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Reel World Reality 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 MAR2012.049  (2012), PG-13 [Hard R-13*] (77.3min) 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 1300 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.)
 Production (US): 20th Century Fox, Davis Entertainment Company Distribution (US): Fox Pictures Director(s): Josh Trank Producer(s): John Davis, Adam Schroeder, James Dodson Screenplay by: Max Landis Story by: Max Landis, Josh Trank Cinematography/Camera: Matthew Jensen Music: Andrea von Foerster Film Editing: Elliot Greenberg Casting: Ronna Kress Production Design: Stephen Altman Art Direction: Johnny Breedt Viewed on Fox Home Entertainment DVD During a teen drinking party a trio of boys: the abused and recluse Andrew Detmer (Leonardo DiCaprio look-alike, Dane DeHaan); the nearly level-headed Matthew Garetty (Alex Russell); politician wannabe Steve Montgomery (Michael B. Jordan), all high school seniors, stumble onto an underground object apparently of extraterrestrial origin. The object does something strange to the boys. It gives them nosebleeds ... and extraordinary telekinetic powers. As the boys experiment with their newfound powers, the powers grow stronger with use. And with the increased powers comes increased ambition ... and aggression. v The content of this film earned it a final score of 15. Films rated R in the comparative baseline database earned a range of final scores of 54 and below out of 100. This film also earned an influence density (ID) figure of 5.74. R-rated films in the comparative baseline database earned an ID range of 0.78 to 2.04 (the higher the figure the more severe the density of assaults on morality and wholesome ethics). Of the 717 PG-13 movies we have analyzed so far, 473 of them earned R-equivalent scores (were R-13). Of the 473 R-13 films four earned the same final score of 15 and seven earned final scores less than the 15 earned by this film. Only seven of 717 PG-13 films earned final scores less than Chronicles! I did not know there could be so much R in a PG-13. By slapping a "PG-13" rating on this film, which tells any 13 year old s/he is old enough to see it no matter what mom or dad says, the MPAA is clearly and indefensibly morally dead. Fortunately the MPAA does not have the authority to say what your kids may or may not watch. YOU do, mom/dad, and only you. Of particular note regarding the scoring distribution, scores earned by the content found by five of the six CAP investigation areas (W, I, S, D, O) were R-equivalent. That means the overall content is 83% R-equivalent. Following are brief discussions of the content per individual content investigation area. As always the Findings section of this report, the heart of the CAP Analysis Model, is the best source for discovering the full accounting of the content of this film. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - Zero out of 100 Most of the violence (with some related to criminal acts) in this film is portrayal of uses of telekinetic powers. While possessing such powers is certainly unholy, portrayal of acts with the powers which were not to do harm to anyone, such as stopping a baseball or sliding a parked car to a different parking slot, were incorporated into the Offense to God content investigation area. But any portrayals of use of the powers to do harm to others were incorporated into this investigation area. Because of the sheer volume of line items of content applicable to this investigation area it would be counterproductive to even try to summarize them in this space. Please inspect closely the listing in the Findings section before deciding for what age stratum, if any, this film is fit. God speaks darkly of violence more than 50 times from the Old Testament to the New Testament. Of them all, Proverb 16:29 puts the matter in perspective succinctly. In Proverb 16:29 God warns that violence is enticing: that violence can lead one "into the way that is not good." In addition man has plagiarized God's Word, quite probably without knowing it, by four public health agencies publishing their findings which warn that violence in and as entertainment can, among other things, lead the viewer, especially the young, to real life violence and can lead the viewer to believe violence is an effective way to settle conflict. Impudence/Hate (I) - Zero out of 100 Use of profanity is one of the investigation parameters of this investigation area. While the area score shown is zero out of 100, the actual score is much, much less than zero because of the intense saturation of the content with profanity -- 78 uses in the 77.3 minutes of the show, 72 of them by teens. [Col. 3:8, Eph. 4:29] To help you understand, realize the display of scores (the CAP Thermometers) uses if-then-else code delimiters that display any score less than zero as zero. By the equations used, less than zero scores would be mathematically meaningless to the final score. I suppose some teens actually do talk that way ... every other sentence containing profanity, sometimes in machine gun style. Why might you suppose some teens talk that way when entertainment such as this is poured all over them? [Rom. 5:19] No one thinks up words of profanity on their own. Kids (which includes at-home teens) have to learn them from someone (hopefully not from you, mom/dad). Entertainment such as this is quite possible the best "teaching by example tool" available. Media are very powerful influences. Since the DVD cover claims this movie is closed captioned a TVGuardian foul language filter should filter out the profanity. The TVGuardian shuts off the audio when a cuss word is spoken and an alternate word is displayed in the captioning (if used). But since there is so much profanity in this film there would be little of the script left. As with the extent of content findings revealed by the Wanton Violence/Crime investigation area listing, because of the sheer volume of line items of content applicable to this investigation area it would be counterproductive to