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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.---  (2011), PG-13 [R-13*] (1hr 49min) 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): New Line Cinema, Contrafilm, Fletcher & Company, Mid Atlantic Film Distribution (US): Warner Home Video Director(s): Mikael Håfström Producer(s): Christopher Almerico, Robert Bernacchi, Christy Fletcher, Beau Flynn, Mark Tuohy, Gian Paolo Varani,Tripp Vinson Written by: Michael Petroni, Matt Baglio (book suggestion) Cinematography/Camera: Ben Davis Music: Alex Heffes Film Editing: David Rosenbloom Casting: Deborah Aquila Production Design: Andrew Laws Art Direction: Lóránt Jávor, Stuart Kearns Viewed on New Line Cinema Productions Home Entertainment DVD  I've been in service to Jesus for many years now and I have never seen a demon possession like Hollywood wants us to think of them. I may have been involved in an exorcism when I prayed for a family in Florida and a cat went ballistic and a crack appeared in a French door glass as I finished the prayer. But other than that, nothing. At least nothing like Michael Kovak (Colin O'Donoghue) or Father Trevant (Anthony Hopkins) portrayed in this film. I indeed believe demon possession is a reality since Jesus cast out demons [e.g., Matt. 8:31 - 32] and charged His Disciples to do likewise. And I believe in angelic possession. But I just cannot believe demon possession can cause such grotesque deformation of human tissue, body contortions and aberration of behavior as Hollywood portrays it. The Rite is a standard formula exorcism movie but if you are looking for a fright factor equivalent to The Exorcist of 1973, it is simply not here. The filmmakers claim "What follows is inspired by true events." I would like to add "...I suspect with liberal addition of embellishments." I will offer that there is one really true statement made by the Father Trevant character: "Be careful. Choosing not to believe in the devil won't protect you from him." Indeed, not believing the devil exists opens you up to his influence. The movie keeps saying the devil is a deceiver. I am going to "sermonize" on that for a while and share with you one of my publications from years ago: 
 Michael Kovak, the son of a mortician father, Istvan (Rutger Hauer), is confused about what he is going to do with his life. It appears he, like the rest of his heritage, will be either a mortician or a priest. Michael chooses becoming a priest. In his last year of seminary school and after submitting a resignation, Father Matthew (Toby Jones) talks Michael into going to a special school in Italy ... an exorcism school. In Michael's gnawing doubt about his faith, Father Xavier (Ciarán Hinds), lead instructor of the exorcism training, advises Michael to take a day off and visit Father Lucas Trevant (Anthony Hopkins) a seasoned exorcist. Father Xavier is confident Michael's doubt will be erased by shadowing Father Trevant. After observing and assisting with a couple "minor" exorcisms Michael becomes less uncertain about the reality of demon possession and his faith. It is Michael's new-found faith that saves Father Trevant. Following are brief individual investigation area discussions regarding the film content applicable to the subject area. As always it is best to look to the listings in the Findings/Scoring section (the heart of the CAP Analysis Model) for a full accounting of the content found. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 11 out of 100 The content of this film is not really that violent but there is so much violence that the film projects an envelope or overall magnitude of violence equivalent to the violence content of many R-rated films. (See our CAP Rule of 1000 for more information about this technique of loading the content of a film.) Some of the heaviest violence contents of the film include a graphic traffic fatality, injuries on a young boy that mimic severe abuse, bloody discharge from a woman and a "demon" comment about eating a newborn child. One of the properties of viewing violence is true for just about any form of behavior, good or bad. First, let me share with you that which was revealed by four professional public health agencies about viewing violence: that "viewing violence may lead to real life violence." Man discovered and published this finding 2000 years after God warned us about the "catching" property of violence: that for man it can "lead him into the way that is not good." [Prov. 16:29] The reason I said "One of the properties of viewing violence is true for just about any form of behavior, good or bad" above is that "violence" in "viewing violence may lead to real life violence" and its application to "lead him into the way that is not good" can be replaced with just about any chosen behavior and still be true. For example, "viewing sex may lead to real life sex" or "viewing theft may lead to real life theft" or "viewing rebellion may lead to real life rebellion", etc. And language. And arrogance. And ... But on the flip side of that perspective, "viewing honor and trust may lead to real life honor and trust" and "lead him into the way that is good." And so on. Impudence/Hate (I) - 39 out of 100 This film is atypically lite in profanity for a PG-13 but the eight times someone cusses is eight times too many according to God. [Col. 3:8] And in keeping with the concept that "viewing violence may lead to real life violence", "'viewing' profanity may lead to real life profanity." There is no escaping it ... as long as movies ooze aberrant behavior. And though our youth are magnitudes higher on the totem pole than monkeys, the old expression of "monkey see, monkey do" fits here as well. Kids don't start out knowing what cuss words are. They must hear them from someone else. [Luke 17:2] Sexual Immorality (S) - 42 out of 100 While there is nothing that could be described as "R-caliber" sexually immoral behaviors demonstrated in this film, there are so many of the not-so-offensive sexually motivated examples of assault on morality and decency. This investigation area, too, found so many of the "lesser" issues of content to be equivalent in magnitude or total envelope to the fewer but more extreme examples of sexually oriented behaviors in many R-rated features. The assaults on sexual humility included choices such as a booty call, a sexual insult, excessive display of skin (during an "exorcism"), a vulgar invitation for sex (also during an "exorcism") and pregnancy due to rape (not seen) of a 16 year old girl by her father. Choices? Yes. Not one scene in a film, not one photon of light, not one dyne of sound is not chosen to be there. [Eph. 5:3 - 5, Eph. 5:12] Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 88 out of 100 This investigation area found content to be mathematically equivalent to many G-rated films. No one gets drunk. No one uses illegal drugs nor are any even mentioned. And no one smokes or abuses prescription drugs. There is one scene where Michael and a friend of his hold beer in their hands at a bar, but nothing more. [Eph. 5:18] Offense to God (O) - Zero out of 100 Here is where the content gets the most bold. The content of the film applicable to this investigation area is truly equivalent to the same content in many R-rated films. Again, not because of the severity of individual examples of assault on God's Word and His Way but because of so many examples. The number of examples of content of this nature, 30.8 per hour, are so many that to even try to summarize them here would belabor the point. Please inspect the listing in the Findings/Scoring section for a full accounting of what was found. Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 There were no murders or suicides 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 objective heart of the CAP Analysis Model, independent of and insulated from the Summary / Commentary section.)  Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 11 out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - 39 out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - 42 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 88 out of 100 Offense to God (O) - Zero 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 |