 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 MAR27047  (2007), PG-13 [Hard R-13*] (1hr 25min) 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. |
"http://www.capalert.com/ now_playing.htm" Target="_Blank"  Click it to try it! |
  (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.)
 Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database Production (US): Intrepid Pictures, Rogue Pictures, Spyglass Entertainment Distribution (US): Rogue Pictures Director(s): Ben Garant Producer(s): Kent Alterman, Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum, Toby Emmerich, Derek Evans, Ben Garant, Jonathan Glickman, Thomas Lennon, Ron Schmidt Written by: Thomas Lennon, Ben Garant Cinematography/Camera: Thomas E. Ackerman Music: Randy Edelman Film Editing: John Refoua Casting: Julie Ashton Production Design: Jeff Knipp Art Direction: Steve Arnold Viewed At: Driftwood Theater 6 Hallelujah! I got this one to you on opening day! If you have been with us for a while you will remember that we have had a terrible time getting analyses to you in a timely manner because of funding/donation problems. Unfortunately, we are still having the crushing financial trouble but this time "things" just fell into place to be able to get this analysis to you before opening night thanks first to Jesus then to Jesus through the Word-honoring generosity of T&DC, E&HP and W&DG. Balls of Fury is another R-13. And with a final score of 38 out of 100, a "hardcore" R-13 at that. The innuendo of the title (and the film's other movie poster - not shown) should fairly well indicate the caliber and mentality of this film. It is another teenybopper cussfest, sexfest, earning an investigation area score of two out of 100 in Impudence/Hate (I) due mainly to language and zero out of 100 in Sexual Immorality (S) due mainly to scant clad women, sex-related crude humor and homosexual inferences. I simply do not understand how the MPAA, by implication drawn from their label of "PG-13", can say this content is fit for 13 year old kids. But I cannot berate the film completely. There actually is some merit to the plot and story, but it is, in many parts, drowning in disregard for wholesome ethics. Twelve year old Randy Daytona (Brett DelBuono) is champion of the green table until one day someone better came along. Randy was defeated ... which cost the life of his father, Sgt. Pete Daytona (Robert Patrick) who had bet Triad goons Randy would win. Alas, Randy is no longer champ of the seamless white ball. Nineteen years later, Randy (Dan Fogler) is "happy" as a sideshow act in a strip tease restaurant bar. He has retained his flash with the ping pong ball and paddle and still displays unparalleled skills, but Randy has not played ping pong since his defeat. Because of Randy's unparalleled ping pong skills, Randy is confronted by FBI Agent Ernie Rodriguez (George Lopez) as a tool to get inside the Triad. The US wants Randy to climb the oriental ping pong competition ladder to work his way into an illegal underground tournament run by Triad boss Mr. Feng (Christopher Walken). Only by beating The Dragon (Na Shi La) can Randy be assured placement in the tournament. Randy has two weeks to recapture his mastery of the game. In an attempt to meet the two-week deadline, Randy is introduced to ping pong master Mr. Wong (James Hong), Master Wong's niece, Maggie Wong, (Maggie Q) puts Randy through grueling training to again become the best ping pong player ever. Now Randy is ready to enter the oriental ping pong circuit to meet and face off with The Dragon. There is little need to say any more about the story and plot. The trailers almost tell it all, except for the following. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) Though, on the surface, the violence/crime content might see tame, there is enough of it for the film to be equivalent to the violence content some R-rated films (see CAP Rule of 1000 for more information). Felony restraint to do harm, firearms in the face, a knife toss to intimidate, automatic gunfire to kill (repeatedly) and a few other similar events drained two-thirds of the starting 100 points in this investigation area. [Prov. 16:29] Impudence/Hate (I) Twenty-one uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary were mostly responsible for evaporating all but two of the starting 100 points in this investigation area. [Col. 3:8] Sexual Immorality (S) Dressing to maximize the female form and/or skin exposure, lots of drawing attention to the male crotch (much by a girl child), inappropriate touch, some excessive cleavage, some below navel skin exposure plus lots of innuendo and inferences of homosexuality by a gaggle of screaming homosexual prostitutes erased all of the starting 100 points in this investigation area. [Eph. 5:4, 1 Cor. 7:1 - 2, 1 John 2:26] Drugs/Alcohol (D) Again Hollywood throws in drinking alcoholic beverages in a film for the most impressionable age stratum. And again I am going to make a big deal of it. 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 the CAP 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, sometimes 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) While the content of Balls of Fury did not present the use of God's name in vain with the four letter expletive, it did present the use of His name in vain without it. Seven times which blew a full third of the starting 100 points for this investigation area out of existence. [Deut. 5:11] Murder/Suicide (M) Twenty-four percent of the starting 100 points in this investigation area were lost to four murders. One unseen and three with poisonous darts. 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. |
 |
 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. |
| In the name of Jesus: 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. 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. |
