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ChildCare Action Project: Christian Analysis of American Culture (CAP Ministry) www.capalert.com/ Entertainment Media Analysis Report A service to His little ones (which includes at-home teens) through you, their parents and grandparents, in His name by His Word MAR24042 (2004), PG-13 Analysis Date CAP Final Score CAP Influence Density MinMax April 29, 2004 41 out of 100 2.57 -100

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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. (2004), PG-13 -- ...a zeitgeist of modern entertainment. With comparative. Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database Production (US): M.G. Films, Paramount Pictures, Broadway Video Distribution (US): Paramount Pictures Director(s): Mark S. Waters Producer(s): Jill Sobel Messick, Lorne Michaels, Louise Rosner Written by/Screenplay: Book, Rosalind Wiseman. Screenplay: Tina Fey Cinematography/Camera: Daryn Okada Film Editing: Wendy Greene Bricmont Casting: Robin D. Cook, Marci Liroff, Susan Shopmaker Production Design: Cary White Art Direction: Brandt Gordon Viewed At: Driftwood Theater 6 We have provided several examples of comparatives between an original film and its remake(s) or a movie and its sequel(s), for example, the Lord of the Rings trilogy Scooby-Doo movie and its sequel and the three Spy Kids movies. The CAP analysis model is also capable of making comparatives of films with the same actor/ress. Lindsay Lohan is our first comparative of films with the same actor/ress. Lohan was born July 2, 1986. Lohan was probably 11 years old when she made the 1998 remake of the 1961 The Parent Trap which earned a score of 65. Lohan was probably 13 years old when she made Disney's 2000 release of Life-Size which earned a CAP score of 79. Lohan was probably 16 when she made the 2003 remake of the 1976 Freaky Friday which earned a CAP score of 65. Lohan starred in two 2004 release films: Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen which earned a score of 58 and this Mean Girls which earned a score of 41. Lohan was probably 16 when she made Confessions and 17 when she made Mean Girls. Where I am going with this is the age/score relationship: 11/65; 13/79; 16/65; 16/58; 17/41. Following is a graph of this relationship. The Parent Trap was the last of these four films to be analyzed. The graph before analysis of *The Parent Trap* was suggesting a final score at least higher than the 79 of Life-Size. Not much higher, maybe 82, but higher nonetheless. It is indeed interesting that the content of an earlier Lohan film was worse than a later film of hers. While I was certainly surprised, the trend is indeed downward after Life-size, rapidly downward. Let us hope the trending is misleading of her next film. Not that Lohan has much to say about the content of a film a writer builds, but she certainly has a lot she can say about her behavior and with whom she is associated as a function of her thespian activities. I am looking forward (?) to Lohan's next film, whatever that may be. Please understand that the intent of this Lohan project is not to demean Lindsay but to point out the degradation of content so typical of Hollywood and their exploitation of young girls/women. [Ps. 12:8] In Mean Girls, based on Rosalind Wiseman's book "Queenbees and Wannabes", 15 year old Cady (pronounced kay-dee) Heron (Lindsay Lohan at 18) is a home-schooled girl transplanted by her parents' work from Africa into a modern American high school. Cady had been home-schooled all her life and is now thrown into the mix of American public school girls where "malicious" and "vicious" are defined by demonstration. [Prov. 6:18] Yes, this film is in part a slam of home schooling by portraying the one who is home schooled as pathetically ill-equipped to deal socially with modern life as if knowledge of and ability to manipulate all the latest vulgarities are needed for modern social life. Guess what that says about modern life? Like we must teach our kids to be brutal, bitter and worldly just to function in peer circles? No thanks. What needs to be changed is modern society. And it will be. One day. Whether we like it or not. Whether we believe it or not. [2 Cor. 5:10] On her first day, Cady befriends a couple "nerdy" locals, Janis (Lizzy Caplan) and Damian (Daniel Franzese). Note that this film is another in the many which present homosexuality as a morally and socially acceptable choice of lifestyle. The viewer is led to believe Jains is lesbian and Damian is gay. For a large portion of the film, these two characters are almost as much a part of the script as Lohan. Apparently Canada has made it illegal to believe God's Word about the practice of homosexuality and has made free speech about it and freedom of religion illegal. But America has not. Just think. In Canada, homosexual practitioners can now approach young kids and their parents cannot speak out against it. If you don't want that to happen here, speak out. Now! To your legislators and congresspeople. Now! And don't let them tell you there is nothing happening. YOU tell THEM what is happening. They work for YOU. And they do NOT know everything. Some of them are apparently clueless about the progression of the practice of homosexuality in America. And some of them want it to progress. If you don't tell your legislators and congresspeople what you want and don't want, you'll have to take what you get. [1Cor. 6:9-10; Jude 1:7; Rom. 1:26 - 27] Back-stabbing and ankle-biting are rampant in Mean Girls. Social warfare is full-scale. Leading the warfare as queen bee of the Plastics trio is Regina George (Rachel McAdams). Her two lieutenants are Gretchen Weiners (Lacy Chabert) and Karen Smith (Amanda Seyfried). This trio, the Plastics, forms the entire battle group with which Cady must do social battle. At first, anyway. The Plastics are the top of the social totem pole and determine the pecking order of all other students. Looking down their noses at everyone, the Plastics etch themselves a position of superiority in the ranks of high school and decide social etiquette and protocol such as the rule which makes an ex-boyfriend verbotten to any of the Plastics and the rules of cafeteria seating order. Soon, Cady maneuvers the favor of Regina while Cady launches a campaign to get even with Regina and the Plastics. However, such a position with its ego boost from peer acceptance backfires on Cady's plan. Cady becomes one of the Plastics. If you might be looking for a movie which portrays the modern mother, this one is not it. If you remember some movies such as America's Sweethearts (PG-13), you'll see a variation of the "bestiality" in them The writers of America's Sweethearts had a dog licking Billy Crystal's clothed genitals and Crystal saying to the dog "A little to the left." Mean Girls has a dog chewing on the clothed right nipple of Regina's mother (Amy Poehler) who is a teenager wannabe and puppet of her daughter. [Luke 17:2] And speaking of Luke 17:2 which warns that s/he who teaches/causes a youth to sin would