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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 MAR2011.046  (20010), PG-13 [Hard R-13*] (2hr 2min) 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 1300 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.)
 Production (US): Warner Brothers Distribution (US): Warner Home Video Director(s): Clint Eastwood Producer(s): Director(s): Clint Eastwood, Kathleen Kennedy, Robert Lorenz, Steven Spielberg, Frank Marshal, Peter Morgan, Tim Moore Written by: Peter Morgan Cinematography/Camera: Tom Stern Film Editing: Joel Cox, Gary D, roach Casting: Fiona Weir Production Design: James Murakami Viewed on Warner Home Video DVD  God is rather adamant about talking to the dead. [Deut. 18:10 - 12] So why do so many folks try it and claim they can? I have not seen a more realistic cinematic portrayal of the death and destruction of a tsunami than that portrayed in Hereafter. The Atlantic Ocean flooding of New York City in The Day After Tomorrow as an ocean liner floats downtown was not as powerful. Actual file footage of real tsunami destruction I have seen is not as graphic as the filmmakers created in this film. Therein may lie the strongest element of influence of this film on the viewer. It is this sequence of tsunami horror that connects Marie (Cecile de France) with the quintessential necromancer George (Matt Damon). Marie is portrayed as having a vision of dead people as she was succumbing to the tsunami waters. Top notch broadcaster Marie was working on exposing a previous politician when, after her near death experience in the tsunami, her heart is drawn to using her notoriety to promote psychic reading and psychic sensitives even though it cost her a great job with the local France news agency. In the meantime, young Marcus (Frankie McLaren) lost his brother Jason (George McLaren) to the windshield of a car as older boys tormented him so much Jason ran into traffic. After Jason's death Marcus and Jason's mother, a drug addict, temporarily lost Marcus to foster parents as she submitted to detox. Then Marcus ends up meeting George. Marcus is relentless in getting George to do a reading for him so he can talk with his dead brother Jason. In a rather intricate and convoluted series of events, Marcus' meeting with George leads George to Marie. Because this show encourages embracement of and belief in that which God condemns I will not go into any further detail about it. It is a very well made and capturing film and story but its subject ruins the whole experience. For those whose development in God's Word is weak or absent, this film could lead them into embracing or at least lowering resistance to that which God condemns. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 48 out of 100 This film is intensely descriptive in imagery portraying the tsunami. What the tsunami is doing in the show I have no idea. The tsunami seemed a rather contrived artifice since there was no word beforehand to the population that a tsunami was on its way. Further, the death of Jason on the windshield of a car and the near drowning of Marie were indeed graphic. Additional matters of violence are itemized in the listing in the Findings/Scoring section. A Word about violence is that it is "catching." Whether it be violence against someone by someone or violence suffered by so-called natural causes, it is violence. And violence can create a sense of violence - aggression -- in the observer OR the one who embraces violence, even in and as entertainment. God warned us of this a long time ago in Prov. 16:29. About 2000 years later man, whether intentionally or even knowingly, agreed with God about the "catching" properties of violence in their finding that states, among other things, "Viewing violence may lead to real life violence." Impudence/Hate (I) - 7 out of 100 Ten times adults speaks profanity plus twice by a child. [Col. 3:8] One time a character mutters the most foul of the foul words. Not only does the bullying of four teen boys cause the traffic fatality of Jason, there are no consequences for their lethal chosen behavior. Lying seems to be as significant as getting some on your chin when you blow your nose. These matters of impudence and/or hatred indeed have their weight in terms of influencing the observer but quite possibly of the greatest concern of influencing is the comment by Marcus "I don't want to be here without you" to his dead brother. This comment, on the surface, seems to point in a veiled way to suicide (which did not happen in the movie). Projection of such demonstrations on to the minds of an observer subsequently thrown into actual or manufactured similar real life situations can have devastating consequences. As far back as one might remember, even J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers' 1964 teen tragedy song Last Kiss with "something warm runnin' in my eyes" is one of the first examples of such projection due to entertainment having decision-making consequences in the teen heart. Sexual Immorality (S) - 64 out of 100 The film is freckled with the standard PG-13 examples of sexual immorality such as cohabitation for sex, a man and a woman in bed in underwear and a woman in a bathtub with dimmed views of her genitalia through the bath water. By now, and after tons of such ignominy in and as entertainment we have become so desensitized to such immorality that we think nothing of it: We have become so numb by the narcotics of extremes in and as entertainment that what once was morally unacceptable has become morally invisible -TC. Well, God thinks something of it. [Gal. 5:19, 1 Thess, 4:1 - 5] And all the "it's the 2000s" and "everyone does it" grasps at absolving ourselves of any accountability to sexual responsibility will not change His mind about sexual immorality. Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 48 out of 100 And as is typical of "PG-13" there are bars, booze, drinking and in this case drug intoxication available for your 13 year old's viewing. Think it's just a movie? Why then did the American College of physicians find that viewing alcohol (and tobacco) use in and as entertainment is a serious risk for our youth. A 2002 study by the American College of Physicians (ACP) revealed that adolescent exposure to drinking in and as entertainment undeniably leads to abuse of alcohol among underage viewers. 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% of the youths were under fourteen years old) only 16% were completely restricted in their entertainment diets. Within the ACP study population, the prevalence of having tried alcohol without parental knowledge was That finding screams rather loudly. We would do well to listen. [Eph. 5:18] Offense to God (O) - Zero out of 100 At the introduction to the Summary/Commentary section I pointed out that God is adamant about talking with the dead. That is just about all there is to this film. But the filmmakers had to put another nail in this moral coffin by having a young boy denying Christ. If anything invokes Luke 17:2 more than that I do not know what it might be. Figuratively speaking, no one can last long treading in the sea with a millstone tied about his/her neck. Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 Fortunately there were no portrayals of murder or suicide found. 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) - 48 out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - 7 out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - 64 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 48 out of 100 Offense to God (O) - Zero out of 100 Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 |
| 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 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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