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A service to our youth through you, their parents and grandparents, in His name by His Word MAR22105 The Four Feathers (2002), PG-13 Analysis Date: Ocotber 6, 2002 CAP Score: 73 CAP Influence Density: 0.67 MinMax: -100 |
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THE FOUR FEATHERS (PG-13) -- How much more proof ... do we need? Production: Belhaven Limited Distribution: Miramax Films, Paramount Pictures Director(s): Shekhar Kapur Producer(s): Laurie Borg, Paul Feldsher, Paul Feldsher, Julie Goldstein, Robert Jaffe, Stanley R. Jaffe, Marty Katz, Allon Reich Written by/Screenplay: A.E.W. Mason (novel), Michael Schiffer (screenplay), Hossein Amini Cinematography/Camera: Robert Richardson Music: James Horner Film Editing: Steven Rosenblum Casting: John Hubbard, Ros Hubbard Production Design: Allan Cameron Art Direction: Keith Pain  No foul language, not even God's name in vain with or without the four letter expletive. But locker room nudity and intercourse without nudity were noted. And incredibly saturated with violence. A very unusual distribution of ignominy for a PG-13. For me, The Four Feathers was boring and a Hollywood lesson in British life of the period. Little more. There certainly were attempts at depicting courage, loyalty, bravery and romance. But there was also portrayal of cowardice suspected of being disguised as true convictions of not believing in war enough to dodge it. Indeed, Lt. Harry Faversham (Heath Ledger) resigned his commission when confronted with breech-loaded, bayonet and cannonball war for the first time. Four of his friends, three fellow officers and his fiance, each gave Faversham a white feather as a gesture of condemnation of him for his cowardice. Lt. Faversham's fiance, Ethne Eustace (Kate Hudson) is the daughter of a Colonel and Lt. Faversham is the son of the General (Tim Pigott-Smith) - a marriage destined for greatness but ... Ethne found it difficult to embrace a man who has been labeled a coward. Though labeled a coward, Faversham may have been sincere in his convictions as shown by his trek as a civilian to the battlefront to rescue one of his academy friends, Lt. Jack Durrance (Wes Bentley). Brutality was severe. Much of the ingenuity of the human mind for brutality of war was displayed. Much of the coldness of battleground and warfare killing by both gunfire and impalement were graphically shown. Even the brutality of survival was shown as Faversham cut open a camel and drank its blood. There was sniper murders, warfare murders of unarmed soldiers, defensive killings of individuals and of large groups, beatings of slaves and hangings. Dead bodies were piled on a stack of dead bodies. Coupled in with the extreme violence [1 Cor. 15:33], there was also (as is to be expected?) drunkenness [Luke 1:15, Prov. 20:1, Eph. 5:18] and smoking [1 Cor. 6:19]. I will take this opportunity to share with you a couple findings by other research groups. Though the study surrounding entertainment drinking and smoking speaks to R-rated movies, the focus is on the influence of entertainment drinking and smoking, not the rating. That this movie is PG-13 amplifies the finding by increasing adolescent exposure to drinking and smoking in movies such as The Four Feathers. Adolescent exposure to drinking and smoking in entertainment leads to an undeniable increase in tobacco and alcohol abuse. The finding 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% were under 14 years old) only 16% were completely restricted from viewing R-rated movies. The report further states the prevalence of having tried smoking without parental knowledge was 35% for those with no restrictions on viewing R-rated movies, 12% for those with partial restrictions, and 2% for those with complete restrictions. The prevalence of having tried alcohol without parental knowledge was 46% for those with no restrictions, 16% for those with partial restrictions and 4% for those with complete restrictions. Rather revealing of the influences of the entertainment industry wouldn't you say? Further, the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry have agreed that violence in movies can and does beget aggression in youth. And God says so [1 Co. 15:33]. Harvard educated child developmental expert, Dr. Karen Nelson agrees with me that any behavioral expression can be shaped by observation of behavior in entertainment, good or bad. Also, the aberrant behavior or change in attitude or coping skils caused or catalyzed by the influence of entertainment may manifest as an entirely different expression than that observed. Further, professional counselor Doctor Larry Gilliam and Dr. Nelson agree with me that it would be unusual for even a 16 year old to be able to fully comprehend the consequences of his/her actions or to be able to fully separate fantasy from reality: that such capabilities do not typically plateau until the early 20s. How much more proof of the influence of such presences in and as entertainment do we need? Think of the issue this way. Did you ever get misty-eyed at anything you saw/heard in the movies? Have you ever gotten mad or happy or sad or "energized" at anything you saw and heard on the big screen -- ever? 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. *******Food for Daily Thought******* 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. |
 Wanton Violence/Crime (W): Impudence/Hate (I)(1): Sex/Homosexuality (S): Drugs/Alcohol (D): Offense to God (O)(2): Murder/Suicide (M)(3): |
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| 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 or example 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 applaud these associations for fortifying 1 Cor. 15:33. Read the rest of the story. From our nearly seven 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. |
