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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 MAR27001  (2007), PG ["Lite" 13-PG*] (1hr 15min) 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): BFC Berliner Film Companie, Vanguard Films, BAF Berlin Animation Film Distribution (US): Lions Gate Films, Lionsgate Director(s): Paul J. Bolger Producer(s): Stefan Beiten, Louise Goodsill, Chad Hammes, Michael Hefferon, Ralph Kamp, Andre Sikojev, Rainer Söhnlein, Nikolaus Weil, John H. Williams, Charlie Woebcken Written by: Robert Moreland Cinematography/Camera: David Dulac Music: Paul Buckley Film Editing: Ringo Waldenburger Casting: Jack Fletcher, Ruth Lambert Art Direction: Deane Taylor Viewed At: Driftwood Theater 6 Another sign of the times. Specifically, lowering of the threshold of acceptability regarding exposure of the "unpresentable" parts, i.e., the private parts. [1Cor. 12:23 - 24] And to yet a younger audience. Frieda (voice of Sigourney Weaver), the evil stepmother n'ever looked like this in any of the other adaptations of the Cinderella story. At all times there was so much of her bosoms squeezing out that there was a constant apprehension of them falling out of her dress. This plus a sensual flair to her movements made for a clear intent of the filmmakers to sexualize this character. G-o-o-o-d children's programming! And as evil as the stepmother was in other adaptations none have been as evil as this one. Cinderella, a.k.a., Ella (voice of Sarah Michelle Gellar) is invited to the grand ball hosted by the handsome yet dense Prince Humperdink (voice of Patrick Warburton). Four invitations arrive. One for Empress of Evil Frieda. One each for her two daughters, And a fourth. For whom? It is left to logic that it is for Ella. Frieda tries her best to keep Cinderella's invitation from her but instead did as her predecessors did -- assigned an impossibly long list of tasks to complete before she may attend the ball. The story is the same with a few additions such as including many villains from other fairy tale to add to the barriers preventing Ella from finding happiness. Rick (voice Freddie Prinze, Jr.) is also new. He is the butler, cook, servant, etc, for the handsome Prince Humperdink. Rick is also secretly in love with Ella. The rest of the plot is fairly much fill-in-the-blank regarding a love triangle with the "underdogs" in love with each other, combating the hateful attempts of the powers that be to keep them apart. Part of the powers that be in this 2007 adaptation of the Cinderella story is the inclusion of much more evil magic to control and do harm to others. While the fairly godmother in the original Disney version could very well have been an angel by the things she did, this 2007 adaptation presents her as an addle-brained goofus without a wise bone in her body who by hit-n-miss deck Cinderella with the ball-worthy garb ... that smells like pumpkin. Also in this 2007 adaptation a wizard (voice of George Carlin) is able to control the balance between good and evil in all fairy tales in fantasy land. That by tipping a set of scales, the outcome of the story could be manipulated as well as the lives of the characters. That is Frieda's goal -- to control the scales and thus the "world" of fairy tales. The wizard had things well under control until one day he decided to take a vacation to Scotland, leaving his two dwarves, Munk (voice of Wallace Shawn) and Mambo (voice of Andy Dick), to run things during his absence. That was a poor choice which gave Frieda her opportunity to get what she is after. There is, of course, much more I could tell you about this film but there is little advantage of doing so since this report is so late due to financial shortages. It is already winding down at the local theater and will not be shown but one more day. However, this report is still useful for parents who wait for a film to make it do video and for overseas users who typically do not get what is released in the US for a few months. At any rate, let me get to the heart of this service -- to tell parents, grandparents, pastors, youth leaders and others about the content of the film so they might be in a better position to make an informed moral decision about its content. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) This film is rather harshly violent in some ways, particularly in the use of evil magic to control others or do harm to them. Yes, it is all fantasy, but remember folks, a bad influence does not have to be real to influence badly. One character is killed by squashing. Another is eaten. Action violence is, at times, somewhat intense. [Prov. 16:29] Impudence/Hate (I) While there wee no uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary noted, there were two uses of euphemisms of them. [Prov. 22:11] And being a "kid's show" Hollywood inserted the obligatory flatulence if only once. [Eph. 5:4] One of the most disturbing influences was the hatred of the good. When such behavior is presented to they who are already of the "it's cool to be bad"(1) age, the result of such influence can be shaping of coping skills and behavior management. And familial brutality was certainly more extreme than in the original version of the Cinderella story. [Matt. 12:25] Sexual Immorality (S) Frieda's outfit was most certainly dressing to maximize the female form. Though she was apparently wearing some sort of "leotard" fabric over her bosoms, there was no room for doubt since it was as tight and revealing as body paint. [Eph. 5:5] Drugs/Alcohol (D) No uses of any form of drugs and/or alcohol were noted in the entire 75 minutes of this film nor wee there any abuses of prescription drugs noted. Offense to God (O) Happily N'Ever After lost a full two-thirds of the starting 100 points in Offense to God due to the use of evil magic to control others and to do harm to them. Other uses of evil magic included transporting, shape-shifting and using magic to control the balance between good and evil, as if there must be a balance between them. Murder/Suicide (M) There were deaths in this film but they were incorporated into Wanton Violence/Crime. 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 (1) Karan Omidvari at St. Michael's Medical Center in Newark reveals that "impressionable adolescents" (she was speaking of teenagers) are at the age when its good to be "bad." ***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) |
| 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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