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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 MAR27029  (2007), PG-13 [Hard R-13*] (1hr 35min) 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 1100 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): Hollywood Pictures, Limbo Productions, Spyglass Entertainment, Macari/Edelstein, Sonet Film AB Distribution (US): Buena Vista Pictures, Hollywood Pictures Director(s): David S. Goyer Producer(s): Gary Barber, William S. Beasley, Roger Birnbaum, Neal Edelstein, Jonathan Glickman, Mike Macari, Peter Possne, Erin Stam Screenplay by: Mick Davis, Christine Roum Novel: "Den Osynlige" by Mats Wahl Cinematography/Camera: Gabriel Beristain Music: Marco Beltrami Film Editing: Conrad Smart Casting: Juel Bestrop, Seth Yanklewitz Production Design: Carlos Barbosa Art Direction: Michael N. Wong Viewed At: Driftwood Theater 6 Now that this analysis is nearly a week after the opening day it is not of much use to you unless you wait until a film comes out on video or are one of our overseas users who typically do not get new releases until a few weeks after thy are rleased in the US. But that this is nearly a week old bothers me greatly. Alas such are the shortcomings that must be tolerated until we can find enough funding to make this a dedicated ministry. It is already fulltime but only when I can find the time and afford it. When we can make this fulltime dedicated ministry I can assure you analysis of many films even before their opening days. Nicholas Powell (Justin Chatwin), a high school senior of 18, whose (shallow, of course) mother Diane (Marcia Gay Harden) pretends to dote over Nicholas' togetherness with her as they celebarate his near-graduation, who is about to sneak off to London for a writer's course against his mother's wishes is beaten by teen assailants and assumed dead since one of the assailants said "He ain't breathing." The lead criminal who delivers the soon fatal injruies, all because of a social insult by Nicholas, is Annie Newton (Margarita Levieva). Newton is the admiring slave teenager who looks up to older Marcus Bohem (Alex O'Loughlin) who is using her likely as a sex toy but thaqt being second to her service in his crime. Strangely enough they kill each other in the film. What a great role model for teen girls! Even Cho Seung-Hui, the shooter at Virginia Tech is claimed to have been influenced by "subject matter." When are we going to listen to the signals sent? Fortunately, Nicholas was not yet dead but in the so-called ethereal limbo between life and the afterlife. Nicholas is given a chance to bring himself back to life while, at the same time, bringing the criminal teens to justice, criminally. But Nicholas has to do it while in the ethereal world in which no one can see or hear him. If his body dies before Nicholas completes his task, Nicholas will enter the afterlife and the criminals will go free. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) This is a very violent film, not entirely in physical violence but in emotional and attitudinal violence as well. In one case Nicholas begins to place a shotgun in his mouth to commit suicide. The number of violent issues far exceed the amount of space I wish to use in this investigation area summary but will bring out a few. Knife threats by teens. Knife assaults by teens. Beatings by teens of teens. Imagery of being pushed of a tall building. Fencing of stolen goods. Firearm threats by teens. Planning to kill a child. Please look to the listing in the Findings/Scoring section for a complete listing. Some may say "Big deal" to the amount of violence in The Invisible. Well, I am going to make a "big deal" of it in view of our own findings and the findings of the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association and others made jointly regarding the viewing of violence in and as entertainment. It is inevitable that viewing violence in and as entertainment leads to viewing violence as an acceptable way of settling conflict in real life, to emotional desensitization, to real life violence and more. See Joint Statement on the Impact of Entertainment Violence on Children Congressional Public Health Summit for more information. Since this film is rated PG-13 it is, whether intentional, targeted at a large volume of the most morally vulnerable people. And, since more than half of all moviegoers are non-adult (source: Lowes Theater intermission slide), one can bet a lot of "young" will see this film and become fulfillment of prophecy of both the Joint Statement and God. [1 Cor. 15:33, Prov. 16:29, Prov. 4:14] Impudence/Hate (I) As is typical of PG-13 films of today this one contains quite a bit of foul language, most of it by teens. [Col. 3:8, 2 Tim. 2:16 - 17] In addition, one of the teens is portrayed as justified in yelling obscenities at her mother. Ever wonder from where your teen(s) get(s) a flaming attitude toward you? Though such flames are somewhat inborn [Prov. 22:15], films like these that manufacture justification for teen arrogance and rebellion fan those flames, whether justified or not. Consider the following excerpt from our analysis report for Unbreakable:
