CAP Report MAR-0068, MEN IN BLACK (1997)

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

Entertainment Media Analysis Report
MAR-0068
Men In Black (1997)
PG-13
CAP Score: 64
CAP ID: 0.9

Thomas A. Carder
CAP President

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Men In Black (1997) was a special effects movie. Some of the special effects were about aliens in "everyday life." Much of the special effects were of the violent and fearful nature. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) lost almost half its starting 100 points due to the graphic nature of the act of killing (murder) of aliens and humans by aliens with grotesque mutillation of flesh. As usual for a PG-13 (and PG movies) the greatest loss of points occured in Impunity/Hate (I)⁽¹⁾ due to extensive use of the three/four letter word vocabulary -- a little more often than every two minutes. If the linearity of the CAP Entertainment Media Analysis Model (the CAP Model) were lost by deletion of the Length Coefficient, this movie would have earned an Impunity/Hate score of minus 200! Sex/Homosexuality (S) faired relatively well for a PG-13 movie as did Murder/Suicide (M)⁽²⁾. Drugs/Alcohol (D) lost no points because no examples of the use of drugs and/or alcohol were noted. And also as usual for a PG-13 movie, Offense to God (O)⁽³⁾ lost most of its starting 100 points due to the use of God's name in vain, both with and without the three/four letter word explicatives.

Below is the table showing the scoring in each of the Investigation Areas plus the Final Score drawn from the actual CAP Report. In addition, the CAP Influence Density (ID) figure for the movie and the number of examples per hour of unacceptable material in each of the Investigation Areas is provided.

Men In Black (1997) CAP Scorecard

In accordance with the comparative baseline data of the CAP Entertainment Media Analysis Model, Men In Black (1997) presented material equivalent to R-rated material in Wanton Violence/Crime and Impunity/Hate, and equivalent to PG-13 material in Offense to God. The CAP Entertainment Media Analysis Model revealed Men In Black (1997) to be equivalent to PG-rated material in Sex/Homosexuality and Murder/Suicide, and G-rated material in Drugs/Alcohol. Thus, Men In Black (1997) was equivalent to the comparative baseline data corresponding to 33% R-rated material, 17% PG-13 material, 33% PG material, and 17% G-rated material.

(1) As noted in CAP Special Report-001, "Investigation Area and Scoring Trend", of the six CAP Investigation Areas, Impunity/Hate was the strongest presence in all four movie classifications. It has a strong revelation about the entertainment media.

(2) Only portrayal of successful murder or suicide are incorporated into Murder/Suicide. Presentation of attempts to commit murder or suicide, deaths by police action, and deaths by war are incorporated into Wanton Violence/Crime.

(3) The use of the three/four letter word vocabulary without God's name is incorporated into the Impunity/Hate Investigation Area. The use of God's name with or without the three/four letter word vocabulary is incorporated into the Offense to God Investigation Area. There is no dupication. As required of the Holy Scriptures, unless God's name is used with reverence to His glory and praise, its use is considered in vain, whether literal or euphemistic.

Please remember we believe that if even one of the six Investigation Area scores for a movie is equivalent to the CAP comparative baseline database scoring range for R, PG-13, or PG material, the entire movie should be regarded as so rated. For example, if only Wanton Violence/Crime earns a score equivalent to R but all other Investigation Areas earn a score equivalent to G, THERE IS R-RATED MATERIAL IN THE MOVIE AND YOUR KIDS WILL SEE IT AND HEAR IT IF THEY WATCH THE MOVIE!

Additional reviews of this movie may be located at "Movie Review Query Engine at Telerama."

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