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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 MAR27050  (2007), PG-13 [Hard R-13*] (1hr 37min) 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 1100 analyses for parents, grandparents, pastors, youth leaders and more. |
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(While the Scriptural references are certainly not subjective, my commentary may be and sometimes is somewhat subjective.)
 Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database Production (US): Dimension Films, Di Bonaventura Pictures Distribution (US): Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, The Weinstein Company Director(s): Mikael Håfström Producer(s): Kelly Dennis, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Jake Myers, Jeremy Steckler, Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein Screenplay: Matt Greenberg, Scott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski Short Story: Stephen King Cinematography/Camera: Benoît Delhomme Music: Gabriel Yared Film Editing: Peter Boyle Casting: Elaine Grainger Production Design: Andrew Laws Art Direction: Stuart Kearns, Doug J. Meerdink, Mark Raggett, Eric Sundahl Viewed At: Driftwood Theater 6 I do not know what Jesus is doing. We still have not found funding to operate this Christian ministry fulltime and dedicated. We are still going but at a tiny trickle with negative spending. I am certain of three things: 1) it is His Will that the CAP Ministry continue, 2) that whatever He is doing is for the best and 3) that if the CAP Ministry collapses it will be the will of the people, not He who gave us the freedom of choice. You can choose to be part of his Will by giving generously so this ministry He started through me might continue to serve His little ones through you, mom/dad. There probably is no better way to preach His Word more completely and directly than by applying His Word to the content of the entertainment industry. "How so?" you might ask. Well, since you've asked I'll tell you. It is revealed in the Significant Discovery section of our Special Report-001, ATTITUDE: In Perspective -- Investigation Area Scoring and Trend in CAP Entertainment Industry Investigations:
Won't you help us fight the influence of father of lies on our youth with your generous monthly, semi-regular or one-time gifts of love? The psychological thriller 1408 centers around room 1408 of the Dolphin Hotel of New York City in which there have been 56 deaths, a room from which most of the deaths were by suicide. Occult writer Michael Enslin is determined to challenge the legend by staying one night in room 1408. In spite of the warnings and all the attempts of the hotel manager, Mr. Olan to prevent Enslin from staying in the room, Enslin succeeds in becoming what might be its 57th victim. With the tragic loss of their daughter Katie (Jasmine Jessica Anthony) to a fatal illness, Michael Enslin and his wife Lily separate. Michael tries to bury the pain by burying himself in mountains of work. Part of that work was to investigate reports of paranormal activity. From his findings he writes stories. And he is so-so successful at it in spite of his growing disbelief in all that mumbo-jumbo, ghost-n-goulie spook stuff. Indeed, Michael is becoming little more than a shell of a man, believing in almost nothing. Empty. When Michael hears about room 1408 of the Dolphin Hotel, he sets off to disprove all the accountings of deaths/suicides attributed to occupancy in that room. Mr. Olan exhausts his bag of tricks to keep people out of that room. Even Mr. Olan telling Michael that no one has survived in that room for more than one hour: that he escorts staff into the room for cleaning only once per month and never lets the door close behind them are not enough to dissuade Michael. So, Michael wins his bout of wits with Mr. Olan and trots up to room 1408 to begin his case against the legend. And as it is with almost all of Hollywood's spook concoctions, evil possesses the power to easily defeat good and if good wins at all it is by luck. This film comes out on video October 2, 2007, making this September 8 report at least a little useful -- to those who wait for a film to come out on video. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) Several photos of gore plus flash scenes of gore are spewed at the audience. A tale of gore, a hand injury with blood plus insane behavior and a number of action violence sequences drained the Wanton Violence/Crime score to zero. Rather quickly. Theses are in addition to burn gore, attempted suicide and a head injury. [Prov. 3:31, 3 John 11] Impudence/Hate (I) Twenty six times someone utters a profane word of one kind or another and twice someone utters the most foul of the foul words. [Eph. 4:29, Col. 3:8] Sexual Immorality (S) The only instance of anything that even remotely approaches sexually oriented content was the image of picture nudity. It may be just a picture, but it is still display of nudity. [**] Drugs/Alcohol (D) Again Hollywood sloshes booze into this film the MPAA labels as acceptable for your at the middle school age kids. IF only the MPAA knew ... or cared. The American College of Physicians (ACP) has found that exposure to booze and drinking in and as entertainment emboldens the viewer, in particular the middle school age stratum, the PG and PG-13 age stratum, to challenge and experiment with alcohol. Though the ACP study used R-rated films since it was believed R-rated films contained the most drinking, the focus is on the influence of exposure to alcohol in and as entertainment regardless of the film rating. Besides, the ACP researchers were not aware of R-13 which defeats the assumption that R-rated films present the most drinking and drunkenness. A finding by Harvard University agreed with our R-13 finding, four years after our finding. As a sidebar note, consider this, too. The MPAA is apparently going to consider all films with smoking in them as R-rated, clearly announcing without trying that smoking in and as entertainment is indeed a negative influence. If so, why not make R-rated any films which present booze and/or drinking and/or drunkenness? [Eph. 5:18] We incorporated smoking into a film's scoring distribution long before the MPAA. Even other film rating websites have plagiarized our methodology. Might that imply others are following our lead? That we are doing something right? Within the ACP study population of 4544 middle school students (90% were under fourteen years old), the prevalence of having tried alcohol without parental knowledge was 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. I can add to the ACP study that reveals films which present drinking and drunkenness contribute to underage alcohol abuse. I submit that it is not so much the presence of alcohol in films or the rating of the film(s) that embolden youth to abuse it, but is rather the attitude portrayed: the attitude of freedom from authority, freedom from accountability and freedom from consequences. PG-13 and R-rated films, even lesser 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. Offense to God (O) In addition to 14 uses of God's name in vain, five with the four letter expletive and nine without it [Deut. 5:11], a number of anti-faith comments are heard such as "There's no God to protect us form them, is there?" and "What god would do this to a little girl." The young actress, Jasmine has been given by the writers an obstacle with which she will have to fight since, after being told God will be there (in Heaven) she asks her dad, Michael "Do you really believe that? And the Bible is noted as having blank pages. On top of all this, nearly uncountable episodes of unholy events and actions are portrayed. This film is not one for the impressionable or they who only in the recent few years have begun to build an understanding of faith in the Father and what His Son did for us in accordance with His Plan. It deeply counterfeits the spiritual world. Battles between the light and dark of the spiritual world are not to be taken lightly. [Deut. 18:10 - 11] Murder/Suicide (M) Imagery of murder of the self (suicide) happened four times. Three times by jumping out of a 14th floor window and once by hanging. Though the "point" of the plot was spooks doing the self-killing, it was still imagery of suicide. "My kids can tell the difference between fantasy and reality!" That is wonderful if they can but Dr. Karen Nelson, head of a university psychology department and Dr. Larry Gilliam, a practicing mental health counselor agree with me that it would be unusual for even a 16 year old child to be able to fully separate fantasy from reality or to be able to fully anticipate the consequences of his/her actions. Such skills typically do not plateau until the early twenties if then. This is one of the reasons young teens are not permitted to have high liability jobs or serve in high risk functions. This film bears an implicit approval for 13 year old children since it is rated PG-13. You do the math. Remember, a bad influence does not have to be real to influence badly. 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. |
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 Wanton Violence/Crime (W) Impudence/Hate (I) Sexual Immorality (S) Drugs/Alcohol (D): Offense to God (O) Murder/Suicide (M) |
| 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. |
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