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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 MAR26076  with Comparative (2006), PG-13 [R-13*] (1hr 38min) 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 1100 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): Columbia Pictures Corporation, Ghost House Pictures, Ghost House Pictures, Mandate Pictures, Vertigo Entertainment Distribution (US): Sony Pictures Entertainment, Columbia Pictures Director(s): Takashi Shimizu Producer(s): Bill Bannerman, Doug Belgrad, Drew Crevello, Doug Davison, Joseph Drake, Shannon Gaulding, Takashige Ichise, Nathan Kahane, Michael Kirk, Roy Lee, Sam Raimi, Shintaro Shimosawa, Robert G. Tapert, Matthew Tolmach Written by: Stephen Susco, Takashi Shimizu (movie "Ju-On: The Grudge") Cinematography/Camera: Katsumi Yanagishima Music: Christopher Young Film Editing: Jeff Betancourt Casting: Nancy Nayor, Kelly Wagner Production Design: John Marcynuk, Iwao Saito Art Direction: Tomoko Kotakemori Viewed At: Driftwood Theater 6 While profanity usually is rampant in PG-13 films, I want to let you know up front that like The Grudge (2004), The Grudge 2 is "lite" in uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary. There was more profanity from the teen boy in front of me than in the entire film. In spite of the relatively low level of profanity, The Grudge 2 still earned a R-13 score. For your information, a comparative of the scoring distribution data displays for both films is provided below.  The Grudge with a final score of 43 out of 100 and The Grudge 2 with a final score of 45 out of 100? R-rated films in the comparative baseline database each earned scores of 54 and below out of 100. Need more be said? But do take a look at the Drugs/Alcohol (D) investigation area scores! And how about that Impudence/Hate (I) investigation area score for the 2004 version! All three of these investigation area scores represent G-equivalence (87 and above). But except for the Sexual Immorality (S) investigation area score for the 2004 version which is PG-13-equivalent (55 to 67 out of 100), all the other investigation area scores for both films are R-equivalent (54 and below out of 100). So, on the surface one might think "Three G-equivalent scores, one PG-13-equivalent score and eight R-equivalent scores. That is 25% G, 8% PG-13 and 67% R." Good thinking. It seems the high wattage stars of sequel films of this genre are given almost token roles. In the first The Grudge, Sarah Michelle Geller is given lead role as Karen Davis. In this The Grudge 2 Geller makes almost a cameo appearance and it kills her thespian talents since all she does for the few minutes she is onscreen is act with insane fear -- an atypical role for Geller. Geller's short part serves well the connectivity between versions but her talents are wasted. Maybe she, like Olivia Newton John did, is trying to change her image from the "gee-whiz" Scooby(tm) kid to something of different substance. Maybe I should watch a couple of the Buffy, the Vampire Slayer before making such a suggestion. In the previous The Grudge, a jealously murder of a wife, Kayako (Takako Fuji) and son Toshio (Yuya Ozeki) by the father left its imprint on a house in Tokyo, Japan. It is said that when rage murder happens in a house, the house remembers it ... and holds a grudge. The wife, Kayako had fallen in unrequited love with Dr. Peter Kirk (Bill Pullman) and shadowed him everywhere. Her notebook with all her penned thoughts of love for Kirk was found by her husband who then lost all control and killed his family, including the cat. Now, anyone who entered the house after that heinous crime was targeted by the grudge. Everyone who goes in that house dies and untimely and unholy death. Eventually. It was said that the grudge was administered by the ghost of Kayako. This version reveals why. As with many of Hollywood's concoctions involving progeny going bad, mother is to blame. With word of Karen's arrest and detainment in a hospital in Tokyo, her mother dispatches Karen's sister, Aubrey (Amber Tamblyn - The Ring) to bring Karen back to the states. In Tokyo, at the hospital Karen meets journalist Eason (Edison Chen) who has strong interests in speaking with Karen. Eason has been investigating the events associated with the most haunted house in Japan and must have first-hand information to complete his investigations. He tries to gain access to Karen through Aubrey ... until Kayako gets involved. Y'see, Eason had been in that house, too. As with most sequels, it isn't necessary to go into much detail about the story and plot since sequels often are carbon copies of the original, just more of the same. That is the case with The Grudge 2. Mildly entertaining but predictable and often confusing. Indeed, it seems the style of writing this film intended for its delivery to be confusing and hard to follow, apparently in an attempt to make this version darker and more sinister than its predecessor. Whether intentional, it succeeded. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) In terms of violence and/or crime in The Grudge 2, there was a strong presence of violence but deeply embedded in evil/unholy behaviors and atmosphere. Images of jealousy assault, breaking and entering, "forced" self injury and grotesque murder victims rounded out the violence/crime envelope in this film. [1 Thess. 5:22, Prov. 4:14] Impudence/Hate (I) The Grudge 2 earned a lower score in the Impudence/Hate (I) investigation area than its predecessor while both films presented less than five uses of profanity each [Col. 3:8] but there was much material in this version such as marital abuse, parental verbal abuse of a daughter, peer tormenting with serious consequences and adolescent snooping. [Prov. 15:17, Gal. 5:19 - 20, 2 Sam. 22:28, Isa. 13:11] Sexual Immorality (S) The 2004 version starts its story with sexual immorality between Karen and her boyfriend as they cohabitate an apartment in Tokyo. This 2006 version is likewise observant of modern sexual standards. A Tokyo teen girl and her boyfriend "get a room." And in that room before the intended deed transpires, she watches him in the shower. And the viewer watches her watch him. And him. With multiple views. This is in addition to the plethora of little snippets of sexually immoral behavior and thought which typically saturate PG-13 films such as displaying young women in showers and in underwear, dressing to maximize the human form and/or skin exposure and sexual innuendo. [Again Gal. 5:19 - 20, 1Cor. 6:18] Drugs/Alcohol (D) How about that! No booze whatsoever was noted. Indeed, the only issue noted as applicable to the Drugs/Alcohol investigation area (D)was of smoking a cigarette. Once. Offense to God (O) Here is where the CAP model found the most material causing the greatest loss of an investigation area's starting 100 points. Indeed, so much so that the resultant score in Offense to God (O) is zero. Material such as inexplicable events/sounds, unholy beings/presences, spiritism, walking dead and other evil and unholy matters. Murder/Suicide (M) Except for one, the many murders depicted in this film are done by evil and unholy presences. The one murder not done by a spook was done by a wife killing her verbally abusive husband, first by pouring boiling bacon grease on his head then hitting in the head with the skillet from which she poured the grease. But then, it was portrayed that she was under the influence of a spook. And one murder was incorporated into the Wanton Violence/Crime (W) investigation area since it was an extremely graphic death by a fall supposedly caused by Kayako. [Rom. 12:9, Ps. 97:10, Matt. 13:41, Ps. 141:4] 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 ***Selected Scriptures of Armour against the influence of the entertainment industry*** 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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 Wanton Violence/Crime (W) Impudence/Hate (I) Sexual Immorality (S) Drugs/Alcohol (D): Offense to God (O) Murder/Suicide (M) |
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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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