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ChildCare Action Project: Christian Analysis of American Culture (CAP Ministry) www.capalert.com/ Entertainment Media Analysis Report A service to His little ones (which includes at-home teens) through you, their parents and grandparents, in His name by His Word MAR24030 (2004), R Analysis Date CAP Final Score CAP Influence Density MinMax March 20, 2004 34 out of 100 4.95 -73

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SUMMARY / COMMENTARY: If Scriptural references appear, the full text appears at the end of the Summary / Commentary likely using a mix of KJV and NIV. (2004), R -- a slash, squash, splatter film. Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database Production (US): Strike Entertainment, New Amsterdam Entertainment Inc. Distribution (US): Universal Pictures, Universal Studios Inc. Director(s): Zack Snyder Producer(s): Marc Abraham, Armyan Bernstein, Thomas A. Bliss, Dennis E. Jones, Michael D. Messina, Eric Newman, Richard P. Rubinstein Written by/Screenplay: George A. Romero (1978 screenplay), James Gunn Cinematography/Camera: Matthew F. Leonetti Music: Tree Adams (mall music), Tyler Bates Film Editing: Niven Howie Casting: Robin D. Cook, Joseph Middleton Production Design: Andrew Neskoromny Art Direction: Arvinder Grewal Viewed At: Driftwood Theater 6 In spite of the saturation with raw gore and the language and sexual filth, there were some demonstrations of courage and character. But all was embedded in a display of rampant carnage and killing, Indiscriminately and with joy. Granted, the plot was kill or be killed but such demonstration serves more to desensitize than entertain. It will be interesting to do a comparative analysis with the 1978 version of this movie. Canadian star Sarah Polley plays Ana, a nurse at the local hospital. She and her husband, after taking a shower together with nothing left to the imagination, are interrupted in bed by their 12 or so year old daughter with most of her lower face missing and blood covering the front of her nightie. In a mad dash to take care of his daughter, dad gets his jugular ripped out and dies. Soon, he is resurrected by whatever it was that killed him and tried to bite Ana. If he had been successful, she, too, would have died from the bite and become a walking dead like he. And it doesn't get any better than that. Ana is chased by other walking dead and wrecks her car into a tree. Some scenes of mayhem and madness of Milwaukee flicker the screen then Ana wakes up to find Officer Kenneth (Ving Rhames) staring at her down the barrel of a shotgun. It seems that a sheriff (Tom Savini) had announced that shooting these things in the head was all that would kill them. As Kenneth and Ana tour the countryside to find something ... whatever ... they run into gunfire from expectant father, Andre (Mekhi Phifer) who is trying to protect his pregnant wife. Once identities ware established the group headed to Crossroads Mall for protection from the hordes of hungry zombies. Somehow insufferably rich dude Steve (Ty Burrell) got mixed in with the group as did three mall security guards led by CJ (Michael Kelly), a most arrogant take-care-of-number-one bad mouth with a gun. There is little need to go any further in summarizing the story. It is no more than a slash, squash, splatter film. Though there were some demonstrations of courage and character, they are almost invisible in the smoke of the fire of gore and impudence. The amount of gore and killing has probably not be equaled in any film I have eve seen. [Ps. 141:4] "The conclusion of the public health community, based on over 30 years of research, is that viewing entertainment violence can lead to increases in aggressive attitudes, values and behavior, particularly in children." says the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry in a Joint Statement on the Impact of Entertainment Violence on Children, Congressional Public Health Summit . "Its effects are measurable and long-lasting [ten years or more]." "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." [...motivation for some young people to carry a weapon, to be more aggressive, to 'get them before they get me.' American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Public Education, Policy Statement, November 2001.] "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." [3John 11] "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." [Prov. 10:23] And so says God [1 Cor. 15:33]. Amazing isn't it that man can actually and finally come around and agree with God? Masking such influence under noble deeds or some other form of trumped up "justification" does not negate its effects. Further, there is nothing to say that prolonged viewing of immorality, hatred, arrogance and other negative character traits will not also implant the same. Showing an evil deed with redemption often does no more than teach the observer how to do the evil deed. Most of they who love such programming in and as entertainment will defy, deny and try to ridicule any sort of proof, including God's Word, that their recreational god is morally and ethically poisoning them. [Ps. 92:6; 2Pet. 2:12] Additional material to avoid as Jesus-loving Bible-believing Christians include nudity and intercourse [1Cor. 7:2]; 51 uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary [Prov. 8:13;]; 38 