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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 MAR2012.063  (2012), PG-13 [Hard R-13*] (156min) 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 Brothers, DC Entertainment, Legendary Pictures, Syncope Distribution (US): Warner Brothers Director(s): Christopher Nolan Producer(s): Kevin De La Noy, Jordan Goldberg, Benjamin Melniker, Christopher Nolan, Charles Roven, Dileep Singh Rathore, Emma Thomas, Thomas Tull, Michael E. Uslan Screenplay by: Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan Story by: Christopher Nolan, David S. Goyer Batman Characters: Bob Kane Cinematography/Camera: Wally Pfister Music: Hans Zimmer Film Editing: Lee Smith Casting: John Papsidera, Toby Whale Production Design: Nathan Crowley, Kevin Kavanaugh Viewed at Showbiz Cinema Well, folks. the numbers are crunched. With a final score of 39 The Dark Knight Rises is most certainly another R-13. Subjectively speaking it is another cinematic lesson in how many ways and how intensely violence and murder can be portrayed in movies ... a chunky soup of violence and murder. While the movie earned PG-equivalence in Sexual Immorality (S), Drugs/Alcohol (D) and Offense to God (O), it is clearly R-equivalent in Wanton Violence/Crime (W), Impudence/Hate (I) and Murder/Suicide (M). As I promised to our distribution members (our "list") following is a comparative using the Batman® trilogy by Christopher Nolan as director of each.  Note in particular the digression of final scores over the three installments: the 2005 installment earned a final score of 56 out of 100; the 2008 installment earned a final score of 46; 2012 - 39. 56 - 46 - 39. Rather revealing wouldn't you say? Rest assured the CAP analysis model has not changed. The investigation standards are the same as are the more than 30 mathematical equations. Since the CAP analysis model has not changed, consistency is assured thus confidence is high that the revelation of the digression of content is reliable. Note that our analysis report of each of these three films is on our archives. I suspect the intellectual caliber of our readers is such that I don't need to discuss all the information available in the above scoring comparative between the three installments. It is eight years after Batman (Christian Bale) takes the blame for the death of District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart). Bruce Wayne has become decrepit and reclusive hiding from the world with his lifelong butler, Alfred (Michael Caine) in the Wayne Manor. Bruce no longer has any drive and is tired ... of living without Rachel. But along comes Bane (Tom Hardy). Bane has been cast out of the League of Shadows by Ra's al Ghul (Liam Neeson). Ra's al Ghul means "demon head." Bane is bent on creating an anarchy in Gotham City. Bane is also bent on being total ruler of Gotham City. He had the inventor of a modular nuclear power plant convert it to a 4 megaton nuclear bomb as leverage to extort Gotham City into submission. New to the cast is Detective John Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Blake, a lowly foot cop (whose first name is Robin) dazzled Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman) with some quick thinking so Commissioner Gordon promoted Blake to Detective on the spot. Though Catwoman is not new to the Batman® trilogy, this time she is Selina Kyle played by Anne Hathaway. By hook and crook the Wayne Enterprises have become broke. A young lady named Miranda (Marion Cotillard) comes along and steals Bruce's heart ... for one night anyway. Miranda ends up becoming the new chairman and CEO of Wayne Enterprises -- and more -- much to Bruce's chagrin. And health. There are several subplots that connect and intertwine the new characters with the previous characters such as Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman) into a force to combat Bane and his genocidal goons. By the way, the physics portrayed in this film such as making a bomb from the modular nuclear reactor is wrong on so many levels. And, being a fission device, exploding it four miles offshore may keep Gotham City out of the blast radius but not the fallout plume. Oh, well. It's a movie. Too bad movies often teach behavior, good or bad. 