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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 MAR2011.025  (2010), R [R*] (1hr 24.75min) 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. |
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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): Blumhouse Productions, Room 101, Paramount Pictures Distribution (US): Paramount Home Entertainment Director(s): Tod Williams Producer(s): Jason Blum, Jeanette Brill, Akiva Goldsman, Oren Peli, Steven Schneider Writing Credits: Michael R. Perry, Christopher B. Landon and Tom Pabst (screenplay), Michael R. Perry (story), Oren Peli (film "Paranormal Activity") Cinematography/Camera: Michael Simmonds Film Editing: Gregory Plotkin Casting: Michael Hothorn, Terri Taylor Production Design: Jennifer Spence Viewed Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment DVD  I have not seen the first Paranormal Activity if there is one. But one of the reasons the CAP analysis model is so versatile is that it does not rely whether the investigator has any knowledge of a prequel. With a final score of 44 the content of Paranormal Activity 2 is equivalent to many R-rated movies. With investigation area scores of zero out of 100 in Impudence/Hate (which includes profanity) and in Offense to God (which includes unholy matters) Paranormal Activity 2 is certainly equivalent to most R-rated films (scores of 54 and below out of 100) in those areas. One more neat feature of the CAP analysis model is that it can tell you whether the removal of, say, all the uses of three/four letter word vocabulary and abuses of God's name -- the language impurities -- would improve the quality of the film ... and how much. Paranormal Activity 2 would earn a final score of 76, a PG equivalent film, if all the language impurities were removed. This can be done with a TVGuardian unit. I know because I watched the DVD a second time through the TVGuardian unit and it silenced each and every foul word including all abuses of God's name. Daniel (Brian Boland) and Kristi Rey (Sprague Grayden) live with his teen daughter, Ali (Molly Ephraim) and their toddler son, Hunter (William Juan Prieto, Jackson Xenia Prieto) in a well-to-do suburban home. All is well with the Rey world until August 6, 2006 when "things" start to happen. At first, the happenings are little odd noises and faint bumps-in-the-night. Soon a cooking pot starts to drop from the pot hanger all on its own and doors start opening and closing on their own. As days progress "things" start to get violent and graphic. Near the end as Kristi enter's Hunter's room she is dragged down a flight of stairs and thrown into the basement. Kristi turns up with a bite on her front left thigh and becomes silent and withdrawn except when Daniel tries to exorcise her -- she attacks Daniel. It seems, as the story goes and if I have it right, if someone makes a deal with a demon for power and wealth, the demon takes the first born male. Apparently, Kristi's great grandmother made such a deal with a demon and the demon has yet to collect its due because a male had not been born to Kristi's side of the family since the 1930s. Now Hunter is available and the demon is going to collect. And does. This is a film portraying unholy events. It appears to claim to be based on a true story but I do not believe one fiber of it. If you like films that drag you through minutes of "home videos" and security camera files with empty viewing time as each camera focuses on one scene with no activity for extended periods then this is the film for you. You will get to know well the front door and the arch above it, the stairway, the kitchen and other areas of the Rey house. Ooops! I said no activity. You do get to spend long periods watching the activity of a swimming pool cleaner snork around the pool. It is not until the final 25% or so of the film that any significant activity happens. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 41 out of 100 All the violence in this film is embedded within unholy events. And some are graphic. An example is Kristi being knocked down by some invisible force then dragged by her feet down the stairs then thrown into the basement. Additional graphic content includes the inexplicable bite on Kristi's leg, the explosive inexplicable opening of all the kitchen cabinet doors and the images of the toothy demon as it possesses who appears to be Kristi. Violence is "catching." So much so that not only God warns about embracing violence [Prov. 16:29, 1 Cor. 15:33 and many others], four American professional health agencies jointly warn of the proselytizing effect of violence in and as entertainment: that "Viewing violence may lead to real life violence." Impudence/Hate (I) - Zero out of 100 Ephraim has one of the most foul mouths I have heard onscreen. Her arrogance with the spoken language is astoundingly ugly. While I am certain she is not a teenager in real life she plays a teenager in the film. Not that that matters since such language is sinful whetter spoken by an adult or by a child, that she is playing the part of a foul mouthed high school teenager says a lot to the high schoolers watching. The most foul of the foul words is spoken 27 times and most of them by Ephraim. Examples of the three/four letter word vocabulary (other than the most foul of the foul words) are spoken only 16 times. Though that is 16 times too many, that there are 27 uses of the most foul of the foul words but only 16 of the other words of profanity says the writers certainly have a way with word. [Col. 3:8] Sexual Immorality (S) - 45 out of 100 As many will agree, it seems there is only one thing one the mind of a teenage boy. This film is true to the stereotyping. Ali's boyfriend, Brad (Seth Ginsberg) has little to say when with Ali other than booty calls and sexual inferences. And putting Ali and Brad together alone in her father's house does nothing to impede sexual irresponsibility. [Deut. 22:21] Granted, sexual desires may be unavoidable for a young teen boy but for entertainment to embolden such desires is not good when we are to mortify anything that defeats sexual humility. [Col. 3:5] Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 96 out of 100 Only one instance of displaying alcoholic beverage was noted. Offense to God (O) - Zero out of 100 Here is where it gets thick. So thick the examples per hour of instances applicable to this investigation area averaged 37.1 per hour. Thick with matters of inexplicable events: sounds; opening/closing of doors; toys activating by themselves; levitation of a toddler; things happening by an invisible force. Ali embraces house haunting and demonology. [Eph. 4:27, Lev. 20:6, Eph. 5:11] Murder/Suicide (M) - 76 out of 100 Two malefic murders. One by Katie breaking Daniel's neck and one by Katie hitting Kristi in the neck hard enough to slam her (while holding Hunter) into the ceiling/wall junction. Both are portrayed with unholy powers of super strength. 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) - 41 out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - Zero out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - 45 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 96 out of 100 Offense to God (O) - Zero out of 100 Murder/Suicide (M) - 76 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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