even try to summarize them in this space. Please inspect closely the listing in the Findings section before deciding for what age stratum, if any, this film is fit. Sexual Immorality (S) - 5 out of 100 While there was no nudity found, a plethora of other sexually immoral matters were found. As with the extent of content findings revealed by the Wanton Violence/Crime and Impudence/Hate investigation areas, because of the sheer volume of line items of content applicable to this investigation area it would be counterproductive to even try to summarize them in this space. Please inspect closely the listing in the Findings section before deciding for what age stratum, if any, this film is fit. It is not God's Will that we should behave in a sexually immoral manner or embrace or desire such display and talk. [Gal. 5:19, Col. 3:5] God has given us many admonitions against sexually immoral behavior and desires. Rather than try to share all or most of them with you, let me paraphrase His Word about sexually immoral matters: any sexual contact (including sight and sound), conduct or activity outside of a monogamous heterosexual marriage is sinful. Whether we believe it or not. Whether we like it or not. Whether we care or not. And in the end there will be no arguing with, denying or changing the Truth of His Word. Drugs/Alcohol (D) - Zero out of 100 Teen possession of alcoholic beverages. Teen drinking of them. Teen drinking parties. Teen drunkenness. They are all there. Fortunately, references to or portrayal of possession of illegal drugs or consumption of them and tobacco were not found. But there is enough content of portrayal of teen irresponsibility with and abuse of alcohol that this film is as severe as many R-rated films. 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 report 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 Though use of tobacco was not found in this film there is nothing to say that viewing smoking in and as entertainment does not carry the same danger of influence as viewing drinking. Actually, the same matter of behavior implantation applies to any behavior demonstrated in and as entertainment, including good behavior. [Rom. 5:19] Offense to God (O) - Zero out of 100 As explained in the Wanton Violence/Crime investigation area discussion, portrayals of the use of unholy power which did not cause harm to others were incorporated into this investigation area. Of the 53 portrayals of telekinetic powers, 28 were incorporated into this investigation area. God's name was abused 37 times, seven times with the four letter expletive. Thirty of the abuses of His name without the four letter expletive and two with it were by teens. More "teaching by example." And that (and any other portrayals of sinful behavior by teens) invokes Luke 17:2 on the filmmakers who were party to the teens demonstrating sin. [Deut. 5:11] Murder/Suicide (M) - 87 out of 100 It might seem strange for this genre of action film but there is only one murder portrayed in the entire show - the murder of Andrew, graphically, by Matt by impalement of Andrew with a statue lance to stop Andrew from doing more harm. In fact, Andrew tried to murder his father with his telekinetic powers but Matt saved Andrew's father. Note that attempts at murder or suicide or deaths by acts of war or police action are not incorporated into this investigation area but are incorporated into the Wanton Violence/Crime investigation area. There are aggressive events by Andrew portrayed in which people probably died but do direct evidence that, for example, there were any people in a bus Andrew hurls or of the downed helicopter occupants being killed. While such "behavior" would indeed be murder of the people, not enough visible evidence was available. These acts of potentially murderous actions by Andrew were instead incorporated into the Wanton Violence/Crime investigation area. 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 --> Children who see a lot of violence are more likely to view violence as an effective way of settling conflicts. Children exposed to violence are more likely to assume the acts of violence are acceptable behavior. --> Viewing violence can lead to emotional desensitization towards violence in real life. It can decease the likelihood that one will take action on behalf of a victim when violence occurs. --> Entertainment violence feeds a perception that the world is a violent and mean place. Viewing violence increases fear of becoming a victim of violence, with a resultant increase in self-protective behavior and a mistrust of others. --> Viewing violence may lead to real life violence. Children exposed to violent programming at a young age have a higher tendency for violent and aggressive behavior later in life than children who are not so exposed. Further, God speaks darkly of violence 56 times in the Old and New Testament of the KJV.] 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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(The objective heart of the CAP Analysis Model, independent of and insulated from the Summary / Commentary section.)   Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - Zero out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - Zero out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - 5 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - Zero out of 100 Offense to God (O) - Zero out of 100 Murder/Suicide (M) - 87 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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| For G rated Films with G equivalence: G PG equivalence: PG-G PG-13 equivalence: 13-G R equivalence: R-G< | For PG rated Films with G equivalence: G-PG PG equivalence: PG PG-13 equivalence: 13-PG R equivalence: R-PG | For PG-13 rated Films with G equivalence: G-13 PG equivalence: PG(13) PG-13 equivalence: PG-13 R equivalence: R-13 | For R rated Films with G equivalence: G-R PG equivalence: PG-R PG-13 equivalence: 13-R R equivalence: R | For NR rated Films with G equivalence: G-NR PG equivalence: PG-NR PG-13 equivalence: 13-NR R equivalence: R-NR |
