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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 MAR28027  (2008), PG-13 [Hard R-13*] (1hr 12min) 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): Bad Robot, Paramount Home Entertainment Distribution (US): Paramount Home Entertainment Director(s): Matt Reeves Producer(s): J.J. Abrams, Dave Baronoff, Bryan Burk, Sherryl Clark, Guy Riedel Written by: Drew Goddard Cinematography/Camera: Michael Bonvillain Music: Stephanie Lowry Film Editing: Kevin Stitt Casting: Alyssa Weisberg Production Design: Martin Whist Art Direction: Doug J. Meerdink Viewed on Paramount Home Entertainment DVD This film analysis is sponsored by E&HP and CZ. How this film was given the stamp of approval for 13 year old kids is beyond me. Fortunately what is fit for your kids is not up to the MPAA. It is up to YOU no matter what the MPAA says. There is no law that says you must let your kids see any film. R-rated films in the comparative baseline database earned final scores of 54 out of 100 and below. Consistently. With a final score of 23 out of 100 the PG-13 Cloverfield is without a doubt a hardcore R-13. As more evidence of the hardcore R-13 caliber of this film, R-rated films in the comparative baseline database earned Influence Density scores from 0.78 to 2.04 (the higher the figure the more severe the density of assaults on morality and decency), Cloverfield earned an Influence Density of 3.14. With 40 uses of profanity (one four letter word in particular) plus 65 uses of God's name in vain, two of them with the four letter expletive plus one use of the most foul of the foul words, it is morally unfit for anyone by God's Word. One might try to excuse such profanity with the rationale that most people would probably not be particular about their choice of words used during a disaster, but there was no actual disaster in this film. The performances were merely a group of performers being told to cuss, to demonstrate the sin of profanity (and others), and getting paid for it. The plethora of profanity is not to mention the saturation of the first third or so of the film with drinking alcohol and verbal treatment of immoral sex as casual, for example, as a going-away gift. The Bottom line? Cloverfield is little more than a drinkfest and cussfest with sex dialogue and terror thrown in. Like Blair Witch Project Cloverfield is filmed with a typically avoided technique -- entirely using a hand-held camera. While such a shaky technique befits the plot, it is at times annoying. However, one property of entertainment energy that is heightened by the shaky hand-held camera style is the sense of urgency or immediacy since the action is in the trenches with the characters, not from some nice and safe observation point. In one case the camera-toting character is chomped by the beast (faulty size perspective notwithstanding) and after several seconds of bouncing and flickering imagery, the camera ends up on the ground focused on the dead man's face. How can a filmmaker create a disaster film of New York (Manhattan in this case) without some connection with 9/11? Maybe the filmmakers went too far but one scene looked like file footage of the 9/11 event. As the beast topples a great skyscraper the massive cloud of dust rolls down the streets and over the crowds engulfing the area in choking suffocation, just like the file footage of the real tragedy (which we will never forget). The film begins ... bear with me because Cloverfield does not present a nicely packaged linear story ... April 27 at 6:42 AM with Rob Hawkins (Michael Stahl-David) filming as he enters his father's apartment with a nude Beth (Odette Yustman) in the bed after the pair shared an overnight cohabitation. There is no full nudity but the sheet leaves no doubt. And, as usual, this scene could have been entirely left out and none of the story or its power would have been lost. All that such depiction does is to perpetuate and amplify the perception that shacking up and unmarried sex are acceptable. Well, they are not okay to God. If you have a problem with what I just said, take it up with the One who wrote the Rules. Soon the story jumps to a night in May, I believe the 23rd of May. Rob is leaving for Japan the next day. His friends throw a surprise going-away party, a drinking party. Rob's best friend Hudson "Hud" Platt (T. J. Miller) ends up being the cameraman through whom we see the story, making footage of forget-me-not testimonials for Rob. Rob's brother, Jason (Mike Vogel) and Jason's girlfriend, Lily (Jessica Lucas) are there to send off their good buddy. Also helping with the bash is Hud's desire, Marlena Diamond (Lizzy Caplan) plus a couple dozen acquaintances. After a few cases of brew and a few stories of sexual conquests and/or intentions the gathering is interrupted by explosions, rockets and other military ordnance ... all to greet the nasty beast which appeared bent on demolishing Manhattan and all of New York. Nothing the military was using would kill the beast so the plan was to nuke NYC (which we never see). Though rather dry and late with substance, there were some noble moments to the plot and story. Rob unselfishly rescued his previous partner from the skyscraper rubble left by the beast. In addition there were some other quality performances maybe as good as seasoned thespians. But it still isn't worth the price of rental and the fuel to get it. And it leaves the monster alive. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - Zero out of 100 There is enough violence in this film to easily be equivalent to the magnitude of violence in most R-rated films: beast attacks with gore; death resulting from possession of the victim with parasites from the beast; terror turmoil, chaos and more. Violence is contagious folks, is enticing. Whether it be by man or beast, violence leaves an indelible impression. [Prov. 16:29] Impudence/Hate (I) - Zero out of 100 Profanity is used often, about 32 times per hour. That is about once every two minutes, sometimes in rapid-fire succession. And one of the words of profanity is the most foul of the foul words though it is used only once. What a fine example of violation of God's Word! [Col. 3:8, Prov. 22:11, Prov. 8:13, 1 Cor. 15:33] If it bothers you to know that many 13 years olds talk the way they do (especially on the school bus), at least now you have a good idea why. Sexual Immorality (S) - 35 out of 100 Other than Murder/Suicide this is the only investigation area that did not find enough contempt for God's Word to earn a zero area score. However, it does contain enough assaults on sexual morality to earn an area score equivalent to most R-rated films. There is much talk of sexually immoral behavior such as cohabitation and treating immoral sex as casual, e.g., a going away gift. [Deut. 22:29, Gen. 34:7, 1Ths. 4:1-5] Drugs/Alcohol (D) - Zero out of 100 This film is a drinkfest for the first third or so. 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 the law 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 our R-13 finding four years after our finding. 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? [Eph. 5:18] 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 God's name is abused at least 65 times in the course of this 72-minute film, nearly once per minute. Two of those 65 times were with the four letter expletive, both by a military sergeant. God is rather serious about using His name in vain. [Deut. 5:11] Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 Though there were many deaths found by the Wanton Violence/Crime investigation area, there were no murders or suicides noted. 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) - 35 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - Zero out of 100 Offense to God (O) - Zero out of 100 Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 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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