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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 MAR2011.102  (2011), NR [13-NR*] (1hr 29.2min) 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): Blue Ridge Motion Pictures, Brandman Productions, Sony Pictures Television, TWS Productions II Distribution (US): Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) Director(s): Dick Lowry Producer(s): Tom Selleck, Michael Brandman, Steven J. Brandman, Cheryl R. Stein Written by: Tom Selleck, Michael Brandman Characters: Robert B. Parker Cinematography/Camera: David Gribble Music: Jeff Beal Film Editing: Steven Cohen Art Direction: Angela Murphy Viewed on Sony Pictures Home Entertainment DVD  I just finished crunching the numbers and now I understand why Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost is a rather sit-back, smooth and comfortable production ... with a few sharp teeth. The MPAA had not rated this film but Blockbuster™ had it labeled "YRV" which means "youth restricted-violence" -- their form of "R." However, with a final score of 65 the numbers reveal the content of this film is indeed PG-13 equivalent. A "lite" PG-13 but a PG-13 nonetheless. If it were not for all the drinking and smoking this film would have earned a final score of 81 out of 100 -- A PG-equivalent score. The film stars Tom Selleck as Jesse Stone, a recently "retired" police chief of the town of Paradise. This feature-length movie may be a little darker than the themes used by Selleck in his history as Magnum: PI but it is of the same caliber regarding content except for the defensive killing at the end of the show when Jesse shotgun kills the leading suspect of murder by drug overdose who had just broken into his home. An arrest made my Jesse months ago of 19 year old Cindy Van Aldan (Eileen April Boylan) for public intoxication turned into a close friendship between the two. Rose (Kathy Baker), one of the Paradise police officers, discovers Cindy dead in her car on the beach road about a mile from Jesse's home. The probable cause? Drug overdose, possibly suicide. This story is about Jesse finding the one responsible for Cindy's death. And all is under the awkward command of William Butler (Jeff Geddis), the new insufferable police chief who is police chief because he is the son-in-law of town councilman, Carter Hanson (Jeremy Akerman). This is a well made film that does not depend on gore or other extremes to impart the desired statements. For example, when Rose found Cindy dead in her car, we did not even see Cindy but the talents of Baker were quite adequate to impart the desired weight of the situation. Another good feature of the story is that it does not jump quickly into introducing main characters but rather gives the viewer adequate time to get to know them. A number of subplots are woven into the cinematic fabric in a nearly seamless fashion which facilitates efficient following of the story and the plot. This film is not one that will embed itself into your long-term memory like a few classic films have but you won't soon forget what you've seen. It is rather like a cup of warm cocoa on a cold night ... with a couple bad marshmallows that need to be spit out. There is one clever quip that stood out: "I'd rather regret the things I've done than the things I haven't done." Following are brief discussions of the content per individual CAP 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) - 51 out of 100 Some of the violent and/or criminal content is centered around the display and possession of firearms. One time, Jesse hits the suspected perpetrator in the face with his gun. But the strongest violence content is Jesse killing the perpetrator with a shotgun. Some gore is seen. Even though the violence might seem justified, human perception does not always and even rarely embeds the "justification" for the violence but instead embraces the violence itself. In Proverbs 16:29, among many other verses, God warns about this property of violence, of it being "catching." Man has also finally come around to embracing God's Wisdom by four professional public health agencies publishing their findings that warn that youthful viewing of violence can lead to real life violence and can lead children to viewing violence as an effective way of settling conflict. But they don't know anything more about what they are talking about than we do, right? Impudence/Hate (I) - 74 out of 100 Six times someone utters some form of profanity. [Col. 3:8, Eph. 5:4] That and the display of massive tattoos [Lev. 19:28] on a criminal are the total of the Impudence/Hate content of this film. Sexual Immorality (S) - 63 out of 100 A woman dressed in only a T-shirt is seen in Jesse's bed, ostensibly after a session of intercourse. Some explicit talk of human anatomy is heard. Prostitution and camera angle/pose to display female anatomy (clothed) are noted. These are among a couple other matters of sexual immorality. Please see the listing in the Findings section for a complete accounting of the Sexual Immorality content. [1 Thess. 4:1 - 7] Drugs/Alcohol (D) - Zero out of 100 This is where the concentration of assaults on morality and decency reside. This film is R-equivalent in drinking alcoholic beverages and smoking. There is quite a bit of drinking and smoking in this film. That makes it a rather significant risk for middle-school aged children as warned by the American College of Physicians (ACP). 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 And 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 behavior influence applies to any behavior demonstrated in and as entertainment, including good behavior. Offense to God (O) - 100 out of 100 There was nothing found regarding abuse of God's name or blasphemy, occultism, satanism, demonism, witchcraft, sorcery or anything of the kind. Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 There were no murders or suicides. There is suspicion of suicide and a defensive killing but no murders or suicides. 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) - 51 out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - 74 out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - 63 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - Zero out of 100 Offense to God (O) - 100 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 |