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Entertainment Media Analysis Report
A service to His little ones (which includes at-home teens) through you, their parents and grandparents, in His name by His Word

MAR23040
  (2003), PG-13
Analysis Date: April 15, 2003
CAP Score: 40 out of 100
CAP Influence Density: 1.87

MinMax: -79


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ALERT: To fully understand this report you should first visit the topics suggested by the CAP Site Map (Table of Contents). Further, if you do not want the plot, ending, or "secrets" of a movie spoiled for you, skip the Summary/Commentary. In any case, be sure to visit the Findings/Scoring section -- it is completely objective to His Word and is the heart of the CAP Entertainment Media Analysis Model applied to this movie.


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SUMMARY / COMMENTARY:


If Scriptural references appear, the full text appears at the end of the Summary / Commentary likely using a mix of KJV and NIV.


  (2003), PG-13 ...just because a movie does not contain *** does not make it suitable for adolescents.


Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database
Production (US): Flypaper Press, Lion Rock, Mosaic Media Group, Signpost Films
Distribution (US): Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corporation
Director(s): Paul Hunter
Producer(s): Terence Chang, Gotham Chopra, Caroline Macaulay, Brent O'Connor, Charles Roven, Douglas Segal, Kelley Smith-Wait, John Woo, Michael Yanover
Written by/Screenplay: Ethan Reiff, Cyrus Voris (written by)
Cinematography/Camera: Stefan Czapsky
Music: Eric Serra
Film Editing: Robert K. Lambert
Casting: Diane Kerbel, Mindy Marin
Production Design: Deborah Evans
Art Direction: Arvinder Grewal
Viewed At: Driftwood Theater 6, Granbury, Texas


At the obscure and distant Temple of Sublime Truth an ancient scroll is protected by a monk for all eternity from anyone reading it. The words on the scroll have the power to harness opposing forces or reciprocating forces, depending on the one who reads the words. Any one who reads the words is given the power to rule the world, with either brutality and evil or compassion and kindness. The order of monks feel man is not ready to have that kind of power. Only a special monk is charged with protecting it from being read. It does seem strange that man wrote what men may not read. The obvious question is how did the one who wrote it not read it? No matter. It's a movie. But then, an influence does not have to be real to influence [Col. 2:8].

A monk who appeared to be in his early forties had been guarding the scroll for 60 years and was ready to pass the job on to another. The first monk with no name trained and challenged the most undisciplined youth he had ever laid eyes on to take over guarding the scroll. The now trained second monk (Yun-Fat Chow) who had forgotten his name was equal to the first monk with no name in martial arts and mystic matters. The second monk with no name was bestowed by the first monk with no name with the power and authority to take over the immense responsibility of protecting mankind from the dangerous scroll ... for 60 years. In a elaborate ceremony, the first monk with no name transferred all the powers of the universe to the second monk with no name. Now the first monk with no name can take a long-awaited vacation in spite of the fact that he is suddenly very old. The transference took a lot out of him, dontcha know.

But evil Nazi, Strucker (Karel Roden), wise to the secret of the scroll, had other plans for the first monk with no name. And for the second monk with no name. And all other monks in the temple. The only one who survived Strucker's murderous mayhem was the second monk with no name. Even though the second monk with no name was shot point-blank and fell off the edge of a high cliff, he survived and carried on the tradition with an awesome burden. For 60 more years.

Now ready to pass the baton to another, the second monk with no name emulated the first monk with no name by recruiting the most undisciplined youth he had ever laid eyes on to take over guarding the scroll. The future protector of the universe was Kar (Seann William Scott), street thief and pickpocket whose only talents in martial arts came from watching old Kung Fu movies at the Golden Palace theater. Kar seemed to fit -- loosely -- the prophecies for the new guardian of the scroll: that he fight a family among cranes.

