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MAR2011.027

(2010), PG [13-PG*] (1hr 25min)

Final Score
Analysis Date
Date Posted
Influence Density
MinMax
March 15, 2011
March 17, 2011
60
0.72
-86

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Christian Long Distance

SUMMARY / COMMENTARY:
(While the Scriptural references are certainly not subjective, my commentary may be and sometimes is somewhat subjective.)

If Scriptural references appear, the full text appears at the end of the Summary / Commentary.



(2010), PG [13-PG*] ... All too often the two do not mix.


Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database
Production (US): DreamWorks Animation, Pacific Data Images (PDI), Red Hour Films
Distribution (US): Paramount Pictures
Director(s): Tom McGrath
Producer(s): Lara Breay, Denise Nolan Cascino, Stuart Cornfeld, Holly Edwards, Ben Stiller, Justin Theroux, Guillermo del Toro
Writing Credits: Alan J. Schoolcraft, Brent Simons
Music: Lorne Balfe, Hans Zimmer
Film Editing: Michael Andrews
Production Design: David James
Viewed on DreamWorks Animation Home Entertainment DVD



Megamind earned a CAP final score of 60 which places it well inside the range of scores earned by PG-13 rated films in the comparative baseline database but it earned a Wanton Violence/Crime investigation area score of 14 making it equivalent in violence content to most R-rated films. Thus it merits the red CAPCon Alert light, warranting your sober attention to the findings. Sorry, folks. But I didn't write the movie. And I didn't write the Rules. All too often the two do not mix. Megamind is a good example of content and the Rules not mixing well.

A long, long time ago a planet was being swallowed up by a black hole. So, like Jor-El and Lara of Superman™ fame, a young lad's parents launched him off the doomed planet to end up on Earth. And so did another kid's parents send their son to Earth to escape the destruction of their home planet. Now there are only two lives left of the now-dead planet and both are on the Earth. One fell into the lap of luxury while the other child ended up being raised in prison. The child who landed in luxury, a handsome and well-liked boy with super powers, became a super hero know as Metro Man (voice of Brad Pitt). But the second child, the one with the huge misshapen head, the one shunned by the other kids, the one who was always the last one picked when choosing teams, the one who always sat by himself who had a super brain instead of super powers, the one raised by criminals became a criminal ... a super villain known as Megamind (voice of Will Ferrell) who, because of his upbringing, became the arch-enemy of Metro Man.

Below are brief discussions of content by investigation area. As always, the best way to get the best understanding of the content of this film is to visit the listing in the Findings/Scoring section (the heart of the CAP Analysis Model).

Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 14 out of 100
As might be expected of a story of a super hero and a super villain, this film presents a king's portion of violence, some of which is quite brutal and coldhearted. Now there is one of the factors that makes violence so proselytizing and emboldening ... the coldheartedness. In our now 16 year study of the influence of entertainment, we have found it is not so much the "violence" in "coldhearted violence" that negatively influences the decision-making skills and coping skills of the observer, but is the "coldhearted" that does the most damage; that leads the observer "into the way that is not good." [Prov. 16:29] We've also found that just because a violent behavior or display may be fantasy does not protect the observer from its influence. Especially the young observer. It has taken man nearly 2,000 years to finally acknowledge God's Word (probably unknowingly) but we have finally come around to realizing that God knew what He was talking about. At least, four professional public health agencies have. Jointly.

It is the emboldening properties of violence in and as entertainment (and many other negatively influential examples of cinematic display/demonstration) that skillfully leads the observer away from the fantasy world and tends to maneuver him/her into immersion into the story. In other words, just because the violence in a film is fantasy does not purify it from having a negative influence on the observer, especially the young who are yet ill-equipped to fully separate fantasy from reality.

Fully separate fantasy from reality? It would be unusual for even a 16 year old to be able to fully separate fantasy from realty or to be able to fully anticipate the consequences of his/her actions. Such skill do not typically plateau until the early 20s. For some, such happens before their early 20s. But for others not even then. But not for the typical adolescent. No matter what the courts say.

Impudence/Hate (I) - 41 out of 100
As with just about every film ever made for young kids, this one mutters a number of euphemisms of profanity. In addition to the euphemisms Megamind is tormented as a child, as an adult gloats at being evil and takes a hostage to get his way. And the lying and promotion of lying did not help this investigation area score any. [Eph. 5:4, Rev. 21:8]

One point made by the film that is spot-on points the resultant character of a child at his/her upbringing; at all the things to which a child is exposed during his/her childhood. The wholesome and noble (yet vain) Metro Man is brought up by loving parents of well-to-do standing and the evil Megamind is brought up by prison inmates who taught him that "police" is bad and "criminal" is good. Likely without knowing it, the writers pointed at themselves as part of a child's upbringing; that their pointing at the criminal influences that shaped Megamind's character points at themselves as well since, for the child who watches this film, viewing this movie is one of the influences. Indeed, of all the exo-familial influences in a child's life, the only one that more deeply and intimately saturates a child than the entertainment industry is air.

Sexual Immorality (S) - 61 out of 100
The Hal character (voice of Jonah Hill) is drawn with a T-shirt that reads "bite me" which is seen repeatedly. Maybe that term of arrogance has changed over the years but it is originally a homosexual term meaning oral sex between males. I am not going to second guess the meaning the writers had in using that term and go with its original meaning, a meaning that has no business in any film let alone a child's film. The only other matters of the sexual nature include a number of scenes to draw attention to the posterior, a wedgie, a revealing statue and a buxom character throughout. [1 Thess. 4:7, Eph. 5:3 - 5]

All these digs and jabs at sexual humility might seem innocuous on the surface but each and every little jab at wholesomeness takes its toll as do all the jabs at wholesomeness in any area of moral integrity. Consider all those little jabs at wholesome morality and decency as those little straight pins that come in the collar and sleeves of a new dress shirt getting lost in the cushions of your couch. Eventually, one or more of them will get pushed around enough to resurface and make their point ... painfully. Likewise, all those little jabs of assault on morality and decency may eventually become provoked enough to resurface and make their point ... painfully.

Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 88 out of 100
The only instances of the use of drugs and/or alcohol were one scene of booze plus one scene of Roxanne (voice of Tina Fey) being drugged to facilitate her kidnapping and an attempt to drug her.

Offense to God (O) - 57 out of 100
God's name was abused a few times [Deut. 5:11] as well as characters being called "fool." Though Mr. T™ of A-Team fame made it popular to call people "fool", God warns us sternly for doing so. [Matt. 5:22] In mockery of Jesus Metro Man walks on water. Twice the viewer sees ill-gotten gain and the police (the prison warden) steals Metro Man's gift to Megamind. [Hab. 2;9] By the way, this is another Christmas time without Jesus film.

Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 No murders or suicides were noted.


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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

  • Prov. 16:29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good. [The issue is the violence, the 'way that is not good' no matter how "small" or "justified" the violence might seem, and its "leading" effect on the observer. "A violent man" ["man" here is enowsh {en-oshe"}: man (collective), mortal, person, mankind; contracted for iysh {eesh}: whosoever, each] can be any character of any age, any gender, human or not since the cinematic display is at the hands men and women, in the act of committing (demonstrating in the case of entertainment) violent behavior/action whether for good or evil or the violent behaviors/actions themselves. Such exposure can and does embolden the viewer into aggression, especially youth. It took years for American professional health community to finally affirm, probably without knowing it, that which God told us in 1 Cor. 15:33 below. See also Joint Statement on the Impact of Entertainment Violence on Children: Congressional Public Health Summit for more information. Further, God speaks darkly of violence 56 times in the Old and New Testament of the KJV.]
  • Eph. 5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
  • Rev. 21:8 But the [unforgiven] fearful [cowardly], and unbelieving, and the abominable [vile], and murderers, and whoremongers [sexually immoral], and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
  • 1 Thess. 4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness [akatharsia: of impure motives], but unto holiness.
  • Eph. 5:3 - 5 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness [aischrotes: obscenity], nor foolish talking, nor jesting [eutrapelia: scurrility, ribaldry], which are not convenient [aneko: proper, fitting]: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger [pornos: s/he who indulges in (Biblically) unlawful intercourse], nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. ["Unclean" is not about being in need of bathing, it is akathartos which means impure in thought and life-immoral. Being sexually pure takes more than abstaining from physical sexual misdeeds. Being sexually pure includes not filling your mind with lustful and debaucherous images and talk which, it turn, cause unclean thoughts-and desires. And watching and hearing such content in and as entertainment certainly does put impure thoughts in your mind.]
  • Matt. 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment [krisis: accusation, trial]: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca [senseless, empty headed: a term of reproach among Jews at the time of Christ], shall be in danger of the council [any session or assembly or people deliberating or adjudicating]: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool [moros: impious, godless], shall be in danger of hell fire.
  • Hab. 2:9 Woe to him who builds his realm by unjust gain to set his nest on high, to escape the clutches of ruin!

    ***Selected Scriptures of Armour against the influence of the entertainment industry***
  • Jer. 37:9 This is what the LORD says: Do not deceive yourselves, thinking, 'The Babylonians [the destroyers from within] will surely leave us.' They will not!
  • 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, 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 Be not deceived: evil [kakov: of a bad nature, not such as it ought to be] communications corrupt good manners.
  • Rom. 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
  • Jude 1:4 For there are certain men* crept in unawares [secretly slipped in among us], who were before of old ordained to this condemnation [whose condemnation was written about long ago], ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness [a license for immorality], and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. [*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 one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
  • Luke 17:2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. [Offend: skandalizo {skan-dal-id'-zo} - scandalize; to entice to sin; to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey; to cause to fall away.]
  • Ps. 119:133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me [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. ["Evil" includes all things that are sinful.]


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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:
    (The objective heart of the CAP Analysis Model, independent of and insulated from the Summary / Commentary section.)


    Megamind (2010) CAP Thermometers

    Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 14 out of 100
  • images of great falls
  • police theft of gift
  • prison escape
  • recklessness with infants
  • threat with multiple torture devices
  • reckless gunfire by police
  • skeleton implying death/murder
  • gloating in evil, repeatedly
  • reckless driving due to anger
  • action violence, repeatedly, of varying intensities
  • assaults
  • accosting a woman
  • kidnappings

    Impudence/Hate (I) - 41 out of 100
  • a number of uses of euphemisms of profanity
  • tale of jail for main character
  • child made bad by upbringing
  • childhood torment
  • vanity
  • hostage
  • lies
  • encouraging lying

    Sexual Immorality (S) - 65 out of 100
  • revealing statue
  • wedgie (drawing attention to privates)
  • attention to posterior, repeatedly
  • buxom character throughout
  • "bite me", repeatedly on T-shirt

    Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 88 out of 100
  • drugging to kidnap
  • booze
  • attempted drugging

    Offense to God (O) - 57 out of 100
  • Christmas without Jesus
  • "You fools", twice
  • mockery of Jesus by character walking on water
  • use uses of God's name in vain
  • "smiling down from evil heaven"
  • ill-gotten gain (from theft), twice [Hab. 2:9]

    Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100
  • none noted















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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 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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