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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 MAR2011.121  (2011), PG-13 [PG(13)*] (1hr 40.3min) 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.)
 Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database Production (US): Warner Bros. Pictures, Participant Media, Imagenation Abu Dhabi FZ, Double Feature Films, Regency Enterprises Distribution (US): Warner Brothers Entertainment Director(s): Steven Soderbergh Producer(s): Zakaria Alaoui, Chen On Chu, Gregory Jacobs, Jonathan King, Michael Polaire, Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher Written by: Scott Z. Burns Cinematography/Camera: Steven Soderbergh Music: Cliff Martinez Film Editing: Stephen Mirrione Casting: Carmen Cuba Production Design: Howard Cummings Art Direction: Abdellah Baadil, Simon Dobbin, David Lazan Viewed at Showbiz Cinema 6, Granbury TX  Unless it is because of the single use of the most foul of the foul words (which was, as usual, totally unnecessary), I do not know why the MPAA rated this film PG-13. It earned a CAP final score of 70 which places in two points into the range of scores earned by movies rated PG (86 to 68 out of 100) in the comparative baseline database. However, though the magnitude of the content of this film is a hardcore PG I would not let my kids watch it without a curse-free filter, not only because of the single use of the most foul of the foul words but because of the nine additional uses of profanity and the three uses of God's name in vain. Both the violence and language investigation areas found the content to equivalent to most R-rated films but the other four investigation areas found content to each be G-equivalent. Looking at it this way, this film is 33% R and 67% G. Too bad the human mind cannot exclude the R stuff while watching the film. Beth (Gwyneth Paltrow) has a cough. Likewise does a young man in Hong Kong, and a model in London, and a travelling businessman and more. A lot of people are coughing ... and dying. No one knows why except that the problem is a new virus. Researchers speculate the biology of a pig and a bat somehow combined and generated a new virus to which no one has any resistance. Homeland Security believes the virus to be a terrorist attack. Medical experts believe the virus is potentially a profiting scheme by drug companies. The list goes on. (I could believe a profiteering scheme - if the film were real.) In just days millions of the world's population are sick or are dead because of the virus. The Center for Disease Control and the US Government are at odds on what to do to save the world. The filmmakers use a clever technique of expanding the story as the virus progresses along its worldwide course by presenting things in day increments: Day 2, Day 3, etc. all the way to Day 135. One of the properties of this film is that it portrays that which is feasible. Contagion is not just another Armageddon film. Following are brief discussions of the content per individual CAP investigation area. As always the Findings section of this report is the best source for discovering the full accounting of the content of this film. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 4 out of 100 Violence is for the most part in the form of dead bodies and dying. Civil unrest, armed robbery, looting and rioting are present as are assault and kidnapping. While one might expect such matters with a pandemic disease, the matter of looting and civil unrest are not necessarily true. I did a white paper for a commercial nuclear power station regarding large scale evacuations and found that from our history of evacuations there is more camaraderie, volunteerism and self-sacrifice than Hollywood-style violence. If there is violence during or following a large evacuation is it more likely because Hollywood sensationalism has taught us to expect it. Entertainment violence reaches far and deep into the life of anyone who can navigate a box of popcorn. This fact is evidenced by four professional public health agencies jointly publishing their findings that reveal, among other counterproductive behavioral mechanics, viewing violence in and as entertainment, especially by youth, can lead to real life violence and can lead the viewer to believe that violence is an acceptable and effective way to settle conflict. Not only has man grown mature enough to understand the "catching" properties of violence, God warned us of it 2000 years ago in Proverb 16:29. Impudence/Hate (I) - 40 out of 100 Nine times someone spews some form of profanity. Once someone spews the most foul of the foul words. [Col. 3:8, Eph. 5:4] There is teen defiance of obvious dangers in the name of "love", teen disrespect for his father [Exod. 20:12] and other matters of impudence and/or hatred which are listed in the Findings section. Sexual Immorality (S) - 93 out of 100 The only assaults on morality and decency that apply to this investigation area are talk of immoral sex and a vulgar anatomical reference. Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 93 out of 100 There is only one instance of drinking noted in the entire 100.3 minutes of the show. Offense to God (O) - 90 out of 100 God's name is used in vain three times but each time is without the four letter expletive, not that the consequences of using His name in vain without the four letter expletive is any better than with it. [Deut. 5:11] Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 There are no murders or suicides portrayed in this film. 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) - 4 out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - 40 out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - 93 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 93 out of 100 Offense to God (O) - 90 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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| 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 |