 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 MAR2011.124  (2011), NR [PG-NR*] (2hr 12.8min) 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. |
 |
  (a PayPal account is NOT required). The CAP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Christian ministry. Donations are TAX-DEDUCTIBLE. |
on what Hollywood feeds your kids. SUBSCRIBE (or unsubscribe) to our FREE email version of these reports and our COMING SOON notices. |
  Christian Long Distance |
(While the Scriptural references are certainly not subjective, my commentary may be and sometimes is somewhat subjective.)
 Production (US): Bob Jones University, Unusual Films Distribution (US): Vision Video Director(s): Tim Rogers Producer(s): Darren Lawson Written by: David Burke Cinematography/Camera: Wade K. Ramsey Music: Brian D. Buda Film Editing: Laura Stevenson Casting: Sharyn Robertson Production Design: Terry Davenport, David Rogers Viewed on Vision Video DVD  William Edward "Will" Wright (Daniel Smitley then Thomas Sneed) has an obsession. Baseball. His obsession is so strong that he defies his mother and father to sneak in a little time on the make-shift ball field the local boys use. Will is a "town boy" from the well-to-do side of the river but all the boys he plays ball with are "lintheads" from the other side of the river, the mill side. The mill, the Newton Mill is a textile mill, hence the derogatory expression "linthead." Will's father, Ezekiel (Darren Lawson) and his mother, Rachel (Sarah Lawson) are against Will associating with the folks from the mill side of the river. While Will fetches a croquet ball he mischievously tossed into the creek he meets Charles "Chick" Spangler (Willy Walker then Benjamin Ascher) who was fetching a baseball batted into the same creek. Chick invites Will to play baseball with the other boys where Chick's brother, Pike (Stephen Hawkey then Logan Phillips) begins a relationship of animosity and contempt for Will because he is from the other side of the river. This side of the river? That side? Does this sound like there is some teachings of prejudice by example by fathers afoot? Fast forward to eight years later. During the Prohibition years (1920 - 1933), Will is still playing baseball and Chick is still his good friend and Pike still hates Will. The three are participating in the Newton Mill Team tryouts. Here is where Will starts to show his stuff and begins to contemplate professional ball. After convincing Coach Scoop (Ken Hines) of his abilities, Will signs up for work at the mill to make his membership to the team "o"fficial. There is much more to the story and plot but I do not want to spoil it too much. I do, however, want to point out a significant matter of content -- drinking. Will gets introduced to moonshine since the prevailing opinion is that baseball and booze go together. Darlene (Anne Cleland), a baseball fan supplies the team with the booze but Chick is the one who is first to get Will to drink ... just like a team member. Will soon becomes addicted. And all this is during prohibition when alcohol is illegal. And let me comment on a stance taken in the film. Though not entirely clear it seems the script had the characters teaching that it is sin to drink at all. If true, let me remind our readers that Jesus never sinned but He drank wine and even made wine from water. He changed six waterpots* of water into wine - about 150 gallons -- for a marriage ceremony as one of His beginnings of miracles in Galilee. [John 2:1 - 10] But Jesus never got drunk. That is the point. Drinking itself is not a sin but drinking to drunkenness is. [Eph. 5:18] Note that John 2:1 - 10 do not say "strong wine" when it makes a clear distinction between wine and "strong wine" and "strong drink" in other verses. The alcoholic content of wine in Jesus' day was about the same as our beer and definitely not as strong as our recreational drinks such as Bacardi 151ª or Jack Danielsª, not even "Mad Dog 20/20" wine (20 ounces of 20% alcohol). * The six waterpots were two to three firkins, from 22 to 33 gallons each. Following are brief discussions of the content per individual CAP investigation area. As always the Findings section of this report is the best source for discovering the full accounting of the content of this film. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 77 out of 100 The violence content of this film centers around contempt for others because of where they live, especially Pike's contempt for Will. [Ps. 119:22, Prov. 18:3, Rom. 12:18] Additional matters of violence include a knife threat, vandalism, assault with a snake, assault resulting in injury to the innocent and attempted murder. The criminal content involves consuming and dealing in alcohol during prohibition. No one suffers any legal consequences for their illegal acts. [Eccl. 8:11] Impudence/Hate (I) - 70 out of 100 There is not a single use of profanity in the entire 132.8 minutes of the show. Not even a euphemism of profanity. But in several instances are adolescent disrespect and defiance of parents [Ex. 20:12], lies [Rev. 21:8], and a hateful relationship [Col. 3:8]. Sexual Immorality (S) - 100 out of 100 Not even a hint of sexually immoral behavior or display was found. Drugs/Alcohol (D) - Zero out of 100 The alcoholic content of this film is intense enough to make it equivalent to the same content of may R-rated films, thus the reason for the red CAPCon Alert light in the uppermost left corner of this page (click on it for an explanation). This content is a significant risk for the viewer, especially the adolescent viewer, so sayeth the American College of Physicians (ACP). A 2002 study by the American College of Physicians (ACP) revealed that adolescent exposure to drinking in and as entertainment undeniably leads to abuse of alcohol among underage viewers. The finding entitled Relation Between Parental Restrictions on Movies and Adolescent Use of Tobacco and Alcohol reports that of 4544 youths from grades 5 through 8 of fifteen Vermont and New Hampshire middle schools (90% of the youths were under fourteen years old) only 16% were completely restricted in their entertainment diets. Within the ACP study population, the prevalence of having tried alcohol without parental knowledge was There is nothing to say that viewing smoking in and as entertainment does not carry the same danger of influence as viewing drinking. Actually, the same matter of behavior influence applies to any behavior demonstrated in and as entertainment, including good behavior. Offense to God (O) - 95 out of 100 Twice spectators are noted as betting/gambling. Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 There are no murders or suicides in this film. Pike attempts to murder Will with a baseball bat but attempts at murder and/or suicide (as are deaths due to war or police action) are incorporated into the Wanton Violence/Crime investigation area scoring. 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 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. |
 |
(The objective heart of the CAP Analysis Model, independent of and insulated from the Summary / Commentary section.)  Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 77 out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - 70 out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - 100 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - Zero out of 100 Offense to God (O) - 95 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. |
|
Thank you for visiting us and may God bless you. Prayerfully, we will provide you with some of the most revealing commentary and investigative reporting you have ever read. In the name of Jesus: Lord, Master, Teacher, Savior, God. Tom Carder Chaplain and President ChildCare Action Project (CAP): Christian Analysis of American Culture 100% dependent on your tax-deductible financial support |  |
Christian Long Distance |
|
We exist only by your tax-deductible donations. PLEASE  Features PayPal! You do NOT need an account to donate. |
| For G rated Films with G equivalence: G PG equivalence: PG-G PG-13 equivalence: 13-G R equivalence: R-G< | For PG rated Films with G equivalence: G-PG PG equivalence: PG PG-13 equivalence: 13-PG R equivalence: R-PG | For PG-13 rated Films with G equivalence: G-13 PG equivalence: PG(13) PG-13 equivalence: PG-13 R equivalence: R-13 | For R rated Films with G equivalence: G-R PG equivalence: PG-R PG-13 equivalence: 13-R R equivalence: R | For NR rated Films with G equivalence: G-NR PG equivalence: PG-NR PG-13 equivalence: 13-NR R equivalence: R-NR |