 RED does not mean "stop." GREEN does not mean "go." Click on the CAPCon Alert image for explanation |
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 MAR2011.027  (2010), PG [13-PG*] (1hr 25min) 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): 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. 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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 Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 14 out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - 41 out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - 65 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 88 out of 100 Offense to God (O) - 57 out of 100 Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 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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