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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 MAR24097 REVISED November 9, 2004  (2004), PG [PG-13*]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. More than 900 analyses for parents, grandparents, pastors, youth leaders and more. |
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(This section may be and sometimes is somewhat subjective.)
 Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database Production (US): Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios Distribution (US): Buena Vista Pictures Director(s): Brad Bird Producer(s): John Lasseter, Kori Rae, Katherine Sarafian, John Walker Written by: Brad Bird Cinematography/Camera: Janet Lucroy Music: Michael Giacchino Film Editing: Stephen Schaffer Casting: Matthew Jon Beck, Mary Hidalgo, Jen Rudin Production Design: Lou Romano Art Direction: Don Shank Viewed At: Driftwood Theater 6
Please remember that the CAP Analysis Model treats any animated behavior which can be reasonably duplicated by or subjected to a child as influential as if a live actor/actress demonstrates the behavior. As the result of a plethora of lawsuits against the modern super heroes for breaking things as they save the world, including bones -- one guy sued for being saved from suicide -- all super heroes are banished into anonymity by the government. After an introduction of several episodes of life-saving by super heroes, the writers take the viewer through a tour of lawsuits against the super heroes for causing damage and pain as they saved the world. After paying out millions in damages, the government steps in and outlaws super hero deeds. Placed under a Super Hero Protection program, all super heroes were given new identities and melded into ordinary life, squelching the super identities to become forever buried in the obscurity of routine suburban life. Taking advantage of the normalcy forced on them, Mr. Incredible, now known as Bob Parr (voice of Craig T. Nelson) and Elastigirl (voice of Holly Hunter) got married and Elastigirl then became Mrs. Incredible as Helen Parr. Jumping 15 years ahead, the super pair have three children: Violet (voice of Sarah Vowell); Dashiell 'Dash' (voice of Spencer Fox); baby Jack-Jack. Looking strangely like Kayako in "The Grudge", Violet was able to make herself invisible and could raise protective force fields. Dash was "the Flash" and could run so fast he could run on water. Jack-Jack was multi-talented. Mr. Incredible ... er ... Bob Parr is given a job with an insurance company. The sly and underhanded maneuvers of the company to cheat policy holders finally rubbed Parr's integrity the wrong way once too often. Parr started countering the deceit of the company by telling policy holders of neat loopholes available in company procedures that will enable them to get their claims. Bob was then fired for being honest. The bland and ordinary life of middle class suburban America was getting infuriating. Bob began to deceive Helen by sneaking out with Frozone, aka Lucius Best (voice of Samuel L. Jackson) to get an occasional fix of super hero world-saving. Helen started to become suspicious She believed Bob was still working for the insurance company. Bob told Helen he was bowling with Luciius and, when gone overnight, was called to special extended-stay conferences for the company. What Bob was really doing was becoming Mr. Incredible again. During Bob's late night world-saving, he was contacted by Mirage (voice of Elizabeth Peña) on the the island of Nomanisan with an offer to help rid the world of a doomsday machine that only Mr. Incredible could defeat. It was just too much for Mr. Incredible. He could not resist saving the world one more time. There is much more to the story but I do not provide this service to spoil a movie for you but rather to give you the information you need to be in a better position to make your own informed decision whether this film is fit for your family, which is the reason for the Findings/Scoring section. This Summary/Commentary provides a personal touch plus provides application of His Word to noted behaviors and imagery, but the Findings/Scoring section is the product of the unchanging objective standards of the CAP Analysis Model. I do want to share one more observation with you about another character in the story. A young super hero wannabe, Buddy Pine (voice of Jason Lee) kept pestering Mr. Incredible, who worked alone, to become Incrediboy as Mr. Incredible's super-partner and ward. Mr. Incredible rejected Buddy's attempts time after time. The rejections simmered and festered for 15 years when Buddy became Syndrome, bent on destroying Mr. Incredible. This guy was pure evil. And that is what your