yet unsuccessful attempts to find a job as an architect, his other professional goal, Tom met a girl at the latest interview. After she launched a bevy of "Haven't we met" Tom again lets down his guard and invites the girl to a post-interview cup of coffee. After her initial refusal to go with him, she lets down her guard also and agrees to go with Tom. Her name is Autumn (Minka Kelly) -- as in after-summer. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 89 out of 100 This film is not really all that violent. Just a couple bar fight scenes and a slap in the face. But due to the shortness of the film (only 90 minutes - excluding all previews, trailers, and rolling credits) the point reduction made by those three events is rather significant, draining 11 of the starting 100 points of this investigation area. Be that as it may, violence of offensive aggression in any form is contradictory to God's Word that warns of its influence. [Prov. 16:29, 1 Cor. 15:33] Impudence/Hate (I) - Zero out of 100 Twenty eight times someone uttered some form of the three/four letter word vocabulary, one of them being the most foul of the foul words. Even the "sage" adolescent spoke one of the three/four letter words. The only other instance of Impudence/Hate is the lie told. But 27 uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary, once by an adolescent plus the single use of the most foul of the foul words was enough to completely drain the starting 100 points in this investigation area to zero. Sexual Immorality (S) - Zero out of 100 Our publication CAP Rule of 1000 reveals a relatively new technique of loading or weighting a film with tons of "lesser" examples of assaults on morality and ethics to get the "feel" of a film with more extreme content: the technique of loading/weighting, for example, a PG or PG-13 film with tons of seemingly "tame" assaults on sexual humility to get the feel of the sexual content of R-rated films. (500) Days of Summer is a p-e-r-f-e-c-t example of that rule. There are no single examples of the porn caliber of sexually immoral deeds and/or behaviors typically associated with R-rated films but there are so many behaviors, deeds and comments of the "lesser" kind to easily reach the perception threshold of at least the sexual content typical of R-rated films. Take for example a scene of a man and a woman in bed making out. The "PG" scene would have a sheet or blanket over the couple and it may be obvious they are at least partially clothed under the sheet or blanket. The R-rated version would not have the couple clothed and no sheet/blanket. While the scene with no clothes or blanket is certainly much more morally invasive, both scenes are of the same thing -- a man and a woman engaged in intercourse. Often times, and Hollywood is expert at this, implication is more invasive than bold display. (500) Days of Summer (and a plethora of other PG-13 films and many PG films) are saturated with the "lesser" kind of sexually or otherwise immoral and/or other traditionally unacceptable behaviors. From that concept I coined a phrase about the progressive conditioning by which we have become complacent about immorality in and as entertainment (and in our lives for that matter) that has survived these many years and has convinced many to rethink their personal standards: Over the years we have become so drugged by the narcotics of extremes that what once was morally unacceptable has become morally invisible. Please look to the listing in the Findings/Scoring section for a full accounting of the sexually immoral content of this film. There are far too many assaults on sexual humility to even summarize here. [Eccl. 8:11, Rev. 21:8, 1Ths. 4:1-5, 1 John 2:26, Rev. 22:15] If you are not sexually pure, I pray those are enough verses of His Word to convince you of your need to become and remain pure. Drugs/Alcohol (D) - Zero out of 100 This film is rated PG-13 meaning, by convention, it is acceptable according to the MPAA for viewing by your 13 year old children. Fortunately, the MPAA does not have the authority to decide for your children what is and is not acceptable. YOU do. With that said, please heed the following regarding this film which is soused with alcohol, alcoholic consumption and drunkenness. Whether intentional, the American College of Physicians followed God's lead and made a finding that should shake the very foundation of this culture which floats in booze. A 2002 study by the American College of Physicians (ACP) revealed that adolescent exposure to drinking in and as entertainment undeniably leads to abuse of alcohol among underage viewers. The finding entitled Relation Between Parental Restrictions on Movies and Adolescent Use of Tobacco and Alcohol reports that of 4544 youths from grades 5 through 8 of fifteen Vermont and New Hampshire middle schools (90% of the youths were under fourteen years old) only 16% were completely restricted in their entertainment diets. Within the ACP study population, the prevalence of having tried alcohol without parental knowledge was The researchers selected R-rated movies because they assumed R-rated movies typically present more drinking than movies of other classifications. This assumption is no longer true. The researchers were not aware of the matter of R-13 proven by this ministry in 2000 with which Harvard University researchers agreed four years later. The bottom line? The focus is that the emboldening influence of adolescent exposure to drinking (and smoking) in and as entertainment is undeniable regardless of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) classification. [Eph. 5:18] Rather revealing of the influences of the entertainment industry wouldn't you say? And emboldening