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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 MAR2011.082.3  (2005), NR [PG-NR*] (1hr 22.8min) 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): Alpine Medien Productions, Hallmark Entertainment, Larry Levinson Productions Distribution (US): The Hallmark Channel Director(s): Michael Landon, Jr. Producer(s): Brian Gordon, H. Daniel Gross, Robert Halmi Jr., Michael Landon Jr., Larry Levinson, Nick Lombardo, Michael Moran, Erik Olson Teleplay by: Douglas Lloyd Mcintosh, MIcheal Landon, Jr., Cindy Kelly Novel: Jeanette Oke Cinematography/Camera: Brian Shanley Music: Kevin Kiner Film Editing: Andrew Vona Casting: Penny Perry Production Design: Niko Vilaivongs Art Direction: Laird Puliver Viewed on Fox Home Entertainment DVD  Since 1995 we have been bringing you analyses of popular films. This analysis is number 1400! This analysis is of the third in Jeanette Oke's Love Comes Softly series. After two years of marriage, it is 1879 and Missie (Erin Cottrell) and Willie LaHaye (Logan Bartholomew) figure it is time to plant their roots. After breaking away from the wagon train to claim their homestead, three bad guys: Mason (Jeff Kober); Trent (John Savage); Sonny (Richard Lee Jackson) pause and gaze upon Missie and Willie with ill intent ... until Willie straps on his gun. But that is not the end of the threats from the evil trio. Upon arrival in Texford Junction Willie and Missie pick up the deed to their new homestead and in the middle of a promissory and thankful-to-be-here smooch, 12 year old chicken thief Jeff Huff interrupts them. Then Willie and Missie again run into the evil trio. Here we find out that young Jeff is the brother of one of the evil trio, Sonny. A short time later Willie and Missie arrive at their new homestead. Well, "new" is not quite right. It is bright and shiny to them but is an old and dilapidated shack in a state of ruin and disrepair due to age and neglect. But that does not stop the pair. They see their homestead through the eyes of love. Willie promises to build Missie a house a lot better. After the front door falls off in Willie's hand exposing the open-air roof, Missie insists that Willie carry her over the threshold. And there begins the story. A story that defines love in hardship in many ways ... and presents some violence. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 19 out of 100 Maybe violence is necessary for the telling of the desired story but it is unfortunate for the scoring. This film displays quite a bit of violence, mostly in the form of firearms to control and gunfire to do harm. Whether, for example, a gun is pointed in someone's face is in a Christian film or a secular film makes no difference to the CAP Analysis Model. That which is communicated by such a display says the same thing to believer and non-believer alike. The same number of points are lost by such a demonstration whether in a Christian film or a secular film. The violence in this film may not be a graphic as in most PG-13 and R-rated films but it is violence nonetheless and there is enough of it to make the violence/crime content of this film to be R-equivalent. See our R-13 publication for more information on this technique of loading a film with "lesser" examples of assault on morality and decency to achieve the same "feel" of a more severely rated film. Please inspect the listing in the Findings/Scoring section of this report before you decide for what age stratum this film is fit. It seems advisable to alert parents to the Word of God about how He feels about violence. In Prov. 16:29 God warns us that violence is "catching" and can lead one into the "way that is not good." Further, four professional public health agencies have plagiarized God's Word by announcing their finding that "Viewing violence may lead to real life violence" and "Viewing violence can lead to emotional desensitization towards violence in real life." Impudence/Hate (I) - 92 out of 100 Thankfully, as with the first two episodes of Jeanette Oke's Love Comes Softly series, this episode has no profanity whatsoever. But a couple items of impudence/hate are present, specifically a marital argument and some pursuit to do mischief. Sexual Immorality (S) - 88 out of 100 While marriage is blessed as the two are one in the sight of God, Bartholomew and Cottrell are not married. Twice Bartholomew and Cottrell are shown snuggling in bed together. Things married folks do are private and not for public display. To put Bartholomew and Cottrell in a bed together snuggling as a married couple, even when clothed, is inappropriate. "Acting" does not excuse it. Though not likely in this setting, such display might invoke desire and desire gives birth to sin. [Hebr. 13:4, James 1:15] Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 76 out of 100 A number of times drinking is desired and a saloon is shown with whiskey on the table. Granted, such is an icon of the Old West, the "justification" for such content is immaterial to the CAP Analysis Model. Please visit the BEFORE ... You Read On page for more information. Part of our adamant opposition to alcohol (and tobacco) in and as entertainment is found in a 2002 study by the American College of Physicians (ACP). The study 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 o 46% for those with no viewing restrictions o 16% for those with partial viewing restrictions o four percent for those with complete viewing restrictions. [Eph. 5:18] Offense to God (O) - 96 out of 100 The only item that could be found applicable to this investigation area was the gambling. Murder/Suicide (M) - 92 out of 100 Near the end of the show one murder by gunfire was found. 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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(The objective heart of the CAP Analysis Model, independent of and insulated from the Summary / Commentary section.)  Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 19 out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - 92 out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - 88 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 76 out of 100 Offense to God (O) - 96 out of 100 Murder/Suicide (M) - 92 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 |