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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 MAR2011.137  (2009), PG-13 [PG-13*] (2hr 5.75min) 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 (in part) Internet Movie Database Production (US): Warner Bros. Pictures, Spyglass Entertainment, Revelations Entertainment, Malpaso Productions, Mace Neufeld Productions Distribution (US): Warner Home Video Director(s): Clint Esstwood Producer(s): Clint Eastwood, Lori McCreary, Robert Lorenz, Mace Neufeld, Morgan Freeman, Tim Moore, Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum Screenplay: Anthony Peckham Novel: Playing the Enemy by John Carlin Cinematography/Camera: Tom Stern Music: Kyle Eastwood, MIchael Stevens Film Editing: Joel Cox, Gary D. Roach Casting: Fiona Weir Production Design: James J. Murakami Art Direction: Tom Hannam, Johnathan Hely-Hutchinson Viewed on Warner Home Video DVD  Invictus. In Latin it means undefeated, unconquered - invincible. Invictus is also the title of a poem by William Ernest Henley which ends with "I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul." These two lines of the poem form the theme of the movie: that Nelson Rolihlahal Mandela (played by Morgan Freeman) used to conquer his fears and woes during and after 27 years in the Pollsmoor Prison and later as President of South Africa. Mandela, a.k.a. Madiba by his clan name, emerged out of prison strife and hardship undefeated and unconquered - invictus. In an intricate plan of genius caliber, Mandela used rugby to unite his country after apartheid segregation and racial friction to rebuild and reposition South Africa in national stature and in world affairs. Through a special relationship with the South Africa rugby team captain, Francois Pienaar (played by Matt Damon) the two men did what no one else had been able to do. They pushed "One Team, One Nation" to unite the people. "I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul." Looking at those words from one perspective might seem to reject God and put sole reliance on the self. But in another perspective, They fit very well into the Plan of Salvation if one thinks in terms of eternity. We will each live forever. It is up to each of us where we will spend eternity. Each of us is the master of our his/her [eternal] fate and captain of his/her [eternal] soul since we hold sole authority over the choice we must each make that bears eternal consequence -- the choice of whether to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. If we do not choose, the choice is made but we still have a choice over which we are in control. I don't feel this is a "Christian" film since its focus is not on Jesus or the Gospel: that it takes more than a spoken prayer by the team seeking His Grace for a game and the players to make a film "Christian." Following are brief discussions of the content per individual content investigation area. As always the Findings section of this report is the best source for discovering the full accounting of the content of this film. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 50 out of 100 The largest contributor to total violence in this film is due to rugby violence. Additional violence was found in a view of a murder victim with his head lying in a pool of his blood, in reckless driving, a team tantrum, a medical emergency and a few other matters of the violent nature. Impudence/Hate (I) - 34 out of 100 Fourteen times someone uses some form of profanity plus three uses of the most foul of the foul words. [Col. 3:8, Eph. 4:29] Racial friction created by apartheid is a key thread of the cinematic fabric of the film. Sexual Immorality (S) - 84 out of 100 The only sexually oriented content of Invictus involved scenes that might be typical of sports activities: locker room undress; exposure to below navel skin and camera angle/pose to force the viewer on private parts. One notation was made for revealing that Francois and his girlfriend were seen in a motel/hotel room alone together, suggesting cohabitation. Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 36 out of 100 Bars, liquor stores, drinking and a lot of scenes of alcoholic beverages were indeed frequent in the latter portion of the film as the camera panned the citizenry during the World Cup game. There was not found even a mention of possession of or consumption of illegal drugs, of tobacco of any kind not any presentation of abuse of prescription drugs. Though there was no tobacco noted, that so much alcohol is depicted can be a danger for the rating audience. 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 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 Offense to God (O) - 92 out of 100 God's name was not abused even once throughout the 125.75 minutes of the show. However, there is a presentation of unholiness in the form of embracing the "power" of a war dance. Maybe the war dance was a cultural or heritage issue but that some cultures or sects of people embrace such does not make it acceptable in God's eyes. [Deut. 18:10 - 12] "The gods", i.e., polytheism is noted. And a character calling another "fool" is heard once. [Matt. 5:22] Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 While a murder victim was seen, the murder was not. Only depictions of actual murder or suicide are incorporated into this content investigation area. Deaths due to acts of war, police action of defensive killing are not, nor are dead bodies resulting from murder or suicide. These matters are incorporated into the Wanton Violence/Crime content investigation area. 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 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) - 50 out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - 34 out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - 84 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 36 out of 100 Offense to God (O) - 92 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 |