children to sin with drink in and as entertainment screams of violating Luke 17:2. Our studies provide an additional parameter for the ACP study. While booze, drinking and smoking in and as entertainment indeed embolden defiance of rule and law and take their toll on wholesome decision-making skills of youth, our studies indicate the stronger influence is rather the attitude portrayed by and in association with the drinking (and smoking and any other negative behavioral dimension). PG-13 and R-rated films and sometimes less severe rated films are typically heavy with attitude. Our report on this, ATTITUDE: In Perspective -- Investigation Area Scoring and Trend in CAP Entertainment Industry Investigations, Special Report-001 may provide more understanding of the point by revealing that the strongest proselytizing element in modern entertainment is not sex, drugs, alcohol, or violence, etc. but is the attitude; the attitude of freedom from authority, freedom from accountability and freedom from consequences. It is indeed such attitude that emboldens youth to defy rule and law. Note also that attitude (impudence, arrogance, a proud look, "haughty eyes") is the first in the list of seven behaviors our Lord hates. [Prov. 6:16 - 19] It is all in the attitude. Everyone has seen that on workplace posters and other means of volume communication. God uses an adulteress to express His disdain for such an attitude: Prov. 30:20 "This is the way of an adulteress [or adulterer]: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, 'I've done nothing wrong." Though this verse uses "adulteress" to make its point, the heart of the matter is the arrogance of "What's the big deal!" defense of sexual immorality or any other wrong-doings. This verse makes an adulter(er/ess) of many filmmakers and performers, thinking they can demonstrate behavioral impurity while thinking they've done no wrong. Offense to God (O) - 67 out of 100 There were a few things that were each a slap in God's face. Four uses of His name in vain, once with the four letter expletive [Deut. 5:11]. An adulterous holding of hands. But quite possibly most offensive was the adolescent girl equating Jesus' physique to something sexually attractive. That Chest, little girl, was stabbed, was whipped with a scourge and spent three days in Hell so you and I would not have to spend one moment there. May our Lord have mercy on those who convinced you to say that ... for money. By the way, a scourge is a whip with three to twelve thongs, each with a nail, shard of glass or a jagged shard of sheep bone -- or in any combination -- on the end of each of thong. And every one of those bits of metal, bone or glass ripped flesh off our Lord. Sometimes down to the rib bones. Repeatedly. Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 No murders or suicides were noted. SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S) If needed to focus or fortify, applicable text is underlined or bracketed [ ] or bold. If you wish to have full context available, the Blue Letter Bible is a convenient source. If you use the Blue Letter Bible, a new window will open. Close it to return here or use "Window" in your browser's menu bar to alternate between the CAP page and the Blue Letter Bible page. CHAPTER/VERSE ***Selected Scriptures of Armour against the influence of the entertainment industry*** As always, it is best to refer to the Findings/Scoring section -- the heart of the CAP analysis model -- for the most complete assessment possible of this movie. |
 |
daysofsummerdata.gif) Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 89 out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - Zero out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - Zero out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - Zero out of 100 Offense to God (O) - 44 out of 100 Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 |
| There are some in the entertainment industry who maintain that 1) violent programming is harmless because no studies exist that prove a connection between violent entertainment and aggressive behavior in children, and 2) young people know that television, movies, and video games are simply fantasy. Unfortunately, they are wrong on both accounts." And "Viewing violence may lead to real life violence." I applaud these associations for fortifying 1 Cor. 15:33. Read the rest of the story. From our years of study, I contend that other aberrant behaviors, attitudes, and expressions can be inserted in place of "violence" in that statement. Our Director - Child Psychology Support, a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist concurs. For example, "Viewing arrogance against fair authority may lead to your kids defying you in real life." Or "Viewing sex may lead to sex in real life." Likewise and especially with impudence, hate and foul language. I further contend that any positive behavior can be inserted in place of "violence" with the same chance or likelihood of being a behavior template for the observer; of being incorporated into the behavior mechanics and/or coping skills of the observer. In choosing your entertainment, please consider carefully the "rest of the story" and our findings. |
|
Thank you for visiting us and may God bless you. Prayerfully, we will provide you with some of the most revealing commentary and investigative reporting you have ever read. In the name of Jesus: Lord, Master, Teacher, Savior, God. Tom Carder President ChildCare Action Project (CAP): Christian Analysis of American Culture 100% dependent on your tax-deductible financial support |  |
Christian Long Distance |
|
We exist only by your tax-deductible donations. PLEASE  Features PayPal! You do NOT need an account to donate. |
