ChildCare Action Project:
Christian Analysis of American Culture (CAP)

Entertainment Media Analysis Report

MAR-071
Contact (1997)
PG
CAP Score: 84
CAP ID: 0.29

Thomas A. Carder
CAP President

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Contact (1997) CAP Thermometers I found Contact (1997) boring and too long -- a true waste of my evening. Also, Jodi Foster was quite uppity and up-yer-nose to righteous authority, not at all a good example for children. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) lost only a few points due to, e.g., deaths due to terrorism, some rather alarming visual presentation, and a daughter encountering her father's death. Impunity/Hate (I)(1) lost a few more than 25% of its starting 100 points due to violent arguments, explosive/defiant attitude (with reward for arrogance), and unacceptable language. Sex/Homosexuality (S) lost a few points due to implication of a condom as a lure for sex, a heterosexual couple in bed together with partial nudity, and ample cleavage. Drugs/Alcohol (D) lost points only to presentation of drinking beer. Offense to God (O)(2) lost the most points, almost half, due to several instances of lies about Christianity, distortion of traditional religion, and suggestion that science might reveal that God never really existed. Murder/Suicide (M)(3) lost no points since there were no murders noted (the deaths due to terrorism were incorporated into Wanton Violence/ Crime).

The CAP Influence Density (ID) of Contact of 0.29 was relatively mild by comparison to the other PG movies in the CAP comparative baseline database movies (0.20 to 0.76).

Additional examples of unacceptable material included:

  • three/four letter word vocabulary
  • implication of a condom as a lure for sex
  • beer as a social drink
  • presentation of a "man of the cloth" as a humanistic womanizer
  • partial nudity with a heterosexual man and woman in bed together
  • an adolescent daughter encountering the death of her father
  • defiance of righteous authority and violent argument
  • low cut v-neck dress maximizing exposure of cleavage
  • deaths due to terrorism
  • God's name in vain without the three/four letter explicatives
  • alarming visual presentation
  • expressions of distraught consciousness and desparation
  • deep philosophical anti-reality and corruption of traditional religiousness

    • Below is the table showing the scoring in each of the Investigation Areas plus the Final Score drawn from the actual CAP Report. In addition, the CAP Influence Density (ID) figure for the movie and the number of examples per hour of unacceptable material in each of the Investigation Areas is provided.

    Contact (1997) CAP Scorecard
    In accordance with the comparative baseline data of the CAP Entertainment Media Analysis Model, Contact (1997) presented no material equivalent to R-rated material but presented programming equivalent to PG-13 material in Offense to God, PG material in Impunity/Hate, and G-rated material in Wanton Violence/Crime, Sex/Homosexuality, Drugs/Alcohol, and Murder/Suicide. Thus, Contact (1997) was equivalent to 17% PG-13 material, 17% PG material, and 66% G-rated material.






    (1) As noted in CAP Special Report-001, "Investigation Area and Scoring Trend," of the six CAP Investigation Areas, Impunity/Hate was the strongest presence in all four movie classifications. It has a strong revelation about the entertainment media.

    (2) The use of the three/four letter word vocabulary without God's name is incorporated into the Impunity/Hate Investigation Area. The use of God's name with or without the three/four letter word vocabulary is incorporated into the Offense to God Investigation Area. There is no duplication. As required of the Holy Scriptures, unless God's name is used with reverence to His glory and praise, its use is considered in vain, whether literal or euphemistic.

    (3) Only portrayal of successful murder or suicide are incorporated into Murder/Suicide. Presentation of attempts to commit murder or suicide, deaths by police action, and deaths by war are incorporated into Wanton Violence/Crime.


    Please remember we believe that if even one of the six Investigation Area scores for a movie is equivalent to the CAP comparative baseline database scoring range for R, PG-13, or PG material, the entire movie should be regarded as so rated.  For example, if only Wanton Violence/Crime earns a score equivalent to R but all other Investigation Areas earn a score equivalent to G, THERE IS R-RATED MATERIAL IN THE MOVIE AND YOUR KIDS WILL SEE IT AND HEAR IT IF THEY WATCH THE MOVIE!




    Additional reviews of this movie may be located at "Movie Review Query Engine at Telerama."




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    In the name of Jesus:
    Lord, Master, Teacher, Savior, God.

    Thomas A. Carder
    President
    ChildCare Action Project: Christian Analysis of American Culture (CAP)

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