 Click on CAPCon Alert image for explanation |
Christian Analysis of American Culture (CAP Ministry) www.capalert.com/ 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 MAR23119  (2003), PG |
 Give your visitors access to more than 750 CAP movie analyses while your page stays open. Put the link above on your web page. FREE! Test it! Click it! |
 |
Make your tax-deductible donations to the CAP Ministry through |
 Click here to see UPDATED December 31, 2003 |
|
 |
US MAIL in US Dollars to CAP Ministry PO Box 177 Granbury, TX 76048-0177 Preferred. NO Service Charges. |
|
If either of the above two links have not worked properly for you, please try again. THANK YOU!!! |
| SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE: To subscribe to or unsubscribe from our FREE text-only versions of our Entertainment Media Analysis Reports as they are calculated, visit our Mailman. If you experience difficulty with Mailman, send us your request. Your email address will NOT be given or sold to other parties. |
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. |  |
(2003), PG -- Dr. Seuss is probably turning in his grave ...  Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database Production (US): Universal Pictures, DreamWorks SKG, Imagine Entertainment, Alphaville Films Distribution (US): Universal Pictures Director(s): Bo Welch Producer(s): Brian Grazer, Arlene Kehela, Karen Kehela, Eric McLeod, Maureen Peyrot, Aldric La'Auli Porter, Gregg Taylor Written by: Dr. Seuss Screenplay: Alec Berg, David Mandel, Jeff Schaffer Cinematography/Camera: Emmanuel Lubezki Music: David Newman, Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman Film Editing: Don Zimmerman Casting: Juel Bestrop, Jeanne McCarthy Production Design: Alex McDowell Art Direction: Alec Hammond, Sean Haworth One reviewer said The Cat in the Hat contained programing not only for the young but for the adults in the audience, implying slight vulgarity and/or crudity normally reserved for "adult" films (as if such programming makes one an adult). He was right. In one case, a writer (which I am certain was not Dr.Seuss) gave a name to a special vehicle of some sort which had an acronym that spelled a foul word. And it was clearly intentional. That is only one, a minor one by comparison. Mom, whose name is Joan (Kelly Preston) was a new real estate agent working for Mr. Hank Humberfloob (Sean Hayes), real estate giant of the town of Anville where every lawn is mowed daily, twice daily if needed. What a challenge! All houses were pink and looked like they came from the same cut-out, punch-out pattern. One afternoon, the babysitter for Joan's 12 year old son, Conrad (Spencer Breslin) and younger sister, Sally (Dakota Fanning) had to leave the house. After calling mom at work, she had to leave the real estate office to return home for her kids. Finding another babysitter, Mrs. Kwan (Amy Hill), Joan was able to return to work. Joan left specific instructions that NO ONE was to set foot in the family's spic-n-span living room because Joan must host a vital business party that evening. Conrad was a compulsive rule-breaker while Sally was a control freak. Sally had a palm pilot for her snitch list and her to-do list. She even had a to-do list item to make a to-do list for tomorrow. Mrs. Kwan seemed capable enough if it were not for her sleeping all the time. Mrs. Kwan sleeping all the time provided the perfect opportunity for the likes of Conrad. And he took full advantage of the opportunity. Then came the cat in the hat (Mike Myers). Myers is famous because of his performances in the Austin Powers movies. I have seen only two: Goldmember and The Spy Who... Both were PG-13 (rather, one was R-13 but both were vulgar. Though The Cat in the Hat is a "kids' show" I expected some performances in it to be disrespectful of wholesome ethics ... and Myers did not disappoint me. Well, actually he did disappoint me -- again -- but he did not fail to meet my expectations of him or the movie in which he stars. One scene in The Cat in the Hat has Myers wearing posterior pads to appear as bare buttocks, repeatedly. In another scene, though not by Myers but by Alec Baldwin, who played the neighbor Lawrence Quinn with less-than-noble marriage designs on Joan, displayed some sort of moronic, tongue-hanging ecstasy while twirling his finger in his naval. In another scene, Myers took a fancy to a framed picture of Joan then opened the frame to reveal an "unfolding centerfold" format to the picture then made arousal expressions and mannerisms including his previously sagging hat standing straight up. [Prov. 30:12; 1 John 2:15; 1Ths. 4:3; Gal. 5:19] Vulgar to hear these things, is it? Your kids will hear and see them if you take them to see The Cat in the Hat. I didn't write this movie, folks. I don't write movies. I just report to you on their content so you can make an informed decision whether they are fit for your family or not. [Eph. 5:4] With a final score of 68, The Cat in the Hat scored at the very bottom-of-the-barrel of the scoring range earned by PG movies in the comparative baseline database (86 to 68 out of 100), making it a "hardcore" PG. And almost all of its scoring loss is due to matters of impudence/arrogance (I) and sexually suggestive performances (S). And, of course, there is "redemption" of the youthful disobedience and wrongdoings provided in the end. As if your young ones are going to pay more attention to the "redemption" which takes about 1% of the total screen time and less attention to the 99% of screen time spent on encouraging mischief and impudence, all made to look delightful and acceptable [Isa. 5:20; Acts 13:10]. I am not going to spend a lot of time summarizing the content of this movie. The listing in the Findings/Scoring section provides all that was noted. And there is more, much more to be found in the Findings/Scoring section. If I believed it possible, I would suspect Dr. Seuss is probably turning in his grave at this vulgarization of his art. And I suspect Jesus is making notes pursuant Luke 17:2.
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. ***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) |
 |  |
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 Single Christian Network |
 |
 |  |
 |
 Kids, Teens and Home Vertical Portal |
 |
| 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. |
