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


MAR22128
Maid in Manhattan (2002), PG-13
Analysis Date: December 13, 2002
CAP Score: 58
CAP Influence Density: 0.77

MinMax: -100

Miad in Manhattan (2002) CAP Mini-thermometers




ALERT: To fully understand this report you should first visit the topics suggested by the CAP Site Map (Table of Contents).


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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 completely objective to His Word 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.


MAID IN MANHATTAN (PG-13) -- A truly marvelous feat of the scriptwriters!

Production: Hughes Entertainment, Red Om Films, Revolution Studios, Shoelace Productions
Distribution: Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Director(s): Wayne Wang
Producer(s): Richard Baratta, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, Benny Medina, Charles Newirth, Paul Schiff, Deborah Schindler
Written by/Screenplay: John Hughes (story), Kevin Wade,(screenplay)
Cinematography/Camera: Karl Walter Lindenlaub
Music: Alan Silvestri
Film Editing: Craig McKay
Casting: Jonathan Strauss, Todd M. Thaler
Production Design: Jane Musky
Art Direction: Patricia Woodbridge


Maid in Manhattan is one of those films that could have bee a delightful and warm love story. Actually it was, but sadly it was rather filled with "stuff." It was so well done. Even the young lad who was quite bold in his expressions had his say without being rebellious except for a little desperation toward his mother's insistence to hurry up. A truly marvelous feat of the scriptwriters! Especially since the boy had a large and important part of the story. Indeed, one of the instances of Impudence/Hate comes from his mother to him rather than the typical child to parent in the movies - she lied to him. If it were not for the language and sex this could have been a G.

Marisa Ventura (Jennifer Lopez) is a maid at the Beresford Hotel in Manhattan, NYC. She longs to amount to more than her Hispanic class-driven mother said she would ... more than a maid cleaning up after others. Some day Marisa would be management. Some day. At least that is what one of her co-workers thought.

In a moment of naughty and almost forced to do so by one of her co-workers, Marisa tried on some expensive clothes in the room of a vain and rich guest, Caroline Sincaire (Natasha Richardson). As would be expected from sneaking, she is caught but not by management. She is caught by Senatorial candidate Christopher Marshall (Ralph Fiennes) who had just met her son, Ty (Tyler Posey), an expert on Richard Nixon (the script did not say Nixon was the one who started the 55 mph speed limit). Indeed, it was Ty's action that brought Christopher and Marisa together.

Enamored by what he saw, Marshall turned up the pressure to get to know Marisa - er - Caroline. And Marisa had to keep up the pretense of being Caroline. Now begin the games. Even at the dire forecastings of Marshall's personal aide and doom sayer, Jerry Siegel (Stanley Tucci) .

A performance I feel was unfairly buried under all the stars was that of Bob Hoskins as Lionel Bloch. Hoskins played the part of a very wise and patient floor butler. I know all that Hoskins had to say was written by a scriptwriter, but I doubt there was ever a better man to play the mannerisms and expressions of sage advice as Hoskins. I wish I could write as fast as he spoke his parting monologue.

This is a Cinderella formula with the glass slipper Marisa falling in love with Prince Christopher, complete with him running after - and catching - "Alice." But not in the true "Cinderella" was the peppering of uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary [Prov. 22:11], the many uses of God's name in vain including with the four letter expletive [Deut. 5:11], nor the man/woman in bed together (intercourse off screen) [Gal. 5:19 ]. Neither in the true "Cinderella" were the homosexual euphemisms, the adultery, the exhibitionism, nor the excessive breast exposure [1Cor. 6:9-10, Rev. 22:15]. I suspect by now you get the "picture." The listing in the findings/Scoring section provides an itemization of these and more presences which kill an otherwise perfectly good motion picture.


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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.

  • Prov. 22:11 He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend.
  • Deut. 5:11 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain [shav' {shawv}: emptiness, nothingness, vanity]: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. [With or without the four letter expletive, the use of God's name in any way other than respect, reverence or thoughtful discussion is in vain. That includes the popular three syllable sentence with His name trailing it.]
  • Gal. 5:19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;
  • 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.
  • Rev. 22:15 Outside [of Heaven] are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

    ***Selected Scriptures of Armour against the influence of the entertainment industry***
  • Ps. 12:8 The wicked freely strut about [e.g., create progressively vile/offensive entertainment with impunity and no consequences to younger and younger audiences every year] when what is vile is honored among men [when enough people continue to defend it, embrace it, pay for it, enjoy it, want it]. [I call attention to Ps. 12:8 to warn of the creeping desensitizing power of "entertainment."]
  • 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 [warp, distort, falsely represent] 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]
  • Matt. 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto [or for] one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto [or for] me.
  • Luke 17:2 It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. [cause by teaching or example]
  • Ps. 119:133 Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.
  • John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
  • 1 Thess. 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.


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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:


    Miad in Manhattan (2002) CAP Thermometers



    Wanton Violence/Crime (W):
  • none noted

    Impudence/Hate (I)(1):
  • 11 uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary
  • class rudeness, repeatedly
  • lies, once from a mother to her son

    Sex/Homosexuality (S):
  • full rear male nudity, repeatedly
  • adult in underwear
  • adultery
  • sexual innuendo, repeatedly
  • suggestive eye movement
  • homosexual euphemisms
  • excessive breast exposure
  • offscreen intercourse
  • woman on man in bed, obviously nude

    Drugs/Alcohol (D):
  • smoking, repeatedly
  • booze, repeatedly

    Offense to God (O)(2):
  • 22 uses of God's name in vain without the four letter expletive and twice with it

    Murder/Suicide (M)(3):
  • none noted



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    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 or example 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 nearly seven 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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    (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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