THE GLASS HOUSE (PG-13): ChildCare Action Project (CAP) Media Analysis Report MAR21070

ChildCare Action Project (CAP): Christian Analysis of American Culture
http://www.capalert.com/

Click on CAPCon Alert
image for explanation

Entertainment Media Analysis Report
A service to our youth though you,
their parents and grandparents, in His name by His Word

MAR21070
Glass House (2001), PG-13
Analysis Date: September 15, 2001
CAP Score: 31
CAP Influence Density: 1.39

Christian Banner eXchange

ALERT: To fully understand this report you should first visit the topics suggested by the CAP Table of Contents.

For FREE text-only versions of our media analysis reports as they are calculated, open this email then click "send." If your browser does not handle this URL format properly, send us a request to add you.

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.

THE GLASS HOUSE (PG-13) -- indeed an R-13.

*The Glass House* is a very dark and disturbing movie. It even starts with a dark and disturbing movie in the movie. Ruby Baker (LeeLee Sobieski) and her pals are in a theater watching a slasher flick to set the tone for the movie. The tone is not necessarily all that for which the producers likely desired or cared. Another tone is set which seems to state today's teens are independent of any rules as long as they are away from the house and mom/dad. Let me explain. Most slasher flicks are rated R. The likelihood is high the movie in the movie was R. Ruby and likely her three friends are 16 years old. Whether an image of impudence regarding rating guidelines was intended, it is expressed. So much for government's push to keep underage kids out of age-restricted movies. I know this sounds sort of weird a stretch but many of the influences in many movies, maybe even most in some movies, are subliminal and maybe even invisible to the one watching it. But the influences are there whether we recognize them or not.

Ruby is the 16 year old daughter of David (Michael O'Keefe) and Grace Baker (Rita Wilson), who project themselves as wholesome parents, and sister to spiteful 11 year old Rhett (Trevor Morgan). David and Grace get killed in a car wreck then Erin (Diane Lane) and Terry Glass (Stellan Skarsgard), the supposedly best friends of David and Grace, are charged with the care of Ruby and Rhett. Erin is a medical doctor. Terry is the owner of a "successful" glass manufacturing company which, besides their name, gives credence to why their house is mostly glass. A glass house built by the Glasses - the Glass House? All would seem to be working out for Ruby and Rhett considering their whole world has changed. But maybe the deaths of Ruby and Rhett's parents were not as accidental as they were told. Ruby and Rhett stand to be left with $4,000,000 and the Glasses are deep in illegal debt.

Comments?

Christian Media News

Once at the Glass house, Ruby and Rhett find themselves having to share a room in the huge house. LeeLee Sobieski is convincing as the in-charge leader of the offensive campaign she launched to rescue herself and her brother from the Glass menagerie. She weaves an intricate pattern and displays conniving ingenuity to thwart the evil plans of the Glasses. Therein lies another difficult to recognize behavioral template danger. Sixteen year old kids do not typically yet possess the coping skills and other matters of experiential maturity necessary plan a dangerous reactionary offensive but execute it as well. But the 16 year old and younger kids who watch this show may be encouraged to believe they are quite capable of handling such dangers and even think they are just by watching it played out. Especially since Ruby had no adult support throughout her "war" with the evil adults. And such influences can be a serious matter since later in the show Ruby murders Terry. And she is, of course, "justified" in doing so.

A Singles
Christian Network

Ruby and Rhett escape the confines of the Glass house after the loan sharks drag Terry Glass off to kill him. Earlier, Ruby had apparently tampered with the brakes of Glass's car. This caused the bad guy driving Glass's car with Glass in it to wreck it and get killed. And, of course, the "Jason" of the Glass house was not killed, horribly injured but not killed. A police officer who had picked up the kids who were walking along a highway after escaping the Glass house, stopped to investigate the wreck. With the Baker kids in the back seat, Glass attacks the police officer and appears atop the hill a few yards in front of the police car with the kids in it. Stumbling toward the police car, Ruby starts the police car and rams Glass and kills him. Though Glass had taken the police officer's service firearm, Ruby did not know that. Instead of pulling away or going around Glass to get away from him, she kills him making it an act of murder. Thus another behavioral template and the "flavor" of the show. It is indeed a R-13.

