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Reel World Reality 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 MAR2012.022  (2011), PG [PG*] (119.25min) 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): Paramount Pictures, Infinitum Nihil, GK Films, LLC, Dean Street Productions, Future Capital Partners, Screen Capital International Distribution (US): Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment Director(s): Martin Scorsese Producer(s): Graham King, Tim Headington, Martin Scorsese, Johnny Depp, Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Georgia Kacandes, Christi Dembrowski, Barbara DeFins, David Crockett Screenplay: John Logan Based on book The Invention of Hugo Cabaret by Brian Selznick Cinematography/Camera: Robert Richardson Music: Howard Shore Film Editing: Thelma Schoonmaker Casting: Ellen Lewis Production Design: Dante Ferrettii Art Direction: David Warren Viewed on Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment DVD I don't understand why a seasoned thespian as experienced and high wattage as Ben Kingsley who played Georges Milies, godfather of Isabelle played by Chloe Grace Moretz would get involved in such a production as Hugo and not at least be the starring role, but he did his job as part of the support cast and did it very well as usual. Asa Butterfield played Hugo Cabret and did a decent job of it but not with the panache Kingsley imparted. Hugo earned a final score of 84 which places it high in the scoring range earned by PG-rated films (68 to 86 out of 100) in the comparative baseline database. Though the film content earned a very lite R-equivalence in Wanton Violence/Crime (W) content investigation area, the content earned PG- or G-equivalence in each of the five other content investigation areas (I, S, D, O, M). The reason Wanton Violence/Crime earned such a low score was not due to the intensity or severity of any particular instance or instances of violence/crime but due to the sheer number of "lesser" instances of them (17). The most violent instances in the entire 119.25 minutes of film were the fire death of Hugo's father and the train wreck with probable deaths and much property damage. Young Hugo and his father (Jude Law), whose name is not shared with us, shared their lives without a mother and wife but were close nonetheless. Hugo's father was a fixer. Hugo developed the same knack for fixing things. One of the things the pair were working on was an abandoned automaton when Hugo's father was killed by a fire. Hugo is alone except for his drunken Uncle Claude who worked the tower clock at a Paris train station. Claude and Hugo live in the harsh and spartan apartments in the clock tower. Claude had taught Hugo to maintain the clock ... just in time. Claude died as well, ostensibly to alcohol poisoning. Now Hugo is really alone - except for the friend he found in Isabelle. Enter Ben Kingsley as Papa Georges Milies, godfather to Isabelle. Along with Georges as godparent is his wife Mama Jeanne (Helen McRory). Georges and Jeanne shared an odd connection with Hugo - a connection I will not spoil. Let me just say the automaton plays a large part in Hugo "fixing" what is wrong with Papa Georges. Following are brief discussions of the content per individual content investigation area. As always the Findings section of this report, the heart of the CAP Analysis Model, is the best source for discovering the full accounting of the content of this film. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 52 out of 100 As pointed out in the Summary/Commentary above, the score of 52 in this content investigation area (which is a very lite R-equivalent score) is due not to the severity or intensity of any particular instance or instances of violence and/or crime but is due to the sheer number of them combined - 17. Such matters include mischievous intrusion, attempted theft and petty theft by an adolescent, unwarranted brutality by authorities in dealing with the thieving adolescent, lying, a train wreck with likely deaths and much property damage and other instances of violence/crime noted in the listing in the Findings section. Granted, each of them is viewed as necessary (and may very well be necessary) to the story and plot by the filmmakers but every little straight pin buried in the couch is a risk of a stab on the glutei. To understand the impact of "tons of lesser" instances of assault on the morality and wholesome ethics of the observer versus fewer but more severe and bold instances of assault, please visit our CAP Rule of 1000 publication. To introduce the discussion in the CAP Rule of 1000 publication, it reports that tons of lesser assaults on morality can have an even more significant influence on the viewer's moral standards than fewer more bold assaults typical of more severely rated films. With that fact in mind it is possible that this film might possess more of a negative moral effect in some ways than, for example, a PG-13 or even some R-rated films. God knew what He was talking about when He warned us in Proverb 16:29 that violence can, so to speak, be "catching": that violence can lead one "into the way that is not good." To augment God's Word man has, whether intentionally and likely unknowingly, echoed God's Word by four professional public health agencies publishing findings which reveal that violence in and as entertainment can, among other things, lead the observer, especially youth, to real life violence and can lead to viewing violence as an acceptable means of settling conflict. Impudence/Hate (I) - 83 out of 100 There is no profanity in this film but other matters of impudence and/or hate are present such as lying, an act of cruelty, name-calling and some rude brutality. [Rom. 12:18] Sexual Immorality (S) - 94 out of 100 The only sexually oriented content in this film is Gustav (Sacha Baron Cohen), the train station Inspector speaking two innuendo which are not likely understandable by the typical PG crowd but are certainly repeatable by them. [Eph. 5:4] On a sidenote, Madame Olympe Maxime (Frances de la Tour) of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire fame appears in shirt takes as a matchmaker for Gustav and his love interest, Lisette (Emily Mortimer). Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 75 out of 100 This PG film presents a few instances of drinking and drunkenness plus smoking. One might think such a light level of abuse with such substances in and as entertainment to be acceptable but the America College of Physicians (ACP) think differently. 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 report 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 There is nothing to say that viewing smoking in and as entertainment does not carry the same danger of influence as viewing drinking. Actually, the same matter of behavior modification applies to any behavior demonstrated in and as entertainment, including good behavior. Offense to God (O) - 97 out of 100 Only once is God's name taken in vain. [Deut. 5:11] There is no content regarding witchcraft, Satanism, occultism or other such unholy matters. Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 There are no murders or suicides portrayed in this film. 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 --> Children who see a lot of violence are more likely to view violence as an effective way of settling conflicts. Children exposed to violence are more likely to assume the acts of violence are acceptable behavior. --> Viewing violence can lead to emotional desensitization towards violence in real life. It can decease the likelihood that one will take action on behalf of a victim when violence occurs. --> Entertainment violence feeds a perception that the world is a violent and mean place. Viewing violence increases fear of becoming a victim of violence, with a resultant increase in self-protective behavior and a mistrust of others. --> Viewing violence may lead to real life violence. Children exposed to violent programming at a young age have a higher tendency for violent and aggressive behavior later in life than children who are not so exposed. Further, God speaks darkly of violence 56 times in the Old and New Testament of the KJV.] 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 objective heart of the CAP Analysis Model, independent of and insulated from the Summary / Commentary section.)   Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 52 out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - 83 out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - 94 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 75 out of 100 Offense to God (O) - 97 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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| For G rated Films with G equivalence: G PG equivalence: PG-G PG-13 equivalence: 13-G R equivalence: R-G< | For PG rated Films with G equivalence: G-PG PG equivalence: PG PG-13 equivalence: 13-PG R equivalence: R-PG | For PG-13 rated Films with G equivalence: G-13 PG equivalence: PG(13) PG-13 equivalence: PG-13 R equivalence: R-13 | For R rated Films with G equivalence: G-R PG equivalence: PG-R PG-13 equivalence: 13-R R equivalence: R | For NR rated Films with G equivalence: G-NR PG equivalence: PG-NR PG-13 equivalence: 13-NR R equivalence: R-NR |
