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Entertainment Media Analysis Report

MAR00199
At First Sight (1999), PG-13
CAP Score: 66, CAP ID: 0.61

Thomas A. Carder
CAP President


Executive Summary / Commentary
Findings / Scoring
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY / COMMENTARY:

At First Sight -- A blind masseur and an overworked female architect fell in love -- and in bed, with all the "trimmings." I wanted to say the movie was no more PG-13 than I am; that it was as "R" as a movie can be, full of sex, nudity (in bed, a shower, and a strip joint), intercourse, and inappropriate touching, both clothed and unclothed, by and between an unmarried couple living together. But, my feelings cannot affect the CAP scoring. It won't let me. At First Sight earned a CAP score right smack dab within the CAP scoring range for PG-13 movies circa 1995-96. What earned this movie a CAP score equivalent to a PG-13 movie of three years ago instead of a R-rated score was that the sexual ignominy typically associated with R-rated movies, though fully present, did not occur as often. Still, there was R-rated stuff in it as clearly identified by the CAP Thermometers. THAT is the 'secret' of the CAP model and that is why this analysis bears a red CAPCon Alert.

I thought I was miffed at the extent of sexual material in Titanic (1997), but this movie made Titanic look like an after-school half-hour sitcom. I wonder how long it will take the MPAA to "approve" X-rated programming in R-rated movies? In PG-13 movies? And there was the plethora of other ignominy which seems to be taking over the previously 'protected' MPAA ratings. The most foul of foul words was there -- only once but there nonetheless. God's name in vain with the four letter expletive splattered the script like knobs and buttons on a stereo. Strip joint nude dancing slammed at you like a 16-ounce boxing glove. And it was tricky, too. As the viewfield of the camera changes from the stripper's stage to the string of bar stools, the viewer might think s/he no longer has to watch the bouncing babes. NOT! There they are in the mirror in front of the boys at the bar. And this is acceptable for 13 year olds? Poppycock and pinfeathers! I thought it was illegal for minor children to go in a strip joint. Not any more! Just let them see At First Sight.

Bathrobes, underwear, and sexual invitations peppered the movie like leaves on a Sycamore. Cohabitation seemed to be the only way an unmarried man and woman could live. The only marriage even mentioned was broken by divorce. And booze -- lots of it. Offers of beer. Barroom Drinking. Party Drinking. Dinner drinking. Romantic talk of drunkenness. You get it all in At First Sight, just not as frequent as is typical for an R-rated movie. Plus you get violent arguments, a father portrayed as useless and hated, a song of bleeding and death and more for the viewing pleasure of your 13 year old son or daughter.......unless you say No!




FINDINGS / SCORING: At First Sight (1999) CAP Thermometers

Wanton Violence/Crime (W) lost no intermediate nor maximum level points.

Impudence/Hate (I)(1) lost no intermediate level points but lost maximum level points once due to the use of the most foul of foul words.

Sex/Homosexuality (S) lost intermediate level points four times due to nudity in masked sexual intercourse, sensual undressing to the underwear (skimpy) a woman on top of a man ostensibly for intercourse, and shower nudity of a man and a woman with sexual activity. Sex/Homosexuality lost maximum level points four times due to two series of partial nudity, a series of covered nudity, a series of inappropriate touching, and multiple sights of stripjoint nudity.

Drugs/Alcohol (D) lost no intermediate nor maximum level points.

Offense to God (O)(2) lost intermediate level points once due to the use of Jesus' name in vain and the maximum level points six times due to the use of God's name in vain with the four letter expletive.

Murder/Suicide (M)(3) lost no intermediate nor maximum level points.

Other examples of entertainment ignominy, each warranting the loss of the minimum point level, included

  • 13 uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary
  • additional brief, translucence, and/or partial nudity
  • a man rubbing a nude woman - not married to each other
  • additional inappropriate touching
  • 21 uses of God's name in vain without the four letter word expletive
  • woman in a bathrobe and in underwear
  • anticipation of adulterous sex with glee, offer of sex, invitation to sex
  • unmarried couple cohabitating, invitation to cohabitate, evidences of cohabitation
  • offer of beer, barroom drinking, party drinking, dinner drinking, and romantic reference to drunkenness
  • protrayal of a father in a useless, negative role: hating him
  • a song of bleeding and death
  • injury by glass
  • violent argument and expression
  • surgical process


    (1) As noted in CAP Special Report-001, "Investigation Area and Scoring Trend," of the six CAP Investigation Areas, Impudence/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 without God's name is incorporated into the Impudence/Hate Investigation Area. The use of God's name with or without the three/four letter word vocabulary is incorporated into the Offense to God Investigation Area. There is no duplication. As required of the Holy Scriptures, unless God's name is used with reverence to His glory and praise, its use is considered in vain, whether literal or euphemistic.

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



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




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    In the name of Jesus:
    Lord, Master, Teacher, Savior, God.

    Thomas A. Carder
    President
    ChildCare Action Project: Christian Analysis of American Culture (CAP)

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