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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 MAR27049  (2007), PG [13-PG*] (1hr 24min) 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 1100 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): Jerry Weintraub Productions, Virtual Studios, Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution (US): Warner Bros. Pictures Director(s): Andrew Fleming Producer(s): Susan Ekins, Cherylanne Martin, Mark Vahradian, Ben Waisbren, Jerry Weintraub Screenplay: Andrew Fleming, Tiffany Paulsen Story: Tiffany Paulsen Characters: Mildred Wirt Benson Cinematography/Camera: Alexander Gruszynski Music: Ralph Sall Film Editing: Jeff Freeman Casting: Pam Dixon Production Design: Tony Fanning Art Direction: Todd Cherniawsky Viewed At: Driftwood Theater 6 Now that Nancy Drew is out on video this report is of little use to you. But it is of use as a datapoint in the 25-year study by the CAP Ministry. I did not expect Nancy Drew to be a 13-PG but it is. "13-PG" means a PG film which earns a final score in the range of scores earned by PG-13 films in the comparative baseline database. Regarding violence Nancy Drew is a perfect example of the application of the CAP Rule of 1000. Not a single issue of violence in Nancy Drew is equivalent to the examples of violence typically used in R-rated films but there were so many "lesser" examples of violence that the total envelope of violence is easily equivalent to the total envelope of some "lite" R-rated films. 4Indeed, because of so many examples of violations of His Word and Wishes for us this film was "lite" R-equivalent in not only violence but in matters of impudence and abuse of His name. However, it was solidly G- or PG-equivalent in everything else. Please be sure to note the additional discussion regarding the contribution of violence in and as entertainment in the Wanton Violence/Crime investigation area discussion below. I remember the film did not "feel" like a 13-PG when I viewed it. But that "feel" is entirely subjective. The CAP analysis model is objective. The content determines the scoring. Period. As noted in the BEFORE You Read On... link above "messages", "plots" or artistic merit, i.e., "context", do not figure into a film's scoring at all. You, mom/dad, decide these matters for yourself. We just tell you about the content which the MPAA, advertisers, trailers, promoters, etc. can't or won't tell you whether the "context" tries to excuse the demonstration of sinful behavior or not. From River Heights, teenage Nancy Drew (Emma Roberts - Julia Roberts' niece, Aquamarine and her widower father, attorney Carson (Tate Donovan) temporarily relocate to Los Angeles due to his job. But the teen sleuth cannot leave her sleuthing behind. Though Carson tries his best to convince Nancy to back off her private eye shenanigans and focus more on being a "normal teenager", Nancy is hooked. Her loyalty to her father is admirably strong but Nancy's addiction to solving mysteries is just too strong. Though Nancy tried earnestly to stop all the detective work, no matter what her father did Nancy would not leave sleuthing to the police. Once in Los Angeles, Nancy is burdened with the extra pound that broke the "no-sleuthing" camel's back. The aging mansion which they rented was once owned by Hollywood star Dehlia Draycott (Laura Harring) who had drowned 25 years ago and with no reported surviving kin. The mystery is that Dehlia must have secretly had a daughter out of wedlock who stands to inherit buckets of money. Intrigued beyond her ability to resist snooping, Nancy is going to find out one way or another. Nancy thinks she found the secret daughter in Jane Brighton (Rachel Leigh Cook). The problem is someone doesn't want Nancy to discover the truth and is willing to kill to keep her from discovering it. Nancy Drew is claimed to be true to the original 1930s novels. I have not read any of the Drew books and cannot comment on that, but if the books portrayed the almost impeccable moral standards portrayed by Nancy Drew in this film, our children might do well to read them. And it is rare for Hollywood to portray the caliber of teen male with the strong moral fiber we see in Nancy's boyfriend, Ned Nickerson (Max Thieriot). Wanton Violence/Crime (W) I do not know of the degree of violence in the Drew books, but this film milks the violence/crime cow profusely: robbery; abduction of a teen girl (repeatedly); threat to do bodily harm; reckless endangerment (repeatedly); felony restraint of the teen girl; attempted murder by various means, including explosion; more. While each of the individual instances of violence/crime in Nancy Drew may seem innocuous and tame, the additive effect of so many of them makes this film a somber concern. As revealed by our CAP Rule of 1000, "...for two movies of the same length which each earn the same number of "bads", the movie that presents many examples of lesser "bads" is indeed more negatively influential than the movie with only a few but more severe "bads." The biggest piece of reality regarding our desensitization to aberrant behaviors in and as entertainment comes in "We have become so morally numb by the narcotics of progressively graphic extremes in and as entertainment that what once was morally unacceptable has become morally invisible." -- TC The PG-rated Nancy Drew may indeed be more negatively influential in violence than some R-rated films simply because of the plethora of "lesser" examples of "bads." And "examples" they are. [Prov. 16:29] Impudence/Hate (I) While there are a number of socially pointed conversational snippets, Nancy Drew blurts out one use of the three/four letter word vocabulary. [Eph. 5:4] However, there are a number of instances of matters of impudence such as disobeying and deceiving a parent, lies and a request to lie, excusing wrongdoings with "Everyone does it", facial piercings, a father applauding teen licentious behavior and more. About the lies in Nancy Drew , many people don't seem to understand the gravity of lying. God is adamant about lying. So much so that He warns that the [unforgiven] liar has no place in Heaven. [Rev. 21:8. Prov. 19:5, Prov. 6:16 - 19] And He gives no condition or situation in which a "little white lie" is acceptable. Sexual Immorality (S) While seemingly free of sexually immoral behaviors, there are some behaviors demonstrated which are there to impart sexually oriented imagery and thinking: gamming (knowingly showing the underside of the upper thighs while sitting wearing a dress); inappropriate touch; exposure of the skin below the navel, threatening to expose that which follows; a baby by immoral sex. While there is absolutely nothing immoral about a baby, there is about sex out of wedlock. All of God's admonitions against sexually immoral behavior may be summed up as any sexual contact (including visual), conduct or activity outside of a monogamous heterosexual marriage. [1Ths. 4:1-5] Just because man has caused such sexual matters as in Nancy Drew to become acceptable to man does not make it acceptable to God. If you don't believe me, ask Him. Drugs/Alcohol (D) The only instance of drugs and/or alcohol noted in the entire 84 minutes of the show was drugging to silence. Offense to God (O) God's name in vain was uttered several times, sometimes by an adolescent which compounds the sin of abusing God's name. Granted, each instance of His name being used in vain was without the four letter expletive, there were still each using His name in vain. [Deut. 5:11] In addition, in once case a projection was intended to be viewed as an unholy ghost. Murder/Suicide (M) There were no murders or suicides 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) Impudence/Hate (I) Sexual Immorality (S) Drugs/Alcohol (D): Offense to God (O) Murder/Suicide (M) |
| 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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