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 This investigation area found enough content to drag this investigation area score down to zero out of 100. The content applicable to this investigation area is most certainly R-equivalent (54 and below out of 100). There are far too many findings of violence/crime to summarize them here. A "brief discussion" of the violence/crime content would be best described as intense and frequent killing, mostly by gunfire. Please inspect the listing in the Findings/Scoring section for a full accounting of the violence and/or crime content of this film. I am, however, going to take the space necessary to share with you God's Word about violence. Of more than 50 verses condemning violence, Proverb 16:29 best puts His admonitions in perspective with the intent of this ministry. In Proverb 16:29 God warns that violence is enticing: that it can lead one into the path that is not good. In addition to God "publishing His findings" about violence, man has plagiarized God's Word, probably without knowing it, by four professional public health agencies publishing their findings which warn that viewing 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 means of settling conflict. It would be advisable for filmmakers to start listening. However, it is policy of the CAP Ministry to let Hollywood make whatever they wish to make because God said sin would be rampant in the end times and there is nothing we can do to stop it. But as long as what Hollywood makes teaches and/or causes our youth to sin in either deed or thought, I will have something to say about it. Boldly. Unashamedly. And yes, though 'The Joker™' was not in The Dark Knight Rises nor had James Eagan Holmes seen the entire film, I believe 'The Joker™' character of the earlier Batman® films had an influence on the decision of suspect James Holmes, the accused perpetrator of the genocide on opening night at an Aurora, CO theater on July 20, 2012 who fancies himself as 'The Joker™', to shoot and kill 12 people and wound 58 others at the after-midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises. There are quite likely many other influences that fueled the perpetrator's decision to shoot such as failing the oral exam for a Ph. D. degree just days before but I doubt if any of the other influences were called 'The Joker™.' The perpetrator may have selected that particular audience simply because they were at a showing of a Batman® film and he fancies himself as 'The Joker™'. Impudence/Hate (I) - Zero out of 100 Fourteen times someone uttered profanity but fortunately none of them were the most foul of the foul words which has become typical of PG-13 films. Though none of the most foul of the foul words were uttered it is still sinful to speak profane words. [Col. 3:8. Eph. 4:29, Eph. 5:4] The profanity content of this film is not quite enough to drag down this investigation area score to zero but the other matters of impudence and/or hatred combined with the profanity were quite enough: bondage; extortion, snooping, the use of hostages as shields; kidnapping; more. Please look to the listing in the Impudence /Hate section of the Findings/Scoring section for a complete accounting of the film content applicable to this investigation area. [Rom. 12:18] Sexual Immorality (S) - 74 out of 100 Typical of PG-13 is a man and a woman in bed together nude but covered. This film is no exception. Additional matters of content applicable to this investigation area include: innuendo regarding male anatomy; innuendo regarding sexual intercourse; dressing to maximize the female form and/or skin exposure; gaping mouth kissing; posing to force the viewer on private parts. [Gal. 5:19] Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 79 out of 100 While there is no presence of possession or consumption of illegal drugs, no tobacco and no abuse of prescription drugs, there is some light presence of alcoholic beverage, drinking of it and drunkenness. However light the presence of alcohol may be, the American College of Physicians (ACP) published a 2002 study about adolescent viewing of drinking in and as entertainment. The ACP study 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 There is nothing to say that viewing smoking or possession/consumption of illegal drugs or abuse of prescription drugs in and as entertainment do not carry the same danger of influence as viewing drinking and drunkenness. Actually, the matter of behavior implantation / modification applies to any behavior demonstrated in and as entertainment, including good behavior. Offense to God (O) - 83 out of 100 God's name is abused only four times. One of them with the four letter expletive. God is quite clear about the abuse of His name: for that they who speak His name in vain and are not forgiven will not be held guiltless. [Deut. 5:11] There are no instances of Satanism, occultism, witchcraft, sorcery or any other unholy practice in the entire 156 minutes of the film. Murder/Suicide (M) - Zero out of 100 This film is rife with cold-hearted murder. At least 15 individual murders plus two sequences of mass murder. The filmmakers had the characters murder with less concern than if the murderers had just sneezed and got some on their chin. There were no 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 --> 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) - 74 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 79 out of 100 Offense to God (O) - 83 out of 100 Murder/Suicide (M) - Zero 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 |
