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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 MAR2011.092  (2010), PG-13 [R-13*] (1hr 23.8min) 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): Upper Room Multimedia Distribution (US): Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Director(s): John Ward Producer(s): Aaron Breeden, Stefan Hajek, Christopher Marcus, Jeff Pries, John Ward, Todd Zeile Written by: John Ward Cinematography/Camera: Christopher Marcus Music: Christian Lundberg Film Editing: Christopher Marcus Casting: Stephan Hajek. Maddy Curley Production Design: Tina Treglia Art Direction: Tina Treglia Viewed on Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment DVD  You'll have to pay attention. This film is not a "check your brain at the ,door" movie. Its message -- the Ten Commandments -- is simple but its delivery is intricate. Even I, one who has been studying the Bible for years, leaned a thing or two as I viewed the film. For example, one of the verses used was the eighth of the Ten Commandments: Exodus 20:15 "Thou shalt not steal." The film helps the viewer understand that "steal" is not limited to lifting something off the store shelves that does not belong to you or robbing a bank. In the film a rock legend capitalizes on the last song his son wrote before his death by performing it under his own name -- he stole his son's song. Another eye-opening use of Scripture was the third Commandment, Exodus 20:7 "Thou shalt not take the name of they Lord thy God in vain." Certainly Exodus 20:7 applies to using God's name in vain with or without the four letter expletive and even to the use of His name in the three-syllable sentence with His name trailing it, but another perspective of using His name in vain was using His name to sell drinking water by calling it "God Water: Perfect Refreshment from the One Who Invented Perfection" with "the endorsement of the biggest celebrity in the world ... a figure who will never be involved in a scandal; whose reputation is perfect." Many eyes will be opened to the meanings of the Ten Commandments by the wisdom expressed in this film. The writer eloquently expands the often minimized scope of the application of the Ten Commandments to ensure the viewer comes away with a deeper and richer understanding of them -- with a better grasp of just how far God meant them to reach. Good job, John Ward. While viewing the film I was expecting to talk about how this PG-13 film really did not deserve the PG-13 label. But I was wrong. Not only is the film PG-13 caliber, it is R-equivalent, making it a R-13. Films rated R in our comparative baseline database earned final scores of 54 and below out of 100. I Am earned a final score of 48. That this film felt to me like maybe a hard PG, the finding of R-equivalence just goes to show you the objectivity of the CAP Analysis Model. The model does not depend on the opinions of the investigator, indeed the model is shielded from investigator opinions by using prescribed investigation standards built by His Word. Note that the R-equivalence of the content of this film is not due to the severity of individual instances of assault on morality and decency as might be expected in R-rated films but rather is due to the sheer number of "lesser" examples of moral assault which drove the total envelope or magnitude of assaults to equivalency with the typical content of R-rated films. Please visit our CAP Rule of 1000 publication for more information on this technique of loading the contents of a film (whether intentional) with tons of "lesser" assaults on morality to achieve the some "feel" of a film that uses fewer but more extreme or bold examples of assaults. Many films, even bad films often have some good things to say. Indeed, I Am had many good things to say in spite of its R-equivalence. I will share a couple with you. One nugget of wisdom provided by the script was "If you want peace you have to make it [peace]." A way to view that is if you want peace with someone who has wronged you or whom you have wronged, you need to make peace with him to have peace. Another nugget of wisdom was provided by "In the end, the one thing you've always wanted was the only thing you've always had. For I am with you always." While the film presented its fair share of violent/criminal matters, the contents earning the most serious point loss were applicable to the Impudence/Hate (I), Drugs/Alcohol (D) and Offense to God (O) investigation areas. Brief discussion of the content found by each investigation area is provided below. As always, the best accounting of the content of analyzed films is provided in the itemized listing in the Findings section. Just another quick note. This film is a great example of how powerful a film can be without a single use of profanity. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 52 out of 100 The inheritance of a woman with terminal cancer was conditional upon her surviving beyond the age of 39. If she died before the age of 40 the entire inheritance of billions would all go to her brother whom she hated and would do anything to keep it from him, including hiding her death by going into cryogenic freeze, an illegal maneuver. She even extorted the doctor who could perform the freeze to ensure he did it. Other examples of violence/crime content included fraud, theft and firearm threats. Violence, in whatever form, can be "catching." So sayeth God in Proverb 16:29. He warns us that violence can lead one "into the way that is not good." Since God told us this man has plagiarized God's Word about violence by four professional public health agencies jointly reporting that But does anyone listen to these public health professionals? To God? Impudence/Hate (I) - 40 out of 100 Hatred of relatives, fraudulent affairs and deceit were the engine for this story. Lying and coaching to lie, arrogance and extortion did not help the scoring any. [Rev. 21:8, Ezek. 22:12, Isa. 13:11] Sexual Immorality (S) - 68 out of 100 While there is no nudity in the film and no one gets in bed with anyone else, there is more to sexually immoral behavior than those. Adultery, inappropriate touch and excessive cleavage were part of the sexual immorality envelope. [Gal. 5:19, Eph. 4:19] Drugs/Alcohol (D) - Zero out of 100 Drinking of whiskey and other alcoholic beverages were rather frequent. Abuse of prescription drugs was also present. Such content is a danger to adolescents who view it. In a 2002 study 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 There is nothing to say that smoking in and as entertainment does not carry the same danger of influence as drinking. Actually, the same matter of influence applies to any behavior demonstrated in and as entertainment, including good behavior. Offense to God (O) - 36 out of 100 Several script maneuvers to support the theme of the movie involved the demonstration of sin. Some of them included using God's name as a marketing gimmick, using science to replace God, using Scriptures as a weapon, seeking vengeance, adultery and others. Murder/Suicide (M) - 88 out of 100 There was one murder -- murder of the self. Suicide. One of the perpetrators of sin in the story committed suicide by prescription drug overdose. 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 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) - 40 out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - 64 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - Zero out of 100 Offense to God (O) - 36 out of 100 Murder/Suicide (M) - 88 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 |