be better off if a millstone were tied about his/her neck then cast into the sea ... aside from the corruptive influences on the PG-13 viewers in the audience this film twice presents a young girl, about 5 or 6 watching TV and mimicking the behaviors she sees (which I am certain was, like South Park: BLU, for the "benefit" of ministries like the CAP Ministry). I don't remember the first instance but the second was young adult girls on TV lifting their shirts to expose their breasts and then the little girl lifting whatever it was she was wearing. Does anybody know what is a millstone? In Jesus' day it was a large smooth rock with a hole in the middle through which grain was introduced to be ground between the sliding millstone and a stationary matching base stone. Whether the filmmakers know it, they sinned against the little girl. "S/he who teaches/causes a youth to sin would be better off if a [large smooth rock with a hole in the middle] were tied about his/her neck then cast into the sea." There may be some accuracy in the portrayal of social warfare in the modern high school. If so, it is no wonder why good teachers are too few. People get hurt in the manner of social battle of Mean Girls. This "R-13" is wrought with revenge and malice. [Rom. 12:19; 1 Cor. 5:8] It is also wrought with other ignoble deeds and behaviors, so much so it earned a final score of 41. Note that R-rated movies in the comparative baseline database earned scores of 54 and below out of 100. Impudence/Hate earned a score of zero mainly due to teens using the three/four letter word vocabulary 27 times plus a single masked use of the most foul of the foul words. [Col. 3:8] Sexual Immorality also earned a score of zero for reasons itemized in the listing in the Findings/Scoring section. [Rev. 22:15] Offense to God also earned a score of zero for many uses of His name in vain, none with the four letter expletive but many without it and all by "teens." [Deut. 5:11; Luke 17:2] Mean Girls is a zeitgeist of modern entertainment. SPECIAL NOTE: We will be reducing the volume of coverage in the Summary/Commentary section of our reports and the number of reports generated in an effort to reduce costs until full funding can be achieved. The Findings/Scoring section of each report, the heart of the analysis model, will NOT be reduced in any way. Thank you for your patience as we diligently search for funding. Anyone who wishes to volunteer to help us locate 501(c)(3) nonprofit funding and sponsors is encouraged to notify me. ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo 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. 6:16 - 19 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. 2 Cor. 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 1Cor. 6:9-10 Do you not know that the [unforgiven] 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. Jude 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. ["Flesh" is sarx, the sensuous nature of man. "Going after strange flesh" when applied to Sodom and Gomorrha is the practice of (the "going after") homosexuality (of "strange flesh") and other non-heterosexually immoral behaviors.] Rom. 1:26 - 27 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. Rom. 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 1 Cor. 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 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. Rev. 22:15 Outside [of Heaven] are the dogs, those [unforgiven] who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. Deut. 5:11 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. [Vain is shav' {shawv}: emptiness, nothingness, vanity, such as an expletive. 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 AND the misuse of Jesus' name.] Eph. 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. ["Wine" can be any intoxicating substance. Though it is not a sin to drink, it is a sin to get drunk. A recent study http://www.acponline.org/journals/ecp/janfeb02/dalton.pdf has found an undeniable link between the presentation of alcoholic beverages and tobacco in and as entertainment and abuse of them by adolescents. And teaching/causing youth to abuse alcohol/tobacco by emboldening youth with them in and as entertainment invokes Luke 17:2] ***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 and present it 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, submit to it. I call attention to Ps. 12:8 to warn of the creeping desensitizing power of "entertainment."] Col. 2:8 Beware lest any man [by his influence] spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 1 Cor. 15:33 (KJV) Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (NIV) Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character. Rom. 5:19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. 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, situationally redefine, counterfeit, conditionally apply] 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. 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: Wanton Violence/Crime (W) threat school-wide riot a pedestrian then three pedestrians getting hit by a bus, graphically Impudence/Hate (I) 27 uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary, all by "teens" one chopped-off use of an expression using the most foul of the foul words, by a "teen" sexual harassment lies, repeatedly deceit, repeatedly parent as an idiot, repeatedly arrogance to mother teens talking about parents' sex habits mother permitting daughter on top of prone male in the daughter's bed moral abuse of child lie to parents to get their house while they are gone Sexual Immorality (S) inappropriate touch open mouth kissing in class/school/school functions, repeatedly adult in underwear before a high school class suggestive eye movement sexual talk by teens, repeatedly, some vulgar homosexual presence appearing throughout sex education class offering condoms and advice just as stupid male in girls' restroom, repeatedly homosexual talk, comments, repeatedly dressing to maximize the female form and/or skin exposure, repeatedly dog chewing on woman's dressed nipple lesbian kiss sensuous dance by four teen girls making out in school, repeatedly school employee making out with student teen in underwear teens making out in school in underwear blase admission of teen sexual immorality self touching teen girl on male in her bed and mother approving of it below navel skin threatening to expose that which follows sensual pose claims of vulgar deeds with an air of conquest, repeatedly "I've got a big lesbian crush on you!" excessive cleavage, repeatedly statue nudity Drugs/Alcohol (D): teen drinking teen drunkenness [Eph. 5:18] Offense to God (O) 30 uses of God's name in vain, each without the four letter expletive, all by "teens" Murder/Suicide (M) none noted Is there still any doubt this is another R-13?

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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 more than eight 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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