A KNIGHT'S TALE (PG-13): ChildCare Action Project (CAP) Media Analysis Report MAR21034

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Entertainment Media Analysis Report
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MAR21034
A Knight's Tale (2001), (PG-13)
CAP Score: 67
CAP Influence Density: 0.60

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NOTE: If you do not want the plot, ending, or "secrets" of a movie spoiled for you, skip the Summary/Commentary. In any case, be sure to visit the Findings/Scoring section -- it is purely objective and is the heart of the CAP Entertainment Media Analysis Model applied to this movie.

SUMMARY / COMMENTARY:

If Scriptural references appear, the full text appears at the end of the Summary / Commentary likely using a mix of KJV and NIV.

A Knight's Tale (PG-13) -- While nudity itself is not a sin....

A sometimes comic and interesting mixture of 15th century pomp, affluence and poverty with modern arrogance in dance and song, including "We Will Rock You" by Queen. It does seem rather odd that all the peasantry as well as nobility of the Middle Ages would know the words to David Bowie's "Golden Years" and to other modern songs such as "The Boys are Back in Town and "Taking Care of Business" but that, I guess, is poetic license.

Note that the homosexual inference by the use of two major songs by homo/bisexual artists, "We Will Rock You" [Queen] and "Golden Years" [Bowie] is not likely accidental. At least two homosexual suggestions were presented in the movie serving as more desensitization toward God's decree that the practice of homosexuality is a sin [1Cor. 7:2; 1Cor. 6:9-10]. It does seem that media available to our teens are presenting more and more matters of homosexuality. [Rom. 16:17; Rom. 16:18]

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But then, at what better age than the preteen and early teen years ... the age of searching for sexual identity ... to get them thinking about sexuality as homosexuality. The ways of the adversary are indeed subliminal in many ways, even invisible to some. Maybe the Bible-thumpin', fire-n-brimstone preachers were right. "We Will Rock You" and "Golden Years" are quality music by talented artists which just goes to show you that being a practitioner of homosexuality has no appreciable effect on the talents and skills of the practitioner, but such practice DOES have an effect on his/her eternal soul.

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Lots of jousting violence and a LOT of full rear male nudity, once up close, v-e-r-y close. In one of the shots about 80% of the 60-foot screen was filled with glutei maximi and about 20% for the lead trio about 50 movie feet away. Some of the programming was warm and touching. And only once was some of the "warm and touching" done in bed. While Heath Ledger as Olrik of Von Lichtenstein, rather William Thatcher, son of a poor man, was indeed a powerful presence, I would give the power and continuity awards to the support cast, especially the fiery blacksmith Kate (Laura Fraser). Geoffrey Chaucer (Paul Bettany), Roland (Mark Addy) and Wat (Alan Tudyk) made Sir Olrik ... er, William, what he was.

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As the servants of a knight, the trio of William, Roland and Wat scour the country side for food and work after finding their knight dead. But that is not enough for William. Stealing the dead knight's armor, William vows to become a knight. But a man must be of noble birth to become a jouster. Alas, William's father, a man of strong character and virtue, was of poor and humble birth. However noble William's father might be, he might have found another way to provide for William rather than giving him to a nobleman to raise and to provide for William. But times were hard.

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After making his vow to become a knight and to win all honors in the jousts, William and company meet up with Geoff. Geoff walks up to the trio quite without any clothing because of his gambling habits. However, Geoff had a way with the written word and promised to forge a patent of nobility for William if he would give him food, clothing and shoes. Thus Geoff latched onto the Thatcher trio. In this exchange is where we are forced to observe the bare aspects of Bettany ... and again later when he loses all his clothes again to gambling -- as if that excuses nudity in and as entertainment. The Bible refers to nudity (nakedness) as shameful more than 40 times in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. While nudity itself is not a sin, it is a sin to display it except in heterosexual marriage.

William spies a young lady, Jocelyn (Shannyn Sossamon) in his treks through the jousting circuit and sets his sights on her. One of William's competitors, Count Adhemar (Rufus Sewell) spies her as well. And in the 'spirit of competition', Adhemar vows to "conquer and possess" her if only because William wanted her.