Your One Stop

For Everything Christian

There are many additional examples of aberrant behavior templates in *The Glass House*. Though many of them are by the teen against all authority in this "teen movie" [Is. 30:1], many of the aberrant behavior templates are by adults [Luke 17:2]. Ruby, while in her underwear (another behavioral template?) [Prov. 30:12] is clearly wanted sexually by Glass, repeatedly [Luke 17:2]. There is also much illegal drug use such as forcibly injecting Ruby with them, Erin illegally using drugs she stole from her hospital, and Erin killing herself with them. And your kids will be taught well by example how to lie and how it is sometimes "acceptable" or "necessary" if they watch this show [Prov. 19:5]. You would be well advised to read the listing of findings in the Findings/Scoring section if you are contemplating letting your teens and younger kids see this show [Col. 3:20]. [Ps. 12:8]

Entirety Management Services, Inc.

Biblical based Management Consulting

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.

Is. 30:1 Woe to the rebellious [carar {saw-rar'}: stubborn, revolters] children, saith the LORD, that take counsel [adopt ways, behavior], but not of me; and that cover with a covering [mask, hide], but not of my spirit [by vain and empty reasoning], that they may add sin to sin:

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]

Prov. 30:12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.

Prov. 19:5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape [...His Judgment, not one lie nor one liar].

Col. 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

Ps. 12:8 The wicked freely strut about [e.g., create progressively extreme vulgar and vile entertainment with impunity] when what is vile is honored among men [when enough people continue to willingly embrace it].

*******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]
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:

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

Wanton Violence/Crime (W):

chase scene in a movie in the movie

threat with a knife in a movie in the movie

mutilated body in a movie in the movie

reckless driving

attempted murder by tampering with car brakes

horror flashes

graphic traffic fatalities

reckless vehicular endangerment

assaults, including of two kids by an adult

threat of murder

adult beating and kidnapping a teen girl and other beatings

car theft

graphic portrayal of a teen girl waking up with a dead woman

imprisoning two kids in a basement

kidnapping to kill

bloody dead bodies

firearm

gunfire to kill

Impudence/Hate (I)⁽¹⁾:

18 uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary

sneaking against parents' control

planning to lie to gain unearned freedom from parental control

intentionally coming home late

ignoring police control

bitterness against one who cares

arrogance against fair authority and rules

throwing away the lunch mom made after being told to not eat junk for lunch

adult sexual advances on a teen girl - several

lies to "excuse" sexual advances

marital argumentation

deceitful mentorship to steal

teen lie to cover up disobedience

cheating

suggestion to lie

adult tantrum

lie to manipulate

near wreck behind the wheel of a car due to teen argumentation

verbal badgering of a teen girl by an adult

additional lies

Sex/Homosexuality (S):

underwear straps rudely exposed

teen in underwear

swimming in underwear

dressing to maximize the female form and/or skin exposure - repeatedly

camera angle to focus viewer on private parts

lie about sex to buy favor

ghosting of female anatomy through clothing

Drugs/Alcohol (D):

drinking

smoking (by teens)

adult giving a teen prescription drugs not prescribed for the teen

drug intoxication

admission of intoxication as though it were "cool"

repeated illegal drug use

forcibly injecting a teen with drugs

illegal drug use

keeping a teen drugged

planning to kill by drug overdose

theft of drugs to facilitate crime using a teen

Offense to God (O)⁽²⁾:

two uses of God's name in vain with the four letter expletive, once by a teen

two uses of God's name in vain without the four letter expletive

Murder/Suicide (M)⁽³⁾:

suicide by lethal injection

knife murder

vehicular homicide by teen

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 applaud 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.

The ChildCare Action Project (CAP) is a nonprofit Christian ministry. We rely on public support. If you wish to contribute to the CAP, please send your donations to

ChildCare Action Project
Post Office Box 177
Granbury, TX 76048-0177

Your gifts are tax deductible in accordance with Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Tax Codes.

Please feel free to write to us.

You are welcome to
Go back to the CAP Reports Page
or
Top of the CAP Home Page
or
CAP Table of Contents

or leave me an email message or comment at

cap@capalert.com

Thank you for visiting us and may God bless you. Prayerfully, we will provide you with some of the most revealing commentary and investigative reporting you have ever read.

In the name of Jesus:
Lord, Master, Teacher, Savior, God.

ChildCare Action Project (CAP): Christian Analysis of American Culture

Copyright ChildCare Action Project (CAP)