kids will see. All too often when young kids see such power in a character, whether fantasy or not (an influence does not have to be real to influence, regardless of context), after all the social/emotional filters and developmental barriers an image/behavior must pass through to get to the brain, by the time the image/behavior gets to the brain all that may be left is the power against authority, stripped of all noble intentions by context. Harvard educated expert child development psychologist Dr, Karen Nelson and many others agree with me that it would be unusual for even a 16 year old to be able to fully separate fantasy from reality or to be able to fully anticipate the consequences of his/her chosen behaviors: that such capabilities do not typically plateau until the early 20s. Please keep that in mind as you inspect the listing in the Findings/Scoring section. Yes, after a path littered with death and destruction the bad guy is thwarted, but a noble destination does not excuse an ignoble path. There are behavioral, moral and value implantation dangers in this film. It is, after all, rated PG. The exaggeration and unbelievability typically associated with animation are limited in this nearly "real-feeling" cartoon adventure into the world of crime-fighting and world-saving. Twenty-first century "adult" realities are thoroughly blended into the lives of the characters, giving this film an unusual feel for a cartoon. For the parent setting next to his/her child, that "feel" may not be comfortable. A reliance on much experiential maturity is obvious to even fathom some of the material in this film: a reliance on experiential maturity that, when forced upon the young observer, may cause moral confusion possibly leading to coping skill friction and decision making aberrations. Subjectively speaking, The Incredibles certainly seemed a bit dark and extreme for the target audience of toddler to preteen. With a final score of 67, this film earned a rank at the very top of the scoring range (67 to 55 out of 100) earned by PG-13 films in the comparative baseline database. The Incredibles is thus a "lite" PG-13, almost due entirely to violence. An investigation area score of 47 in Impudence/Hate did not help much. The Impudence/Hate (I) investigation area found a number of matters of influential concern including lying to one's wife, adolescent disrespect for parents [Eph. 6:2], adolescent mischief [Ps. 7:16] and arrogant defense of it and deceit [Prov. 30:20]. No uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary were noted. [Prov. 22:11] The Sexual Immorality (S) investigation area revealed sexually oriented material such as adults smacking another adult's bottom, rude gaze at private parts and dressing to maximize the [cartoon] female form and/or skin exposure. [1Ths. 4:1-5] Drugs/Alcohol (D) found only one instance of alcoholic beverage. No smoking or illegal drug abuse or abuse of prescription drugs were noted. [Eph. 5:18] Offense to God (O) found no matters of witchcraft, sorcery, wizardry, Satanism or occult, but did find a number of uses of God's name in vain but none with the four letter expletive. [Deut. 5:11] Murder/Suicide (M) noted the story murdering a number of the super heroes by labeling their files "DECEASED." And there were many attempts to murder characters, including children. These matters, however, are not completed murders and are incorporated by the Wanton Violence/Crime investigation area. HOWEVER, the Wanton Violence/Crime (W) investigation area found enough matters of violence to be equivalent to many R-rated films: many instances of gunfire to kill (even children); a graphic mugging; an attempted suicide in which the viewer watched the victim fall from a skyscraper; physical brutalization of characters; long sequences of action violence; the use of firearms to control (including children), kidnapping of a baby to extort; many combat deaths (unseen); more. The listing in the Findings/Scoring section will reveal all that was noted. [Prov. 3:31-32] 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 heart of the CAP Analysis Model)  Wanton Violence/Crime (W) Impudence/Hate (I) Sexual Immorality (S) Drugs/Alcohol (D): Offense to God (O) Murder/Suicide (M) |
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| 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 more than eight 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. |
| In the name of Jesus: Lord, Master, Teacher, Savior, God. Tom Carder President ChildCare Action Project (CAP): Christian Analysis of American Culture 100% dependent on your tax-deductible financial support |  |
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ChristianStats Counter TEST Unique. Posted 5/24/04 |
