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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 MAR24093  (2004), PG-13 [R-13*]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. More than 900 analyses for parents, grandparents, pastors, youth leaders and more. |
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(This section may be and sometimes is somewhat subjective.)
 (2004), PG-13 [R-13*] ... yet another R-13. Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database Production (US): Ghost House Pictures, Vertigo Entertainment, Renaissance Pictures Distribution (US): Sony Pictures Entertainment, Columbia Pictures Director(s): Takashi Shimizu Producer(s): Doug Davison, Joseph Drake, Takashige Ichise, Nathan Kahane, Roy Lee, Carsten H.W. Lorenz, Sam Raimi, Shintaro Shimosawa, Robert G. Tapert Written by: Takashi Shimizu Screenplay: Stephen Susco Cinematography/Camera: Hideo Yamamoto Music: Christopher Young Film Editing: Jeff Betancourt Casting: Nancy Nayor, Kelly Wagner Viewed at: Driftwood Theater 6 The Grudge, the Americanized version of the Japanese Ju-On, is a typical haunted house horror/thriller/killer flick with unsuspecting people being victimized by unholy forces. An irate Tokyo father murdered his wife Kayako (Takako Fuji) and son Toshio (Yuya Ozeki) then killed himself. The house in which the heinous crime was committed remembered the rage and evil that swelled in it. The "living" evil rage left Kayako (that's Kayako in the poster) and Toshio undead. Together, they formed a murderous "grudge" against any new occupants of the house. The Grudge is not easy to follow since there is a period of jumping around in time to build characters and story. There may even be a time or two when a murdered character comes back to life to have a word or two with the living but the time-jumping made it difficult to discern. Don't go if you are sleepy. Maybe just don't go at all. This is yet another R-13. The beginning of the show introduced us to Dr. Peter Kirk (Bill Pullman) who, after a night with his lover, casually leaned over the railing of a high rise apartment porch to splatter himself on the concrete several stories below. Dr. Kirk was a key link with Kayako -- an adulterous link which reveals ... I cannot spoil all of it. You just might decide the content which makes this PG-13 another R-13 is acceptable. That is your call to make. We cannot and will not try to make such a call for you. We just tell you what is there so you can be in a better position to make an informed moral decision whether a film is fit for your family. We tell you what is there -- you decide. From the scene of Kirk's splattered and deformed body, we were taken states-side to meet social services student Karen Davis (Sarah Michelle Gellar). Karen reported to Tokyo for social services degree coursework and took her live-in boyfriend Doug (Jason Behr), an architecture student with her ... er ... for emotional support. Karen's first Tokyo assignment was to replace the missing Yoko. Yoko was the social services worker for Emma (Grace Zabriskie), the current resident of the house with a grudge. Emma was a victim of dementia and not able to care for herself. One day, Yoko investigated some odd sounds in the house and was never heard from again. to provide social services care for Emma. Soon, Karen disappeared as mysteriously as Yoko. Was it dementia Emma suffered? Or was it raw fear? Entered the picture was Jennifer (Clea DuVall) and Matthew Williams (William Mapother) and sister Susan Williams (KaDee Strickland). Matthew was a number-cruncher from America reporting for reassignment to the Tokyo branch of his company. Jennifer was quite unsettled with the move for some unknown reason. Matthew assured Jennifer he would pull up stakes and return to the States with or without his job if Jennifer would first give the new job a chance. But not knowing what she was right about, Jennifer was right. The strongest loss of points in The Grudge was, as would be expected, due to violence and unholy matters [Phil. 4:8] though there were only two uses of God's name in vain and then without the four letter expletive [Deut 5:11]. The Wanton Violence/Crime (W) and Offense to God (O) investigation areas each found enough abrasive programming to earn a score of zero. Very atypical of PG-13 movies, the Impudence/Hate (I) investigation area earned the next to highest score of the six investigation area scores due to only three uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary. Next in order of point loss was Murder/Suicide (M). There were at lest seven murders and one suicide. [Ex 20:13] Sexual Immorality (S) lost nearly half of its starting 100 points. As is typical of PG-13 movies, there was intercourse but it was off screen, implied by a man and a woman cohabitating and making out in bed in their underwear. [Eph. 5:5] Drugs/Alcohol (D) found what appeared to be only one instance of smoking with no illegal drugs use or possession, no prescription drug abuse and no possession or consumption of alcohol. 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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(The heart of the CAP Analysis Model)  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. |
| In the name of Jesus: Lord, Master, Teacher, Savior, God. Tom Carder President ChildCare Action Project (CAP): Christian Analysis of American Culture 100% dependent on your tax-deductible financial support |  |
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ChristianStats Counter TEST Unique. Posted 5/24/04 |