It is inevitable for many young minds to adapt the "justification" seen onscreen to fit their own circumstances. Indeed, it would be unusual for even a 16 year old to be able to fully separate fantasy from reality (yet we keeping feeding this caliber of fantasy to them) or to be able to fully anticipate the consequences of his/her actions. Such skills do not typically plateau until the early 20s. Further, Nicholas is heard saying "Sometimes I wish my mom was dead instead of my dad." [Prov. 20:20] A married couple engage in hateful argumentation. [Eph. 5:22, Eph. 5:25] Among other matters of impudence and/or hate a teen threatens to kill her father if he does not meet her demands. Sexual Immorality (S) The points of sexually immoral behavior in The Invisible are typical of modern PG-13 films: teen girls showing as much of their form and/or skin as possible; a pair of teens in a "get a room" motel bed; a teen girl atop a teen boy in bed making out; a tease of nudity; showing below navel skin which threatens to expose that which follows; a teen in a shower. [Gal. 5:19] Drugs/Alcohol (D) Nicholas' mother throws him a party with booze and celebrates with a toast. One instance of smoking is noted. Now comes another serious threat which frequents PG-13 films: teen drinking and drunkenness. This is also a "big deal" according to our own studies and a study by the American College of Physicians. And since this. too, is a "big deal" I will make a big "sermon" out of it as well. The drinking and drunkenness are of significant danger in this film suggested by the MPAA as being fit for the middle school age stratum. A study by the American College of Physicians (ACP) revealed that adolescent exposure to drinking (and smoking) in and as entertainment leads to undeniable abuse of alcohol among underage kids. 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% were under fourteen years old) only 16% were completely restricted from viewing R-rated movies. The researchers selected R-rated movies because they assumed R-rated movies typically present more drinking than movies of other classifications. This assumption is no longer true. The researchers were not aware of the matter of "R-13" proven by this ministry (see R-13 and four years later by Harvard University scientists (see Harvard Agrees With Us). The bottom line? The focus is the influence of adolescent exposure to drinking (and smoking) in and as entertainment is undeniable regardless of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) classification. Within the ACP study population, the prevalence of having tried alcohol without parental knowledge was Rather revealing of the influences of the entertainment industry wouldn't you say? And emboldening children to sin with drink in and as entertainment screams of violating Luke 17:2. Even the University of Connecticut corroborates our finding and that of the ACP. [Eph. 5:18] I can add to the ACP study that reveals films which present drinking and drunkenness contribute to underage substance abuse. I submit that it is not so much the presence of alcohol and tobacco in films that embolden youth to abuse substances, but is rather the attitude portrayed. Our report on this, ATTITUDE: In Perspective -- Investigation Area Scoring and Trend in CAP Entertainment Industry Investigations, Special Report-001 may provide more understanding of the point. Offense to God (O) God's name is used in vain both with and without the four letter expletive in this preteen and teen flick. While all of the uses of God's name in vain without the four letter expletive are by teens, the uses with the four letter expletive are by adults. I guess the sensitivity of the filmmakers is to be commended but little do they know there is no magic age at which sin is no longer sinful. [Deut. 5:11] In addition to the abuse of God's name, this film presents an unholy "resurrection" and the dead walking. Murder/Suicide (M) There are four deaths in this film for the middle school age stratum. One is murder is by beating. Two others are murder by gunfire, one of a teen by an adult and another of an adult by a teen. The fourth is suicide. [Ex 20:13] 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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 Wanton Violence/Crime (W) Impudence/Hate (I) Sexual Immorality (S) Drugs/Alcohol (D): Offense to God (O) Murder/Suicide (M) |
| 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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