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Reel World Reality 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 MAR2012.078  (2012), PG [G-PG*] (78.3 min) 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 1500 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.)
 Production (US): Kirk Cameron presents in association with Camfam Studios a Pyro Pictures Production Distribution (US): Monumental Media Director(s): Duane Barnhart Producer(s): Duane Barnhart, Kirk Cameron, Angela Alvarez, John Bona, Bill Hough, Mark Gambee, Marshall Foster Written by: Kevin Miller Cinematography/Camera: Mike Robinson, Tim Rygh Viewed on Monumental Media Home DVD While Monumental: In Search of America's National Treasure is entertaining for me, it is not a piece of entertainment in the strictest sense but is rather a video documentation of the search of one man, Pastor Kirk Cameron, for an answer to the decay of America by retracing the paths of the men and women who built America: an answer to why are we in a crisis as a nation economically, morally and spiritually? Cameron found "The answer doesn't begin at the Whitehouse. It begins at your house." This is not a "Saturday night" flick or a "doom and gloom" story but is the culmination of a great deal of dazzling work and patience by Pastor Kirk Cameron of Left Behind fame plus a large number of supporting professionals ... a "monumental" effort indeed. To hear the truth about the Pilgrims, the Puritans who sailed the Atlantic to separate themselves from the Church of England, is intensely interesting and inspiring. This film is one of the very rare films to have content that earns G-equivalence under the brutal scrutiny of the CAP Analysis Model. The analysis scoring bears a green CAPCon Alert light since each six content investigation areas (W, I, S, D, O, M) earned G-equivalent scores in accordance with the comparative baseline database of film scoring. Click on the CAPCon Alert green light atop this page for an explanation of the CAPCon Alert lights. As a side note, let me poke a little camaraderie fun at Pastor Cameron. At 05:13 into the show Pastor Cameron says the pilgrims could be "drawn and cornered" for disagreeing with the king. The correct expression is "drawn and quartered." :-) The expression indeed comes from English history. The full expression is "drawn, hung and quartered" meaning drawn by horse-pulled cart to be hung until almost dead then cut into four parts. This was the fate of practitioners of treason which included them who spoke out against the king and his edict of how worship may be practiced. Following are brief discussions of the content per individual content investigation area. As always the Findings section of this report, the heart of the CAP Analysis Model, is the best source for discovering the full accounting of the content of this film. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 87 out of 100 The only content applicable to this content investigation area were the numerous uses of burning, destruction and abuse. Each instance was not "Hollywood" extreme but was portrayed only to the degree necessary to impart story matters. Though gore or butchery and death happened to the Pilgrims none of such were noted in the content. Though necessary to imparting the weight of the events portrayed in the film, they were at times unsettling and might be of concern to parents of younger children. Impudence/Hate (I) - 87 out of 100 Twice the name of the lake of burning sulfur was used. But each time it was used not as an expletive or term of profanity but rather the proper name for the place. No profanity was found. However, numerous matters of suffering and persecution of Christians were noted. Sexual Immorality (S) - 96 out of 100 Maybe the native American Indian males wore only panels in front and back but the actor which appeared dressed in such a way was not a Native American at the second half of the 17th century. That the Native Americans dressed that way does not excuse it in film. What if they were nude instead of scantly dressed? Would that excuse putting full male nudity in film? An American Indian girl was also portrayed but she was in below-knee-length dress. And I doubt very much that the males wore only panels in front and back during the fall/winter months, the season of focus in this presentation. One could easily imagine what would happen with a gust of wind. God warned against such dress in Exodus 20:26 for the same reason. He warned the priests not to climb the steps to His altar so their "nakedness** be not discovered thereon" to the people below. Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 100 out of 100 There were no references to or portrayal of possession or consumption of illegal drugs, alcohol or tobacco found in the entire 78.3 minutes of the program nor was abuse of prescription drugs found. Offense to God (O) - 100 out of 100 God's name was not abused once throughout the show and there was no sorcery, witchcraft, Satanism or other such unholy practice found. Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 No murders or suicides were portrayed. 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 ** "Nakedness" (display of nudity) is spoken of as dark, restricted, undesirable, shameful, etc. 47 times in the KJV from Genesis to Revelation. For example, Ezek. 16:36 "Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thy filthiness was poured out, and thy nakedness discovered through thy whoredoms with thy lovers,..." thus associating display of nakedness with ill repute. What makes display of nudity okay in entertainment/art if it is not okay in flesh? God even advised the priests not to climb the steps to the altar lest the wind expose their nudity to the people below in Exodus 20:26 - "Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon." The display of nakedness, even accidental (preventable) or the tease of it is not good in God's eyes. Note that the images of nudity in some bibles are not put there by inspiration of God but by the mind of man. And just because there is nudity on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel does not mean it is acceptable to God. 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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(The objective heart of the CAP Analysis Model, independent of and insulated from the Summary / Commentary section.)   Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 87 out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - 87 out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - 96 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 100 out of 100 Offense to God (O) - 100 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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| 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 |
