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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 MAR2011.058  (2011), PG-13 [Strong R-13*] (1hr 41min) 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 SKG, Reliance Big Entertainment, Bay Films Distribution (US): DreamWorks II Distribution Director(s): D. J. Caruso Producer(s): Michael Bay, Chris Bender, Emily Berger, Matthew Cohan, James M. Freitag, J.C. Spink, David Valdes Written by: Alfred Gough, Miles Millar Screenplay: Marti Noxon, Jobie Hughes Novel: Pittacus Lore, James Frey Cinematography/Camera: Guillermo Navarro Music: Trevor Rabin Film Editing: Vince Filippone Casting: Deborah Aquila, Mary Tricia Wood Production Design: Tom Southwell Art Direction: Douglas Cumming, John B. Josselyn, Paul D. Kelly Viewed on touchstone/DreamWorks Home Entertainment DVD  I Am Number Four is a standard sci-fi shoot-em-up, monster show with a typical aliens-among-us-to-destroy-us theme. It is, however well done and engaging. It is very violent and contains a R-helping of profanity but is well woven into a easy-to-follow fabric of story and subplots. Each character is built adequately to serve the various subplot well. The character building uses convenience situations very well to define roles. The story begins with Number Three and his Protector being awakened by noise. (Number Three? I'll explain that later, hopefully without spoiling the story too much.) Seeing nothing, the Protector dismisses the noise and proceeds to return to bed. But as he turns to walk back to his bed an alien beast yanks him through the wall. Number Three bolts out of the hut to escape with his life. Soon, an alien captures him and kills him, too. So, the story starts with two murders. But it gets better in spite of the murderous beginning. The story moves to a beach where Daniel (Alex Pettyfer) displays his testosterone on a jet ski and joins the local crowd for drinks on the beach. Soon, one of the local girls entices Daniel into the water for ... whatever. As the pair tread water and discuss astronomy, a bright and glowing scar is burned into Daniel's right calf. As the scar burns itself into Daniel's right calf, he is invaded by a vision of Number three being killed and is given a warning by the demonic being that killed Number three. All this while underwater. By the event and its intensity, one might conclude Daniel is not from Earth. Bewildered and dazed Daniel wanders off and collapses on a distant part of the Beach. Here, as Daniel regains consciousness he is met by Henri (Timothy Olyphant) who is often thought of as Daniel's father. But instead, Henri is a warrior from their home planet of Lorien to protect Daniel. Daniel is one of six remaining survivors of the destruction of Lorien by the Mogadorians. Together the pair return to their beach bungalow to gather their things as they must now leave ... again ... since someone saw Daniel becoming scarred, scarred with his third scar. As they drive to their next destination in Paradise (Ohio), the story is told. And Daniel becomes John. John Smith. The story tells of a group of nine alien children from the planet Lorien escaping the Mogadorians by planting themselves on Earth. The Mogadorians are users. They invade and conquer to consume the resources of a conquered planet then move on to invade and conquer more as the resources dry up. The nine Lorien children were gifted with special powers to protect their people when the children grew up. Number One child was killed by the Mogadorians when Daniel was nine. That was when Daniel received the first of his three scars. Number Two child was killed and Daniel received his second scar when he was 12. Number Three was killed just last night -- at the time Number Four received his third scar. Now, with Numbers One, Two and Three dead, Daniel is next. The Mogadorians are methodical in their killing of the remaining nine Loriens. There is much more to the story but I do not want to spoil it any further. This film stands a solid chance of becoming a series or at least have a few sequels ... maybe for no other reason than the Loriens, once they fall in love it is, unlike humans, forever. And there are still six more Lorien survivors: Numbers Four through Nine. If all the profanity, the drinking/smoking and the abuses of God's name were left out, this film would have been "upper crust" PG-13 equivalent with a final score of 64 instead of the 42 it earned with all those assaults on morality and decency. If there are going to be sequels or a series of these films, I challenge the filmmakers to see if they can make as good a story but without all the profanity, abuses of God's name and drinking. Not one use of profanity, not one drink taken and not one use of God's name in vain helped the script or added one iota of cinematic power to the story. Not one. They never do. You are challenged, Mr. Caruso. Wanton Violence/Crime - Zero out of 100 The violence content of the film is rather extreme. Indeed, the violence content is clearly equivalent to the violence content of many R-rated features, particularly in strong action violence sequences, for example, battle with the aliens and their minion monster beasts. There is a lot of weaponfire to kill and stabbings and resulting deaths. There are other examples of violence but I ask that you look to the listing in the Findings/Scoring section for a full accounting of the violence content. One of the properties of viewing violence is that it is "catching." Whether the violence is "alien" or Earthly, it is "contagious" and plants aggression in the viewer. And it fosters the get-even syndrome as well. [Rom. 12:19] I did not come up with that reality. God did first in Prov 16:29. But about 2000 years later man decided to chime in on God's wisdom by reporting that "Viewing violence may lead to real life violence." Impudence/Hate (I) - Zero out of 100 There is enough profanity in this 101-minute film to be equivalent to many R-rated features. Seventeen times a teen speaks some form of profanity. Three times an adult speaks profanity. There are a few additional freckles of impudence and/or hatred in this film but the most severe content applicable to this investigation area is profanity. The additional examples can be viewed in the listing found in the Findings/Scoring section. [Col. 3:8, Eph. 4:29] Sexual Immorality (S) - 90 out of 100 The only sexually oriented content in the film are exposure to below navel skin (male) which threatens to expose that which follows and two open-mouth kissing sessions. Such kissing may be commonplace with teens today but maybe entertainment such as this may be why. And, yes, there is a difference, a very large difference between a closed-mouth kiss and an open-mouth kiss, especially when it is your daughter with a boy's tongue licking her tonsils. By any name, it is lust and it conjures desire for more that cannot be satisfied without "more." Eventually. Open-mouth kissing is another step closer to "more." [James 1:21, Mark 7:21] Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 77 out of 100 Teen drinking. It is expected of them so why not? At least that is what Hollywood apparently wants the viewer to think of "teen." Whether intentional, that is what happens when filmmakers put drinking in entertainment. The American College of Physicians (ACP) found that viewing drinking in and as entertainment indeed emboldens teens to do likewise. The 2002 study by the 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 And the influence created by the entertainment industry cannot be limited to drinking/smoking. Any chosen behavior can be influenced by viewing it in and as entertainment, good or bad. Whether the entertainment industry will admit it or whether they are held legally liable for their influence on our youth, they are morally culpable. Period. [Rom. 5:19] Offense to God (O) - 14 out of 100 Five times someone uttered God's name in vain. And He does not like that. [Deut. 5:11] Murder/Suicide (M) - 70 out of 100 A number of cinematic deaths occurred throughout the film but most of them were due to warfare or were defensive killing deaths and were incorporated into the Wanton Violence/Crime investigation area. But at least three of the deaths at the hands of the aliens were murder. 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) - Zero out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - Zero out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - 90 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 77 out of 100 Offense to God (O) - 14 out of 100 Murder/Suicide (M) - 70 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 |