Kar had lifted booty from people in the turf of British accented MISTER FUNKTASTIC (Marcus J. Pirae), a robbing street hood with a band of merry men ... and a Maid Marian named Jade (Jamie King). Funktastic did not like anyone invading his terror-tory. You couldn't mistake Funktastic. "MISTER FUNKTASTIC" was tattooed across his chest. Funktastic was not happy that Kar was taking his "property." So Funktastic and company drag Kar into their liar below the streets and 'explained' in no uncertain terms to Kar that he was not welcome. It was here Kar met the Russian Princess gone street babe, Jade. Though wealthy and prestigious, the wicked but vulnerable rebellious young Jade felt "The street is one place I can earn my own respect."

With Kar as the heir apparent for the scroll protection throne, the second monk with no name reveals Strucker has been after him for the scroll for 60 years, ever since World War II when Strucker killed everyone at the temple and tried to kill the second monk with no name. Strucker is now rich and with many aides to fight his battles. One of them was his granddaughter, Nina (Victoria Smurfit).

Now, with the characters and background established, the plot takes form and substance. But I'll not spoil any more of it for you in case you decide, after reading the listing of findings in the Finings/Scoring section of this report, that this movie is fit for your family. But I will summarize briefly the three and one half pages of logs of findings (typically two to two and one half pages) for you. The itemized findings are presented in the Findings/Scoring section of this report.

This movie is the perfect example of using hundreds of assaults on decency and morality, each with "lesser" assault, to get the same effect as, for example, an R-rated movie which uses fewer but more bold assaults. While the plot and story were indeed good and the performances supportive of the light-hearted humor and action, Bulletproof Monk is a perfect example also of the warnings in Ps. 12:8, 1 Cor. 15:33 and Jude 4 (see below) regarding needing more extremes each year to get the same cinematic "high." And such entertainment will continue as long as "enough people continue to defend it, embrace it, pay for it, enjoy it, want it."

The greatest point losses in this "R-13" was due to dozens of examples of violence [Prov. 3:31-32] and foul language. And just because a movie does not contain sexual intercourse or nudity does not make it suitable for adolescents. This comic-to-screen movie presents a woman unzipping and dropping a standing man's pants while kneeling before him speaking vulgar words about it and a man's hand below a woman's frontal beltline. Tongue kissing, vulgar moves and innuendo add to the impact on emboldening the younger viewers to trash wholesome standards [Mark 7:21]. Thirty-three uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary [Col. 3:8] and a single use of God's name in vain with the four letter expletive plus three without it [Deut. 5:11] drained the scoring appropriately.

Please read the listing in the Findings/Scoring section before you decide whether to let your adolescents (which includes at-home teens) view this film. But before you read the Findings/Scoring section, I ask that you please take the time to read 2Pet. 2:1 - 14 offered below. Paul wrote it as one of two letters "as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking."


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SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S)
If needed to focus or fortify, applicable text is underlined or bracketed [ ]. 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.

  • Col. 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
  • Prov. 3:31-32 Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways, for the LORD detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence.
  • Mark 7:21 For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, ...
  • Col. 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
  • Deut. 5:11 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain [shav' {shawv}: emptiness, nothingness, vanity]: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. [With or without the four letter expletive, the use of God's name in any way other than respect, reverence or thoughtful discussion is in vain. That includes the popular three syllable sentence with His name trailing it.]
  • (NIV) 2Pet. 2:1 - 14 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them-bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you [KJV says "make merchandise of you", such as payers of admission fees?] with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to Hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)-if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, these men [or women] are not afraid to slander celestial beings [doxa: God's majesty, things of or belonging to God; KJV says "dignities]; yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord [which is omnipresent]. But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish. They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done [see Luke 17:2]. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed-an accursed brood!