uses of the most foul of the foul words [ Col. 3:8]; 8 uses of God's name in vain [Deut. 5:11]; suicide [Exod. 20:13]; firearm threats; vulgar music [Eph. 5:4]. Note that I did not stay for the rolling credits wherein it is claimed the filmmakers used some of the material from the body of the film, which means there could be additional doses of stuff. All that was noted amidst the quite high density of ignominy is listed in the Findings/Scoring section. SPECIAL NOTE: We will be reducing the volume of coverage in the Summary/Commentary section of our reports and the number of reports generated in an effort to reduce costs until full funding can be achieved. The Findings/Scoring section of each report, the heart of the analysis model, will NOT be reduced in any way. Thank you for your patience as we diligently search for funding. Anyone who wishes to volunteer to help us locate 501(c)(3) nonprofit funding and sponsors is encouraged to notify me. ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S) If needed to focus or fortify, applicable text is underlined or bracketed [ ]. 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. Ps. 141:4 Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; let me not eat of their delicacies. Prov. 10:23 A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct, but a man of understanding delights in wisdom. 3John 11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. Ps. 92:6 The senseless man does not know, fools do not understand, 2Pet. 2:12 But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish. 1Cor. 7:2 But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. Prov. 8:13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. Col. 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Deut. 5:11 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. [Vain is shav' {shawv}: emptiness, nothingness, vanity, such as an expletive. With or without the four letter expletive, the use of God's name in any way other than respect, reverence or thoughtful discussion is in vain. That includes the popular three syllable sentence with His name trailing it AND the misuse of Jesus' name.] Exod. 20:13 You shall not murder. [Suicide is murder of the self.] Eph. 5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. ***Selected Scriptures of Armour against the influence of the entertainment industry*** Ps. 12:8 The wicked freely strut about [e.g., create progressively vile/offensive entertainment with impunity and no consequences and present it to younger and younger audiences every year] when what is vile is honored among men [when enough people continue to defend it, embrace it, pay for it, enjoy it, want it, submit to it. I call attention to Ps. 12:8 to warn of the creeping desensitizing power of "entertainment."] Col. 2:8 Beware lest any man [by his influence] spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 1 Cor. 15:33 (KJV) Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (NIV) Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character. Rom. 5:19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. Jude 4 For certain men* whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change [warp, distort, falsely represent, situationally redefine, counterfeit, conditionally apply] the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. [*men: anthropos {anth'-ro-pos}, generic, a human being, whether male or female] Matt. 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto [or for] one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto [or for] me. Luke 17:2 It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. [cause by teaching or example] Ps. 119:133 Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me. John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 1 Thess. 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo 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.

FINDINGS / SCORING: Wanton Violence/Crime (W) gore, repeatedly, frequent, dense graphic pedestrian death mayhem,repeatedly flashes of gore, repeatedly shotgun to face by PD gunfire to kill, repeatedly bloody attacks, repeatedly firearm threats, repeatedly gunfire gore, repeatedly, frequent with tops/backs of heads blown off firearm to face traffic carnage, repeatedly killing for sport cannibalism murder by consumption defensive killing by incineration impalement through head action violence, repeatedly chainsaw gore Impudence/Hate (I) 51 uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary 38 uses of the most foul of the foul words vulgar/offensive song in background Sexual Immorality (S) making out in a shower shower nudity through the curtains, male and female vulgar sex comment woman in underwear intercourse with nudity additional nudity Drugs/Alcohol (D): smoking, repeatedly drinking, repeatedly Offense to God (O) one use of God's name in vain with the four letter expletive and 7 without mocking God and faith "When there is no more room in Hell, the dead will walk the Earth." Hell will never be too full. resurrection from death due to bite "walking dead" throughout Murder/Suicide (M) gunfire murder to face suicide to save others implication of suicide

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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 more than eight 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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