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Entertainment Media Analysis Report
A service to our youth though you,
their parents and grandparents, in His name by His Word

MAR21SP16
Lay It Down (2001), NR
Analysis Date: December 9, 2001
CAP Score: 65
CAP Influence Density: 0.69




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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.


LAY IT DOWN (NR) -- ...another way of telling the Gospel to the unbelieving -- in a believable way

Distributed by: ChristianCinema.com
Director(s): Michael Cargile
Producer(s): Kevin Downes, Bobby Downes, Alvin Durand Mount, D. Gunther Tarampi
Written by/Screenplay: Michael Cargile
Cinematography/Camera: Philip Hurn
Music: John Sponsler, Tom Gire

NOTE: None of the organizations in the images on this page are paying one cent for the space.

The viewing tape of Lay It Down was graciously provided by ChristianMovies.Com.

More moving that even I expected. And I have seen more than 500 movies. Lay It Down is another way of telling the Gospel to the unbelieving -- in a believable way.

Brothers Ben (Sean McEwen) and Pete Destin (Nathan Bell) are in over their heads ... in illegal street racing ... for money. Ben is an expert driver and Pete is the finest mechanic anywhere. Together, they have become an icon in the world of street racing. Ben has earned top dog. Until one day "she just got away" from him and landed him in the hospital. During his experience Ben felt he was as close to death as he could be without dying. Then and there the Lord placed something in Ben's heart.

Ben's mother (Francesca Caro) and deceased father, killed by a drunk driver, had both given their hearts to Jesus but teenage Ben and Pete were lost. Repeatedly, mom and dad had tried to explain the consequences of rejecting Jesus and the joys and rewards of inviting Him into their hearts. But all Pete could do was mock and ridicule the idea of Salvation. Ben was apparently a little more reserved about Salvation than Pete, but was still unwilling to accept Jesus as Lord and resurrected Savior.

Pastor Gus Pelman (Michael Gier) came to Ben as he recuperated at home. In Ben's room, Pastor Gus picked up a picture of Ben, Pete and their dad. Together Gus ad Ben shared that they both miss him. Then Gus explained that he and Ben's mother will one day get to see Ben's father again because they had made the Decision to invite Jesus into the hearts as Lord and resurrected Savior. "They will see my father but I won't?" thought Ben. This made Ben painfully aware of the Decision he had not yet made. Pastor Gus reminded Ben if he had died in that wreck that he would have immediately stood before God for Judgment. And God would have told Ben "Depart." That shocked Ben into understanding that he must get right with God and invited Jesus into his heart. Now Ben is on Fire for Jesus and begins to try to share the Gospel with the cohorts of his illegal past, including Pete.
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There is much more detail, heart-touching detail in this 48 minute Gospel film but I do not want to spoil any more of it nor the intensity of it. I have kept the intensity down to drab in this Summary/Commentary, but the movie is anything but drab and I want you to be able to enjoy the power of it. After more than 500 movies, I am probably as pragmatic and "sterile" about them as anyone could get. But this story welled up my eyes.

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Let me share with you that Lay It Down is mathematically equivalent in influential content to a lite PG-13 movie. Or it could be thought of as a "hardcore" PG. With an earned score of 65, Lay It Down fell very near the top of the CAP scoring range for PG-13 (PG-13 movies in the comparative baseline database have earned from 55 to 67 of 100). Lay It Down is not a "kids" movie. It was not intended to be. It is an evangelical tool for adults to witness with other adults, with young adults and older teens. You cannot "check your brain at the door" if you are to gain any of the wisdom in it. There is no eye candy or fluff. It is solid with quality performers.
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Though there were no examples of foul language, nudity, drugs or alcohol and no murders or suicides in Lay It Down, it used a great deal of illegal street racing and inherently the narcotic effect of arrogance, rebellion and defiance through sin [1 Sam. 15:23, Isa. 13:11]. It also portrays the use of sin to try to reach the sinners -- Ben agreed after swearing off drag racing to do one more drag race just to be able to share the Gospel with of one of the racers, Nicky 'D' (Jacob Head) and his ilk. Mrs. Destin said it about as succinct as possible: "God does not honor men who break His Laws, no matter what the reason." Committing sin to reach sinners -- to "communicate" or "relate" with them -- is not good [Is. 30:1]. If someone thinks it is an acceptable cost to commit sin to reach the sinner, then why did Jesus never do so. In not one case did Jesus ever participate in or even encourage our participation in sin to teach us of it. To share the Gospel or the admonitions of Scripture does not require us to "walk a mile in [the sinner's] shoes." Not even our own.


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SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S)
If needed to focus or fortify, applicable text is underlined or bracketed [ ]. 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.

  • Is. 30:1 (KJV) Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: [Adding sin to sin applies both ways, etiher to one's own sins OR to the sins of others.]
  • 1 Sam. 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
  • Isa. 13:11 I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless.

    *******Food for Thought*******
  • Is. 30:1 (KJV) Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: [Adding sin to sin applies both ways, etiher to one's own sins OR to the sins of others.]
  • 1 Sam. 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
  • Isa. 13:11 I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless.
    ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo


    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: Lay It Down (2001) CAP Thermometers

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

    Wanton Violence/Crime (W):
  • images of illegal street racing with gambling, repeatedly
  • graphic injuries
  • aggressive handling of a woman
  • reckless endangerment - motorcycle
  • fighting imagery of dying

    Impudence/Hate (I)(1):
  • punk dress
  • facial piercing
  • street punk intimidation
  • girl sneaking into boy's bedroom
  • attempted property damage in a tantrum
  • arrogance against mother
  • white lie to avoid accountability
  • keeping the truth from mom

    Sex/Homosexuality (S):
  • girl attempting physical intimacy with a boy in his bed
  • presentation of sexual immorality (verbal)
  • bragging about sexual conquest
  • pregnancy out of wedlock

    Drugs/Alcohol (D):
  • none noted

    Offense to God (O)(2):
  • sequences of mocking/belittling Jesus, salvation through Him, and the Scriptures
  • hatred of the changes made as the result of Salvation
  • single use of God's name in vain without the four letter expletive

    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 applaud 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.





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    (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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