    ***Selected Scriptures of Armour against the influence of the entertainment industry***
  • Ps. 12:8 The wicked freely strut about [e.g., create progressively vile/offensive entertainment with impunity and no consequences to younger and younger audiences every year] when what is vile is honored among men [when enough people continue to defend it, embrace it, pay for it, enjoy it, want it]. [I call attention to Ps. 12:8 to warn of the creeping desensitizing power of "entertainment."]
  • Col. 2:8 Beware lest any man [by his influence] spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
  • 1 Cor. 15:33 (KJV) Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (NIV) Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.
  • Jude 4 For certain men* whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change [warp, distort, falsely represent] the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. [*men: anthropos {anth'-ro-pos}, generic, a human being, whether male or female]
  • Matt. 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto [or for] one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto [or for] me.
  • Luke 17:2 It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. [cause by teaching or example]
  • Ps. 119:133 Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.
  • John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
  • 1 Thess. 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.


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    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.

  • FINDINGS / SCORING:


    BUlletproof Monk (2003) CAP Thermometers

    Wanton Violence/Crime (W)
  • martial arts violence, repeatedly
  • dead bodies several
  • firearms to intimidate
  • graphic gunfire death
  • gunfire to kill, repeatedly, some massive
  • graphic gunshot in attempted murder, repeatedly
  • theft, repeatedly
  • assault on police officer
  • illegal flight to avoid lawful arrest
  • near death of a young girl - subway train
  • beatings, repeatedly, some rather severe
  • death threat
  • hood rule
  • threat to castrate, twice
  • death threat in song
  • knife threat, repeatedly
  • threat to do harm
  • action violence and peril, repeatedly, both defensive and offensive
  • firearm threats, repeatedly, once to face
  • great falls, two
  • impersonating a police officer
  • assaults, repeatedly, once with explosives
  • breaking and entering
  • torture victims' bodies, several, repeatedly
  • kidnapping, repeatedly
  • multiple deaths by explosion
  • torture
  • fall into electrical power lines
  • crushing death

    Impudence/Hate (I)
  • 33 uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary
  • extensive rudeness (slamming through crowds)
  • massive tattoos
  • lies
  • salve from urine
  • threat to kill granddaughter
  • "The street is one place I can earn my own respect."

    Sex/Homosexuality (S)
  • anatomical references
  • sex talk, repeatedly
  • inappropriate touch, man's hand to female posterior
  • vulgar moves
  • tongue kissing
  • sexual innuendo
  • inappropriate touch, man's hand below woman's frontal beltline
  • camera angle to force viewer on private parts
  • woman unzipping and dropping a standing man's pants while kneeling before him speaking vulgar words about it
  • vulgar gesture

    Drugs/Alcohol (D):
  • smoking
  • booze, repeatedly
  • drinking, repeatedly

    Offense to God (O)
  • one use of God's name in vain with the four letter expletive and three without
  • supernatural transference of power, twice
  • sudden aging, three times
  • "Noble path to enlightenment" and additional talk of "enlightenment"
  • mass revelry
  • supernatural sustained youth
  • sudden youth

    Murder/Suicide (M)
  • gunfire murders, some graphic, at least three




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    NOTE: While the Summary/Commentary section of these reports is precisely that -- a summary in commentary format which can be and sometimes is subjective, the actual CAP Analysis Model (the Findings/Scoring section) makes no scoring allowances for trumped-up "messages" to excuse, for manufacture of justification for, or camouflaging of ignominious content or aberrant behavior or imagery with "redeeming" programming. Disguising sinful behavior in a theme/plot does not excuse the sinful behavior of either the one who is drawing pleasure or example of behavior or thought from the sinful display or of the practitioners demonstrating the sinful behavior. We make no attempt to quantify the "artistic" or "entertainment" value of a movie -- whether a movie has any positive value or "entertainment" value is up to mom/dad. The CAP analysis model is the only known set of tools available to parents and grandparents which give *them* the control they need, bypassing the opinion-based assessment of movies by others and defeating the deceit of those who would say anything to convince their parents otherwise. The model is completely objective to His Word. Our investigation standards are founded in the teachings and expectations of Jesus Christ. If a sinful behavior is portrayed, it is called sinful whether Hollywood tries to make it otherwise. That the sinful behavior is "justified" by some manufactured conditions does not soften nor erase the price of sin. Whether there is application of fantasy "justification" or "redemption" is up to mom/dad.


    "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 more than eight 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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