FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGA (R): ChildCare Action Project (CAP) Media Analysis Report MAR21052

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Entertainment Media Analysis Report
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MAR21052
Fear and Loahting in Las Vegas (1998), R
CAP Score: 17
CAP Influence Density: 8.74

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NOTE: If you do not want the plot, ending, or "secrets" of a movie spoiled for you, skip the Summary/Commentary. In any case, be sure to visit the Findings/Scoring section -- it is purely objective and is the heart of the CAP Entertainment Media Analysis Model applied to this movie.

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.

FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS (R) -- less than anything approaching entertaining.

Based on a book with the same title, this collection of alcoholism and drug inducted hallucinations and stupor [Eph. 5:18] is less than anything approaching entertaining. This analysis was conducted as a special request analysis for a father in the UK concerned about his 13 year old daughter and her viewing habits. If she has been watching this, he should be concerned. Deeply.

Raoul Duke (Johnny Depp), a journalist and Dr. Gonzo (Benicio Del Toro), Duke's attorney both journey to Las Vegas to cover a $50,000 Mint 400 desert motorcycle race and a convention of district attorneys. That is the only plot to the show. Nothing more. I found no humor in it whatsoever. There was nothing of any value in this 112 minute strip of selluloid.

Other notables in this movie include Gary Busey who plays a homosexual cop, and Christina Ricci who plays an adolescent artist and willing victim of sexual abuse trying to make her mark in life in Las Vegas. Cameron Diaz appeared as "victim" of Gonzo, dressed in motorcyclist gear, in an elevator who is a TV reporter enamored by motorcyclists. Ellen Barkin played a waitress victimized and terrorized by Gonzo. Barkin was probably the most realistic performer in the whole show. Others included Harry Dean Stanton, Mark Harmon and Tobey Maguire.

If one were to take all the pages of the Bible which present any guidance on personal behavior and tape them to a large wall then throw a couple hundred darts at them, it is likely each dart would point to a Chapter/Verse which has applicability to the behaviors in this movie. Except murder and suicide. There were no murders or suicide noted in it. Foul and vulgar language thundered at about 72 per hour, more than once per minute with God's name in vain at an identical rate, mostly with the four letter expletive. Use of the most foul of the foul words outnumbered the use of the rest of the three/four letter word vocabulary nearly four to one. Illegal drugs formed the quintessential presence in this movie with more than 88 examples per hour of illegal drug possession or use, consumption of them, offering of them or coercion with them, or intoxication with and hallucinations from them. All with little to no consequences, of course.

I am not going to summarize the listing in the Findings/Scoring section this time. To summarize would be much too incomplete. Please see Full Report below for a full accounting of the findings and scoring.

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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.

Eph. 5:18 "Do not get drunk [methusko {meth-oos'-ko}: to get drunk, become intoxicated] on wine, which leads to debauchery [excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures; intemperance; subversion of integrity, honesty, honor]. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." [Do not become intoxicated is the point, whether it be with booze or illegal drugs. In Gal. 5:21 God equates the behavior typically associated with intoxication with "envyings, murders, revellings, and such like" and warns that such [unforgiven] behavior will not pass the gates of Heaven.]

*******Food for Thought*******

1 Cor. 15:33 (KJV) Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (NIV) Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.

Jude 4 For certain men* whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change 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]

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As always, it is best to refer to the Findings/Scoring section below -- the heart of the CAP analysis model -- for the most complete assessment possible of this movie.

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FINDINGS / SCORING:

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) CAP Thermometers

NOTE: Multiple occurrences of each item described below may be likely, definitely when plural.

Wanton Violence/Crime (W):

imagery of historical unrest

talk of committing murder then concealing it

reckless driving including to avoid lawful arrest

graphic traffic fatality

planning murder

firearms and threats with them

story of sex murder with graphic gore

gambling

auto gunfire

threat to burn home down

knife threats

threats to kill

illegal flight to avoid prosecution

recreational gunfire

animated aggression

talk of cannibalism

accosting of a woman

beating

terrorizing a waitress with a lethal weapon

reckless vehicular endangerment

Impudence/Hate (I)⁽¹⁾:

27 uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary

102 uses of the most foul of the foul words

flatulence

lies

vulgar gesture

long sequences of insane behavior

Sex/Homosexuality (S):

public necking

centerfold nudity, repeatedly

sexual innuendo and comments

revealing dress

claim of bestiality

vulgar sex talk

adults in underwear

female nudity

homosexual request with claim of homosexual rape

homosexual suggestions

child sex abuse

planning sexual crime with a minor

sexual stories

inappropriate touch

Drugs/Alcohol (D):

comments/talk of illegal drug consumption

assorted illegal drugs and paraphernalia, repeatedly

booze

consumption of illegal drugs, many

smoking (cigarettes), many - a nearly constant presence

smoking illegal drugs

drug induced intoxication/hallucinations/stupor, many - a nearly constant presence

offering of illegal drugs and suggestions to consume, repeatedly

drinking

drunkenness by alcohol

sniffing/snorting intoxicants, repeatedly

Offense to God (O)⁽²⁾:

44 uses of God's name in vain with the four letter expletive plus 91 uses without

mockery of faith, repeatedly

demon imagery

insult of God

Murder/Suicide (M)⁽³⁾:

none noted

NOTE: The CAP Analysis Model makes no scoring allowances for trumped-up "messages" to excuse or for manufacturing of justification for aberrant behavior or imagery, or for camouflaging such ignominy with "redeeming" programming. Disguising sinful behavior in a theme plot does not excuse the sinful behavior of either the one who is drawing pleasure from the sinful display or the practitioners demonstrating the sinful behavior. This is NOT a movie review service. It is a movie analysis service to parents and grandparents to tell them the truth about movies using the Truth.

"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 aplaud these associations for fortifying 1 Cor. 15:33. Read the rest of the story. From our five-year 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.

(1) As noted in CAP Special Report-001, "Investigation Area and Scoring Trend," of the six CAP Investigation Areas, Impudence/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 in vain is incorporated into the Impudence/Hate Investigation Area. The use of God's name with or without the four letter expletive is incorporated into the Offense to God Investigation Area. There is no duplication.

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

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