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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 MAR2011.064  (2010), PG [Lite 13-PG*] (1hr 34min) 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): Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies, Blinding Edge Picture, The Kennedy/Marshall Company Distribution (US): Paramount Home Entertainment Director(s): M. Night Shyamalan Producer(s): M. Night Shyamalan, Sam Mercer, Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy, Scott Aversano, Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko Written by: M. Night Shyamalan Novel: Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko Cinematography/Camera: Andrew Lesnie Music: James Newton Howard Film Editing: Conrad Buff Casting: Douglas Aibel Production Design: Philip Messina Viewed on Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment DVD  The Last Airbender is full of acts and deeds of unholy control of the elements: air; water; earth; fire for both offensive and defensive purposes. But neither the use nor the user of the "magic" makes it holy or unholy. The source of the "magic" does. Not in one case was anything said about the powers portrayed being from God. And if the powers are not from God ... I am going to take a moment to "sermonize" on that. If Jesus had thrown Himself off the pinnacle at Satan's tease would the angels in Matt. 4:5-6, who would have lifted Him up from being dashed on the rocks, have sinned with their "magic?" Did Jesus sin as He used His "magic" to cast out demons, heal the sick, raise the dead, make the blind see and the lame walk? There is a great deal of difference between the "magic" of witchcraft and sorcery and "magic" from God. Angels and angel-possessed people use holy power from God. Witches, wizards, sorcerers. etc. use power from Satan which makes it unholy, even if it is called "white magic." [Isa. 5:20] Even if unholy magic is used for good, it is still serving evil. Again, the source of the power determines the holiness or unholiness of it, not the user or the use. And to practice, experiment with, dabble in or even embrace unholy magic (or "magik" to some) is sinful. [Deut. 18:10 - 11, Rev. 21:8] While the film content earned perfect 100 out of 100 area score in the Sexual Immorality (S) and Drugs/Alcohol (D) investigation areas, a G-equivalent area score in Murder/Suicide (M) and a PG-equivalent area score in Impudence/Hate (I), the content in Wanton Violence/Crime (W) and Offense to God (O) each earned hard R-equivalent area scores. As usual, the R-equivalent area scores are not because of particularly invasive examples of assault on morality and decency but because of the sheer number of examples. For more information in this technique of loading the content of a film with tons of "lesser" examples of assault on morality and decency to get the same "feel" of a film with more extreme examples of assault, visit our CAP Rule of 1000 publication. I am not going to try to address the controversies of overtones of racism in this film. I did not view it to seek these properties and cannot address them. I can say that I didn't notice anything that appears to be racist. In this fantasy world, four tribes exist, one for each of the four elements: air, water, earth and fire. Each tribe has shamans who can manipulate or "bend" the tribe's element; specifically an airbender, a waterbender, an earthbender and a firebender. Only one individual in the "world" can "bend" all four elements - the Avatar. The last Avatar has been missing for over 100 years ... until the opening of the show when young Aang (Noah Ringer) resurfaces from an icy grave. Sokka (Jackson Rathbone) and Katara (Nicola Peltz) find Aang and take him to their village of the water tribe. Before the water world people can return Aang to his people, fire tribe rebel prince Zuko (Dev Patel) leads an attack on the water tribe. Zuko has been ousted as prince by his father, the fire lord (Cliff Curtis) and cannot resume being prince until Zuko captures the Avatar and brings the Avatar to his father. Zuko senses that Aang is the next Avatar and kidnaps him to return with him to his father. But Aang has powers. Aang is captive but not for long. The story continues built around Zuko continuing to try to capture Aang and taking Aang to his father so Zuko can be reinstated as the prince. But fire commander Zhao (Aasif Mandyl) is competition for Zuko in his quest to recapture the Avatar. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 8 out of 100 Several sequences of action violence of varying intensities such as battles with deaths freckled the program. Aang was held hostage with a sword to his head. He was also kidnapped in another section of the film. Again I feel led to share with you that God warns violence is "catching." [Prov. 16:29] By now this verse is probably beginning to sound like a broken record but the wisdom in it is not cheapened by my frequent reference to it. God reveals that violence can lead "into the way that is not good." And man has decided to chime in on God's Wisdom by revealing that "viewing violence may lead to real life violence." Impudence/Hate (I) - 75 out of 100 Several lies were somewhat expensive to the Impudence/Hate area score but so was the tale of a father (the fire lord) intentionally burning the face of his son (Zuko). Aang used being upset as an excuse to run away. About the lying, God is adamant about lying. He warns of the [unforgiven] liar not being allowed into Heaven. And He makes no distinction between bald-faced lies and little white lies. [Rev. 21:8, Rev. 22:15, Prov. 19:5] He even lumps the liar in with the abominable, murderers, whoremongers, sorcerers and idolaters. Sounds quite as though He is not happy with lying. Not happy at all. Sexual Immorality (S) - 100 out of 100 There is absolutely nothing to even approach any immoral sexual behavior or display in the entire 94 minutes of programming. Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 100 out of 100 Neither is there a single example of consumption or possession of illegal drugs, any tobacco use or abuse of prescriptions drugs anywhere in the whole show. Offense to God (O) - Zero out of 100 But this section found a ton of unholy use of "magic" plus communicating with "sprits" [Deut. 18:9 - 12], portrayal of control by the spirit world, unnatural physical abilities and more. No matter how "sanitized" the spiritism might be in this film, having anything to do with the spirit world (the dead) is not something to toy with. Murder/Suicide (M) - 93 out of 100 One young girl committed suicide as a sacrifice to restore a spirit. Oh, how noble. And how influential such a noble act might be. Let us pray your young daughter does not encounter some condition (or manufacture one from a like-sounding situation) to lead her to emulate the suicide demonstrated in this film. It happens, folks. Romeo and Juliet has caused suicides. Modern songs have likewise caused suicides. [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 - abominations [to`ebah {to-ay-baw'}: a disgusting thing, abomination, abominable; wickedness] - divination [qecem {keh'-sem}: witchcraft, false prophets] - observer of times [anan {aw-nan'}: soothsayer, sorceress, enchanter (one who practices divination), to make appear, control weather, conjurer, spiritism, unholy magic] - witch [kashaph {kaw-shaf'}: sorcerer, soceress, one who practices unholy magic] - charmer [chabar {khaw-bar'}: to unite, join, bind together with charms (voodoo)] - consulter with familiar spirits [owb {obe}: necromancer, one who evokes/communicates with the dead; ghost, spirit of a dead one; one who has a familiar spirit] - wizard [yidd@`oniy {yid-deh-o-nee'}: one who has a familiar spirit; a familiar spirit; soothsayer; necromancer] [God sounds so serious about embracing evil that it seems He would include embracing evil even in and as entertainment since it has been proven in so many ways that entertainment can and does influence deeply and contaminate values. Even God agrees with that. (see 1 Cor. 15:33).] ***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 objective heart of the CAP Analysis Model, independent of and insulated from the Summary / Commentary section.)  Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 8 out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - 75 out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - 100 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 100 out of 100 Offense to God (O) - Zero out of 100 Murder/Suicide (M) - 93 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 |