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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 MAR24081  (2004), PGThe #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. More than 900 analyses for parents, grandparents, pastors, youth leaders and more. |
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 (2004), PG -- you will probably leave not certain whether you liked it or not.  Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database Production (US): Access Films, MTV Films, Napoleon Pictures Limited Distribution (US): Fox Searchlight Pictures, MTV Films, Paramount Pictures Director(s): Jared Hess Producer(s): Jeremy Coon, Jeremy Coon, Sean Covel, Frederick Wedler, Jory Weitz, Chris Wyatt Written by: Jared Hess, Jerusha Hess Cinematography/Camera: Munn Powell Music: John Swihart Film Editing: Jeremy Coon Casting: Marty Fresca, Jory Weitz Production Design: Cory Lorenzen Art Direction: Curt Jensen Viewed At: Driftwood Theater 6 Dry wit. Not much substance. Eighty-seven uneventful minutes except for a school dance and a student body president election. A retelling of the story of every nerd and every misfit in every high school rolled up into one -- Napoleon Dynamite (Jon Heder) -- the king of "It ain't good enough, no matter what 'it' is." But Napoleon Dynamite can grow on you if your let it. If you watch it you will probably leave not certain whether you liked it or not while wanting to like it battles with the discomfort it left with you. Napoleon lives with his "working" grandmother (Sandy Martin who has very little screentime). She traipses off to somewhere, leaving Napoleon's sleaze living-in-the-past Uncle Rico (Jon Gries) in charge of Napoleon and his equally misfit older brother Kip (Aaron Ruell) who spends hours each day in Internet chatrooms, building himself into anything he dreams of being. Napoleon is at the very bottom of the social totem pole, subject to intense and frequent ridicule and physical tormenting. Napoleon has but one friend ... the new kid Pedro (Efren Ramirez). One of the popular girls, Summer (Haylie Duff) runs for class president. As a social warfare maneuver, Napoleon convinces Pedro to run against Summer. After a speech by each candidate a little skit is required of the candidates. Napoleon and Pedro did not know this. Caught unprepared, Napoleon decided to do a dance routine he had just learned by watching a video tape. It proved more helpful to Pedro's campaign than Pedro's speech. And Napoleon finds a girlfriend, Deb (Tina Majorino). Napoleon Dynamite is rated PG for thematic elements (whatever that means) and language. With a final CAP score of 71 it earns a place among the scores earned by PG movies in the comparative baseline database (86 to 68 out of 100) but in the lower half of the scoring range, making it a "hard" PG. The only uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary I could find in the cut I saw was the conversational snippet of being angered and the use of the name of eternal fire as an expletive in a background song. But there were several uses of the euphemism of the most foul of the foul words which where treated not as the most foul of the foul words but the same as one of the three/four letter words. The largest single loss of points was due to many lies. Together with several uses of the euphemism of the most foul of the foul words, these two culprits plus a few instances of ridicule reduced the Impudence/Hate score to equivalent to some R-rated movies. [Prov. 22:11] Sexual Immorality lost about half of its starting 100 points due to Uncle Rico trying to sell breast enhancements to women including a teenager, pelvic thrusts in dance, and a couple other typical indications of Hollywood's fascination with the body. It was clear by some of Rico's tactics that his interests were not limited to sales, especially regarding the teen girl. [Col. 3:5] Wanton Violence/Crime lost about a fourth of its starting 100 points to physical torment several times and assault to commit theft. [Hab. 2:9] Offense to God found four uses of God's name in vain but without the four letter expletive, causing the loss of a little over one third of the starting 100 points. [Deut. 5:11] But each of Drugs/Alcohol and Murder/Suicide earned the maximum of 100 points, making the film equivalent to G-rated movies in these two investigation areas. The listing in the Findings/Scoring section will reveal all that was found. 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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(The heart of the CAP Analysis Model)  Wanton Violence/Crime (W) Impudence/Hate (I) Sexual Immorality (S) Drugs/Alcohol (D): Offense to God (O) Murder/Suicide (M) |
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| 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 more than eight 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. |
| In the name of Jesus: Lord, Master, Teacher, Savior, God. Tom Carder President ChildCare Action Project (CAP): Christian Analysis of American Culture 100% dependent on your tax-deductible financial support |  |
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Unique. Posted 5/27/04 |
ChristianStats Counter TEST Unique. Posted 5/24/04 |
