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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 MAR2010-005  (2009), PG-13 [Hard R-13*] (1hr 38min) 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. |
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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): Foresight Unlimited, RKO Pictures, Signature Pictures Distribution (US): Anchor Bay Entertainment Director(s): Peter Hyams Producer(s): Prince Faisal S. Al-Saud, Stephanie Caleb, Kevin Cornish, Mark Damon, Limor Diamant, Michael P. Flannigan, Ted Hartley, Michael A. Helfant, John Hyams, Laura Ivey, Jonathan S. Marshall, James Portolese, Aaron Ray, Steven Saxton, Courtney Solomon, Tamara Stuparich de la Barra, Joshua Throne, Olga Tymshan, Allan Zeman Screenplay by: Peter Hyams, Douglas Morrow Cinematography/Camera: Peter Hyams Music: David Shire Film Editing: Jeff Gullo Casting: Ryan Glorioso Production Design: James A. Gelarden Art Direction: Kevin Hardison Viewed on Anchor Bay Entertainment DVD  This film analysis is sponsored by the generosity of E&HP. In spite of the high wattage performers weaving their way through in an intricate plot seamlessly stitched into a tapestry of corruption and upper echelon dishonesty concocted to boost a high power District Attorney into the Governor's office, Beyond a Reasonable Doubt, (PG-13) is beyond a reasonable doubt not fit for 13teenage (adolescent) audiences. With a final score of 23 out of 100 it is about as "R" and R can get. And if it is not fit for adolescents it is not fit for adults or toddlers. Remember, folks. I did not write the Rules. If you have a problem with the Rules, talk to the One who wrote them ... and who enforces them. Shreveport DA, Mark S. Hunter (Michael Douglas) has a winning streak of 17 convictions based almost entirely on DNA evidence. Christopher John "CJ" Nicholas (Jesse Metcalfe), investigative reporter for KRUL Channel 8 News, finds this hard to believe and does not trust Hunter ... "he's too smooth." After a conviction trial for the murder of 22 year old Lucinda Harris based solely on the DNA evidence on a cigarette butt found at the scene. CJ decides to investigate the DA's string of convictions and does his best to snuggle up to an assistant to the DA, Ella Crystal (Amber Tamblyn - The Ring, The Grudge 2) to get privileged information about the cases, even though CJ's fuzzy camera man Corey Finley (Joel Moore) advises CJ that Ella is out of his league. But soon, CJ and Ella fall in love ... and, of course, in bed (it's PG-13 isn't it?). Ella's loyalty to her boss, the DA slowly wanes and, in spite of initial looking-down-her-nose snippets at CJ, her heart warms up to CJ and his quest for truth. After hard-hitting, on-the-edge coverage of a notorious coffee taste test in a mall, CJ rushes to the murder trial of Lucinda where CJ introduces his distrust and dislike of DA Mark Hunter. After another victory that sent another "bad guy" on to the pokey, Hunter feeds the cameras with another slick and noble "It's not about me" soliloquy, CJ chases after Ella to get into her ... er ... video tape files for the police interview tape for the Harris case. Here is where Ella first displays her opinion of CJ and feigns putting CJ into his place ... a 'hard to get' [into her bed] session of verbal volley ball. But eventually she breaks down and gives CJ what he wants. All of it but she holds back until after at least a diner together. During a lengthy period of hard-hitting coverage of ball games, animal shows and the like, CJ continues to observe Hunter and his "smoothness." Finding nothing he can pin on Hunter, CJ hatches a plan with Corey to stage a murder to get arrested to officially confront Hunter in court to expose Hunter for what CJ believes to be illegal planting of DNA evidence to enable Hunter's 17-win scorecard. Never in a million years would CJ have guessed that he would fall prey to his prey nor that Ella would uncover his secret of the double stars. Following are brief discussions of the findings by each of the six CAP investigation areas. For a full accounting of the findings. please look to the listings in the Findings/Scoring section of this report (the heart of the CAP analysis model). Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - Zero out of 100 With an area score of zero out of 100 this film is clearly equivalent to the violence content of R-rated films in the comparative baseline database. Not so much due to graphic content but rather due to so much content. This film is loaded or weighted with "lesser" examples of violence to mimic the "feeling" of a film with more severe content. For more information on this loading or weighting technique see our CAP Rule of 1000 publication. There are numerous still photos of bloody murder victims, motor vehicle violence including attempted murder by vehicle, pursuit to kill and a gunfire killing. While all of it is, of course, fantasy, a bad influence does not have to be real to influence badly. God was aware of this when He had Prov. 16:29 written into the Bible. And 1 Cor. 15:33. And a whole lot of other verses warning us of the emboldenment properties of violence. Impudence/Hate (I) - Zero out of 100 Beyond a Reasonable Doubt seems to force profanity, inserting it in places that sound like they are put there just to get profanity in the script. Forty eight times someone utters some form of profanity, including one use of the most foul of the foul words. [Col. 3:8] The foul language alone was enough to drain the starting 100 points in this investigation area down to zero, the lies and the dishonesty throughout notwithstanding. Sexual Immorality (S) - 8 out of 100 This is a modern PG-13. That means it is okay (according to the MPAA) for your 13 year old kids to watch a man and a woman nude in bed making out, her sitting on him while he is on his back. More than once. And if they watch this film they will see it. More than once. But it is not okay with God. Not once. [1 Ths. 4:1 - 7, Rev. 21:27] Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 49 out of 100 I feel it appropriate to let you know what the American College of Physicians (ACP) found regarding exposure of youth to alcoholic beverages and drinking in and as entertainment since this film includes drinking. 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? Regardless of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) classification the focus is that the emboldening influence of adolescent exposure to drinking (and smoking) in and as entertainment is undeniable. [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. Offense to God (O) - Zero out of 100 Apparently the character portraying the property evidence sergeant, Sergeant Gilbert (David Born) does not believe God is serious about abusing his name. He spewed God's name in vain with the four letter expletive at least eight times in his two or three minutes of screen time. In total God's name was uttered in vain 15 times, most of them by Born. Well, Sergeant Gilbert, be advised that God will not hold anyone who uses His name in vain guiltless. [Deut. 5:11] Whether you believe it or not. Whether I believe it or not. Whether you care or not. Y'see, His Word does not need our belief in it for it to be True. Murder/Suicide (M) - 83 out of 100 While there were a number of attempted murders and images of murder victims (captured by the Wanton Violence/Crime investigation area), there was only murder enacted. That was of Finley. He was murdered by police Lt. Merchant (Lawrence P. Beron). 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) - Zero out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - Zero out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - 8 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 49 out of 100 Offense to God (O) - Zero out of 100 Murder/Suicide (M) - 83 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. |
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