CAP Report MAR-0056, 101 DALMATIANS (1996)

ChildCare Action Project:
Christian Analysis of American Culture (CAP)

Entertainment Media Analysis Report
MAR-0056
101 Dalmatians (1996)
G
CAP Score: 87
CAP ID: 0.24

Thomas A. Carder
CAP President

ALERT: To fully understand this report you should first visit the topics suggested by the CAP Home Page Table of Contents.

101 Dalmatians (1996) was an attempt of Disney to revive the original classic using real life actors rather than animation. Somewhat true to the original movie, 101 Dalmatians (1996) contained, as to be expected, more unacceptable material than the original version. I have not analyzed the original movie so I cannot give you a numeric comparison, but trust me, there was more unacceptable material in the 1996 version than the original version. The fantasy of the original movie was lost and inherently came strong counterproductive influence on the impressionable. Detachment from the warmth, excitement, and humor of the original movie resulted. Of most noteworthiness was Close's good job at playing a mad and violent woman, bent on control, revenge, and gain by evil and sinister means - she did a very good job at displaying unacceptable material. The CAP Final Score for 101 Dalmatians (1996) (87) was one point over the bottom of the comparative baseline database scoring range for G-rated movies! One or two other items of unacceptable material would have thrown the movie into the CAP scoring range equivalent to PG movies.

The most significant loss of points occured in Wanton Violence/Crime (W) due almost entirely to Close's violent madness and lust for revenge, control, and personal gain. Some sexual material was noted in abundant cleavage exposure, introducing an actress by showing first her legs then the rest of her, and partial nudity in a painting. Thus Sex/Homosexuality (S) lost a few points. Lying to avoid accountability subtracted a few points from Impunity/Hate⁽¹⁾ (I). Drinking alcoholic beverages took points away from Drugs/Alcohol (D). Using God's name in vain dissolved a few of the Offense to God points⁽²⁾ (O), However, there were no instances of Murder/Suicide⁽³⁾ (M) found!

COMMENT: The central theme was about a bad girl's desire to kill dogs to get their coats. Animals have been used to clothe humans for thousands of years. But what made objective analysis of this movie difficult was the dogs were well personified with human personality traits by the script writers and choreographers, thus giving the viewer the sense that to kill the dogs would be akin to killing human babies. While many people indeed seem to value their dogs more than humans, we cannot permit elevatation of the dog to human status. God clearly gave us dominion over the beasts of the earth. If we were to elevate the dog to human status, we would indeed be lowering the human to the dog level. Thus, I cannot justify derating the movie based on plotting to kill dogs. It would be different if the dogs were actually killed in the movie. But please realize that while God has given us dominion over the beasts of the earth, i.e., they are here for our use, the arey NOT here for us to abuse!

Other examples of unacceptable behavior included:

portrayal of a child having the desire to annihilate as a normal and acceptable desire
rule by fear and intimidation
gross examination of a dog to determine its gender
masked violence (hearing the sounds after display of activities which logically end in violence)
abduction and imprisonment to control and to gain unlawful entry
firey endangerment of humans
display of electric shock to private regions

Below is the table showing the scoring in each of the Investigation Areas plus the Final Score drawn from the actual CAP Report. In addition, the CAP Influence Density (ID) figure for the movie and the number of examples per hour of unacceptable material in each of the Investigation Areas is provided.

101 Dalmatians (1996) CAP Scorecard

In accordance with the comparative baseline data, 101 Dalmatians (1996) was equivalent to R-rated material in Wanton Violence/Crime. It presented material equivalent to PG material in Sex/Homosexuality. The movie presented material equivalent to G-rated movies in Impunity/Hate, Drugs/Alcohol, Offense to God, and Murder/Suicide. Thus, 101 Dalmatians (1996) was equivalent to the comparative baseline data corresponding to 17% R-rated material, 17% PG material, and 66% G-rated material.

(1) As noted in CAP Special Report-0001, "Investigation Area and Scoring Trend", of the six CAP Investigation Areas, Impunity/Hate was the strongest presence in all four movie classifications. It has a strong revelation about the entertainment media.

(2) The use of the three/four letter word vocabulary is incorporated into the Impunity/Hate Investigation Area. The use of God's name in vain with and without the three/four letter word vocabulary is incorporated into the Offense to God Investigation Area.

(3) Only portrayal of successful murder or suicide are incorporated into Murder/Suicide. Presentation of attempts to commit murder or suicide, deaths by police action, and deaths by war are incorporated into Wanton Violence/Crime.

Please remember we believe that if even one of the six Investigation Area scores for a movie is equivalent to the CAP comparative baseline databse scoring range for R, PG-13, or PG material, the entire movie should be regarded as so rated. For example, if only Wanton Violence/Crime earns a score equivalent to R but all other Investigation Areas earn a score equivalent to G, THERE IS R-RATED MATERIAL IN THE MOVIE AND YOUR KIDS WILL SEE IT AND HEAR IT IF THEY WATCH THE MOVIE!

Additional reviews of this movie may be located at "Movie Review Query Engine at Telerama."

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