THE MAJESTIC (PG): ChildCare Action Project (CAP) Media Analysis Report MAR21105

ChildCare Action Project (CAP): Christian Analysis of American Culture
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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

MAR21105
The Majestic (2001), PG
Analysis Date: December 15, 2001
CAP Score: 72
CAP Influence Density: 0.50

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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.

THE MAJESTIC (PG) -- every instance of drinking/drunkenness and foul language was unnecessary.

Distributed by: Warner Bros.
Director(s): Frank Darabont
Producer(s): Jim Behnke, Claudia Cummings, Frank Darabont, Linda Hill,, Anna Garduno, Michael Sloane Written by/Screenplay: Michael Sloane
Cinematography/Camera: David Tattersall
Music: Mark Isham
Editing: Jim Page

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In 1951 Peter Appleton (Jim Carrey) becomes a blacklisted movie maker because of his association with the communist party some years earlier. Down trodden, Appleton drowns his sorrows, not only in a bottle but in a river. After a near drowning car wreck off a bridge, Appleton is slammed by the river currents into a bridge support and suffers amnesia. Discovered by elderly Stan Keller (James Whitmore) a smoking old man, Appleton is taken to a small town where he is mistaken for Luke Trimble, a war hero lost nine years earlier. Even Luke's father, Harry Trimble (Martin Landau) believes Appleton to be Luke. Though Luke's girlfriend, Adele Stanton (Laurie Holden) also believes Appleton to be Luke, she is at least reserved at first.

Jim Carrey shows that he has another side to his acting beyond the typical crude and toilet humor for which he has become known. In this drama-romance-comedy, Carrey provides the main staple for an otherwise humdrum plot. There are several really touching performances, particularly between Carrey and Holden, touching parts of proper and honest emotion and romance. Yes, there is kissing in The Majestic but it is warm and gentle kissing I wouldn't mind my daughter doing with her fiance, except one. Carrey opened his face a little in one of the kisses but it certainly was not the Patrick Swayze kiss with his face disappearing behind the hole of his mouth with his tongue dragging the ground then slapping the slimy configuration on his kissing partner. And the Carrey/Holden humble kissing was akin to the rest of the sexual content of this movie -- none but one sexual reference. And the one sexual reference was heterosexual to boot. Yes, speaking of crude talk in a positive light sounds like calling evil good, but it makes a point.

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In the communist conspiracy subplot, Carrey shows yet another aspect of his talents as he takes on the House Unamerican Activities Committee (I think that is the right title) in a somewhat dazzling display of defending the rights Americans under the Constitution against the oppressive Hollywood version of the committee, likening the committee to the ATF during the Waco, TX affair. The House Unamerican Activities Committee was doing what needed to be done during the cold war. That many gripe about what they did does not defeat the good they did for the people of America.

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In another subplot was the portrayal of what some might see as a lesser figure as the doorman of The Majestic theater. One of the techniques of Hollywood I appreciate is how these seemingly lesser figures are often the ones who are the most wise, quietly and unassumingly. I do not remember the name of the character and thus cannot give you his real name, but join with me and appreciate the talents of the old black man who played a seemingly small part in the continuity and meaning of the movie larger in true foundation than many others: the sage man who could not have been more pleased just by getting a watch.

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There are some parts that may (and should) be of concern for the Christian parent and grandparent. There is drinking to drunkenness [Gal. 5:21], smoking and much use of foul language [Col. 3:8], including God's name in vain WITH and without the four letter expletive [Deut. 5:11]. Even a father in front of me looked at his 8 or 9 year old daughter with uneasiness as Whitmore bellowed one of the uses of God's name in vain. In spite of the three uses of God's name in vain with the four letter expletive, the 22 uses without it and the 17 uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary, The Majestic still earned a score of 83 which is smack dab in the middle of the scoring range earned by PG movies in the CAP comparative baseline database of movies. Even the Influence Density of 0.31 is supportive of the PG rating. This movie bears the yellow CAPCon Alert light. Note that every instance of drinking/drunkenness and foul language was unnecessary. They did nothing that fortified the plot OR the delivery. The Majestic would have earned a G score if they were left out.

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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.

Gal. 5:21 ...and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Col. 3:8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

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 [naqah {naw-kaw'}: blameless, innocent] that taketh his name in vain.

*******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]

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.
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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):

near drowning entrapment sequence filmed underwater

head injury

threat of violence

hit to the face

film of gunshot injury (*The Day the Earth Stood Still*)

film of sword fight with death

images of dying and death due to natural causes

Impudence/Hate (I)⁽¹⁾:

willingness to lie and encouragement to so do to save career

17 uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary

Sex/Homosexuality (S):

sexual reference

Drugs/Alcohol (D):

drinking

drunkenness

smoking

Offense to God (O)⁽²⁾:

three uses of God's name in vain with the four letter expletive and 22 without

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.

(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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