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Christian Analysis of American Culture (CAP Ministry) www.capalert.com/ Entertainment Media Analysis Report A service to His little ones (which includes at-home teens) through you, their parents and grandparents, in His name by His Word MAR24013  (2004), PG-13 |
Written/Prepared by:  T. Carder |
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ALERT: To fully understand this report you should first visit the topics suggested by the CAP Site Map (Table of Contents). Further, if you do not want the plot, ending, or "secrets" of a movie spoiled for you, skip the Summary/Commentary. In any case, be sure to visit the Findings/Scoring section -- it is completely objective to His Word and is the heart of the CAP Entertainment Media Analysis Model applied to this movie. |  |
 (2004), PG-13 -- Cheating used to be portrayed as wrong, ...  Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database Production (US): Paramount Pictures, MTV Films, Spyglass Entertainment, Tollin/Robbins Productions Distribution (US): Paramount Pictures Director(s): Brian Robbins Producer(s): Roger Birnbaum, Jonathan Glickman, Donald J. Lee Jr., Brian Robbins, Michael Tollin Story: Marc Hyman, Jon Zack Screenplay: Mark Schwahn, Marc Hyman, Jon Zack Cinematography/Camera: J. Clark Mathis Music: John Murphy Film Editing: Ned Bastille Casting: Amanda Mackey Johnson, Cathy Sandrich Production Design: Jaymes Hinkle Art Direction: Sandi Tanaka Viewed At: Driftwood Theater 6 Another R-13. Earning a final score of 46 with R-rated moves in the comparative baseline database earning scores of 54 and below out of 100, there's no arguing it. A group of larcenous high school kids fearing the SAT exams resort to crime. They stole the answers to the SAT to cheat their way into their favorite college. Cheating used to be portrayed as wrong, even in movies, instead of with the new age "I did what I did" grasp for freedom from authority Even I remember when cheating was portrayed as wrong.[2Tim. 2:5] Other than that, there is little to be said about this film. Nothing outstanding. Nothing unforgettable. Of course, the end justifies the means as the self-redeeming caper kids show regret for the dastardly deed and don't even take advantage of the ill-gotten gain. I guess that shows to go you that all sins along a path are justified by its noble destination. Maybe by man's rules but not God's. Since the high schoolers were not learned enough to make the grade nor honest enough to accept their failure and work to fix it, theft was the only thing their adolescent minds could come up with. Well! Why work when you can steal, right? And how convenient. Rebellious teen comrade Francesca's (Scarlett Johansson) father owned the building housing the Educational Testing Service which manages the SAT and the answer key. Francesca knows all the security guards and their rounds and the times of them. During her first try at the SAT, very smart Anna (Erika Christensen) freezes up and bombs. Kyle (Chris Evans), an architect wannabe, does not do well enough on his first try at the SAT to get into the top architect school, Cornell University. Desmond (Darius Miles) has been scholastically squeaking by on basketball graft but has realized he must do well on the SAT to qualify for a scholarship to St. John's where he can learn knowledge that he can use for earning an income after basketball. Doofus techno whiz kid, Roy (Leonardo Nam) is continuously stoned and could not care less about the SAT but joins in because the beans were spilled to him while in a bathroom stall as Kyle spoke too loud about the plans to steal the SAT answers. Of noteworthy concern to parents who care about the moral standards of their children, there are 51 uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary in this 92 minute romp into teen freedom from authority, freedom from accountability and freedom from consequences. [Col. 3:8; 2 Tim. 2:16 - 17] All but a few of the 51 uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary plus the one use of the most foul of the foul words and God's name in vain (but without the four letter expletive) were spoken by teens. [Deut. 5:11; Titus 2:6-8; Prov. 8:13; Prov. 8:13] While there were no noted instances of intercourse in this PG-13 (which is becoming quite unusual for a PG-13), judging by the animation of the boy and girl making out in a car, there was little doubt about where they were headed. But there were many other issues of sexual immorality: dressing to maximize the female form and/or skin exposure repeatedly; sexual comments and innuendo, both heterosexual and lesbian; below-navel skin, female. [1Ths. 4:3 - 7] And there certainly were issues of teen arrogance against parents and portrayal of parents as shallow, self-serving, "sugar daddy" nymphomaniacs. [Isa. 2:17; Eph. 5:4] Profane language, sex and arrogance were the big point losers in this teen film: the cinematic matters on which Hollywood filmmakers seem to think teens thrive and for which teens have come to thirst because of being fed so much of them by Hollywood. [Luke 17:2] And if you don't believe that, take every use of the three/four letter word vocabulary, every manner and issue of sexual immorality and every flip-off to authority out of the film and see how many teens pay to watch it. The listing in the Findings/Scoring section will reveal all that was noted.
SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S) If needed to focus or fortify, applicable text is underlined or bracketed [ ]. 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. ***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) |
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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. |
