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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 MAR2011.026  (2010), PG [Hard G-PG*] (1hr 29min) 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.)
 Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database Production (US): DreamWorks Animation, Mad Hatter Entertainment, Mad Hatter Films, Vertigo Entertainment Distribution (US): Paramount Home Entertainment Director(s): Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders Producer(s): Bonnie Arnold, Kristine Belson, Michael A. Connolly, Doug Davison, Karen Foster, Tim Johnson, Roy Lee Writing Credits: Novel - Cressida Cowell. Screenplay - William Davies, Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders Music: John Powell Film Editing: Maryann Brandon, Darren T. Holmes Production Design: Kathy Altieri Art Direction: Pierre-Olivier Vincent Viewed on DreamWorks Home Entertainment DVD  PG for "Sequences of intense action and some scary images, and brief mild language." That is what the MPAA says about How to Train Your Dragon. We don't. With a final score of 87 out of 100, this film earned a hard G-equivalence. It is no more "scary" or "intense" than Disney's Snow White. The Wanton Violence/Crime investigation area found violence content to be equivalent to many PG-13 movies and the Impudence/Hate investigation area (which includes language) found content to be PG-equivalent. But everything else (the S, D, O and M) were indeed G-equivalent. A tabular representation of the individual investigation area scoring distribution looks like: So, I guess one could say How to Train Your Dragon is 16.6% PG-13, 16.6% PG and 66.8% G. Being the nit-picking Bible thumper I am I had no problem letting my whole family (7, 7, 11, 15, 17) watch this film. In the Viking setting of Berk, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III (voice of Jay Baruchel) has spent his entire adolescent life trying to measure up to that which Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler), his father, expects of him. Hiccup is smaller than other Viking teens. He does not have the drive they exhibit. He just isn't Viking material. At least that is what we are led to believe. Viking existence is to kill dragons. Hiccup just doesn't want to kill dragons. Partly because of his small statue, and partly because of something within him. One day, Hiccup found that "something within him." A feared Night Dragon became caught in one of Hiccup's contraptions and suffered loss of one of its flight-stabilizing fins on its tail. After defeating the automatic animosity between man and dragon, Hiccup built another contraption to replace the dragon's lost stabilizer. From then on, the dragon (whose face looked strangely like that of Stitch of Lilo and Stitch fame) and Hiccup were inseparable. Hiccup named the dragon Toothless because of its retractable teeth that do not show unless the dragon jutted them out. Now Hiccup must hide his new friendship with "the enemy" from his father and the rest of Berk. Another day when Astrid (voice of America Ferrera), a local Viking girl, and Hiccup were joy-riding on Toothless' back, they discovered the illusive nest of the dragons the Berkonians have been trying to find for 300 years. Now Hiccup has more to hide from his father and the rest of Berk. From the nest, the Vikings could eliminate all dragons from their lives. There is much, much more to the often touching and warm story of bold bravado but I won't spoil any more of it should you decide from what we reveal that the film is fit for your family or other audience. Please give a sober look-see at the listing of content findings in the Findings/Scoring section and in the brief investigation area discussions below. There just may be content in the movie that hits an "unacceptable" nerve for you. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 55 out of 100 There are a number of "intense" periods of fantasy creature violence and battles with them. The final one being the most "intense." It did seem as though the caliber of the life portrayed used violence, though it be of the 'slapstick' style of violence, to settle conflicts and differences. But, subjectively speaking as I did above, the intensity of the battles and other episodes of violence were no more serious or invasive than the dragon of Snow White trying to kill the Handsome Prince. Be that as it may, violence is violence and our Lord is not happy with it. He goes so far as to warn us of its proselytizing effect. [Prov. 16:29, 1 Cor. 15:33] And so does four American profession health agencies. Impudence/Hate (I) - 70 out of 100 "Brief mild language." I suppose the sequence of Astrid yelling euphemistic terms at Hiccup might qualify for that. The single use of the euphemism for the human posterior might also qualify. But other than those terms, I could find only one use of profanity (which our TVGuardian unit) filtered out. [Prov. 22:11] Sexual Immorality (S) - 100 out of 100 When Astrid was first seen she was portrayed as walking in a sultry manner but she was fully and modestly dressed walking in a line with male teens in The Right Stuff™ fashion. The scene was to portray Hiccup seeing her for the first time and being "twitterpated" with her, seeing her differently than others. Nothing overtly sexual about it. Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 100 out of 100 Not one instance of imbibing any form of alcoholic beverage, consumption of illegal drugs, use of tobacco or abuse of prescription drugs was found. Offense to God (O) - 96 out of 100 Part of the Norse lore is the worship of "gods." This film portrays it in a couple places. And while such worship was acceptable to the people of the time, it wasn't acceptable to God and never will be. One of the very Ten Commandments admonishes us that we shall have no other gods before Him [Ex. 20:3] That this film is fantasy does not eradicate the potential of it to mislead and confuse some. Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 There were no murders or suicides noted through the entire 89 minutes of programming. 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) - 55 out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - 70 out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - 100 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 100 out of 100 Offense to God (O) - 96 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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