The plot continues in the standard Medieval routine of joust after joust after joust until William is placed in competition for world (whatever that was in Medieval times) championship. And, of course, William must do battle with the evil Count Adhemar to win the "world cup" in London. But this time, Lady Jocelyn AND William's father are watching, figuratively for William's father since he is now blind.

And that brings up a good note for this nudie flick for early teens and preteens. A fine and moving performance is given by whomever it was playing William's father when He and William meet for the first time in years. But because of William's search for his father, William's true identify is discovered by spies of the Count Adhemar. William is denounced and shackled in public stocks. But, lo and behold in the crowd is Prince Edward, heir to the throne of England. Y'see, William had done a favor for Edward in a joust with him and enabled Edward to keep his honor. So, Edward knights William and William comes back not as Sir Olrik but as Sir William. The fair damsel is won and the evil villain is defeated and all live happily ever after. A good story for a Saturday night at the movies. To bad it was, in part, a skin flick.

While in the opinion of this investigator the skin flickness of this flick made it unacceptable [Col. 3:5], the lengthy and sometimes graphic violence of the plethora of jousts might make it unacceptable to some parents and grandparents. While the "warm and touching" done in bed (no nudity) was the most invasive of the sexual programming in *A Knight's Tale*, some excessive cleavage popular of the times added to the scoring loss. And for those who hammer period accuracy in movies, just because that is the way women dressed "back then" does not excuse the sin of such display.

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If needed to focus or fortify, applicable text is underlined or bracketed [ ].

1Cor. 7:2 But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.

1Cor. 6:9-10 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

Rom. 16:17 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.

Rom. 16:18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.

Col. 3:5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

*******Food for Thought*******

1 Cor. 15:33 (KJV) Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (NIV) Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.

Jude 4 For certain men* whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. [*men: anthropos {anth'-ro-pos}, generic, a human being, whether male or female]
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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.

FINDINGS / SCORING:

NOTE: Multiple occurrences of each item described below may be likely, definitely when plural.

Wanton Violence/Crime (W):

many presentations of jousting violence

dead body

hanging body and body in a hanging cage, repeatedly

threat of rape mutilation to manipulate

sword completions

graphic impalement

Impudence/Hate (I)⁽¹⁾:

eight uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary

lies regarding identity

mercy = weakness

Sex/Homosexuality (S):

full rear male nudity, repeatedly

gay suggestions

excessive cleavage/breast exposure

sexual innuendo

sexual references to human anatomy

ghosting of female anatomy through thin clothing

woman getting in bed with a man for sex (no nudity)

gaping mouth kissing

Drugs/Alcohol (D):

none noted

Offense to God (O)⁽²⁾:

five uses of God's name in vain, all without the four letter expletive

lie to placate Bible-thumping priest - a mockery of the clergy

lies about glory to God

"May I burn in Hell" for love

Murder/Suicide (M)⁽³⁾:

none noted

NOTE: The CAP Analysis Model makes no scoring allowances for trumped-up "messages" to excuse or for manufacturing of justification for aberrant behavior or imagery, or for camouflaging such ignominy with "redeeming" programming. Disguising sinful behavior in a theme plot does not excuse the sinful behavior of either the one who is drawing pleasure from the sinful display or the practitioners demonstrating the sinful behavior. This is NOT a movie review service. It is a movie analysis service to parents and grandparents to tell them the truth about movies using the Truth.

"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 aplaud these associations for fortifying 1 Cor. 15:33. Read the rest of the story. From our five-year 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.

(1) As noted in CAP Special Report-001, "Investigation Area and Scoring Trend," of the six CAP Investigation Areas, Impudence/Hate was the strongest presence in all four movie classifications. It has a strong revelation about the entertainment media.

(2) The use of the three/four letter word vocabulary without God's name in vain is incorporated into the Impudence/Hate Investigation Area. The use of God's name with or without the four letter expletive is incorporated into the Offense to God Investigation Area. There is no duplication.

(3) Only portrayal of successful murder or suicide are incorporated into Murder/Suicide. Portrayal of attempts to commit murder or suicide and deaths by police action or war are incorporated into Wanton Violence/Crime.

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