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Entertainment Media Analysis Report
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MAR2011.089

(2010), PG [Hard PG*] (1hr 30.7min)

Final Score
Analysis Date
Date Posted
Influence Density
MinMax
July 24, 2011
July 25, 2011
69
0.55
-51

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Christian Long Distance

SUMMARY / COMMENTARY:
(While the Scriptural references are certainly not subjective, my commentary may be and sometimes is somewhat subjective.)

If Scriptural references appear, the full text appears at the end of the Summary / Commentary.



(2010), PG [Hard PG*] ... was the "logic" the hand of God?


Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database
Production (US): Kipling Film Productions, rust Productions, Team Cherokee Productions
Distribution (US): Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Director(s): Corbin Bernsen
Producer(s): Corbin Bernsen, Pat Beaujot, Brian Manns, Brad Kearns, James Greilick, Dana Lesiuk, Chris Aronoff
Written by: Corbin Bernsen
Cinematography/Camera: Eric Gustavo Peterson
Music: Mike Post, Brandon McCormick
Film Editing: Jason Shabatoski
Casting: Jodi Sadowski
Production Design: Skye Rolick
Viewed on Sony Pictures Home Entertainment DVD



The moral rust that develops from hiding the truth can seize up the forward movement of life.

James Moore (Corbin Bernsen) left town as a teen because of a string of painful events that happened in his life, including the loss of his mother Audrey. Nevertheless, James answered his life's calling and became a minister. But of late, he has been suffering a crisis of faith. He was looking for answers and blamed Jesus for not giving him the answers. So, after about 30 years after leaving his home town of Kipling, Saskatchewan James returned. Maybe he will find the answers there. Or was it that God sent him back home to give him the answers?

Everything was the same while nothing was the same. Everything that looked the same was not. One change was the Pierce family had come from England to work the land. The father, Sam was exceedingly grateful to have and work the land but was apparently not quite as kind to one of the residents as he was with the rest. Travis Wexler (Lloyd Warner), an emotionally challenged young man had found disfavor in Sam's eyes and the whole town knew it. Indeed, Travis had found disfavor of some kind from everyone, enough disfavor that he was the primary suspect for the fire that killed Sam and his family. Travis even admitted to it. It was Travis' proximity to the fire and his "confession" that led to his conviction and sentencing to a psychiatric prison. But did he really start the fire or was he trying to protect someone?

In all this, James' father, Glenn (Frank Gall) was angry and bitter, boldly and openly disapproving of James for not finishing anything he had started. James' sister Mary (Audrey Lynn Tennent) has devoted her life to taking care of their father after James left home.

A miracle happened in Kipling. But it was not supernatural. Or was it? All things that happened are well within the natural order of things ... all very logical. Or was the "logic" the hand of God?

This film indeed earned a final score of 69 which places it in the bottom of the range of scores earned by PG-rated films (68 to 86 out of 100) in the comparative baseline database of movies. Rust is a "hard " PG.

Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 63 out of 100
Violence content consisted mainly of intense imagery of a home fire, some of the fire sequences were with human screaming. A tale of arson murder stole a few of the starting 100 points in this investigation area as well.

God admonishes us against violence throughout the Bible but particularly in Proverb 16:29. God warns that violence is "catching" and can lead one into the "way that is not good." And strangely enough 2000 years after the fact Man has plagiarized God's Word about violence by four professional public health agencies jointly publishing a finding that warns violence in and as entertainment "may lead to real life violence" and children who view violence in and as entertainment may "assume the acts of violence are acceptable behavior." How many more have to tell us about the dangers of violence in and as entertainment for us to believe it?

Impudence/Hate (I) - 52 out of 100
Teen arrogance toward and defiance of fair authority did not help the scoring. [1 Peter 5:5] Neither did the friction between a father and his son help the scoring. One use of profanity plus a term for the human posterior three times were noted plus one euphemism of the most foul of the foul words. [Eph. 4:29] The deception of the teens regarding their accountability to the fire that caused human death took its toll on the scoring as well. [2 Tim. 3:12-13]

Sexual Immorality (S) - 93 out of 100
The only content found that warranted incorporation into the scoring distribution were two instances of a very short skirt on a teen girl, Amanda Pierce (Kristen Collins). Why would a young woman want to show so much of her legs and so close to her crotch, especially when sitting, if not to entice or tease. Such dress is certainly not supportive of God's word about how a woman should dress. [1 Tim. 2:9] This may have been what the filmmakers wanted the imagery to impart but still it is an example shown. And the more of an aberrational behavior youth see in and as entertainment the more they find emboldenment to do likewise.

Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 41 out of 100
The smoking, drinking and drunkenness, especially by teens and without consequences was quite expensive to the scoring earned by the content found by this investigation area. Displaying of smoking, drinking and drunkenness in and as entertainment carries serious risks as revealed by the American College of Physicians (ACP).

A 2002 study by the American College of Physicians (ACP) revealed that adolescent exposure to drinking in and as entertainment undeniably leads to abuse of alcohol among underage viewers. The finding entitled Relation Between Parental Restrictions on Movies and Adolescent Use of Tobacco and Alcohol reports that of 4544 youths from grades 5 through 8 of fifteen Vermont and New Hampshire middle schools (90% of the youths were under fourteen years old) only 16% were completely restricted in their entertainment diets. Within the ACP study population, the prevalence of having tried alcohol without parental knowledge was

  • 46% for those with no viewing restrictions
  • 16% for those with partial viewing restrictions
  • four percent for those with complete viewing restrictions. [Eph. 5:18]

    There is nothing to say that smoking in and as entertainment does not carry the same danger of influence as drinking. Actually, the same matter of influence applies to any behavior demonstrated in and as entertainment, including good behavior.

    Offense to God (O) - 74 out of 100
    Unfortunately the teens spoke God's name as an expletive three times. Though each was without the four letter expletive. Whether with or without the four letter expletive it is a sin to utter God's name other than in respect, reverence or responsible discussion and in praise and prayer. [Deut. 5:11] That includes the popular three syllable sentence with His name trailing it.

    Murder/Suicide (M) - 93 out of 100
    Though the instance was off-camera, one teen committed suicide with a shotgun. The descriptives were rather graphic. Note that God condemns murder in more ways than one. He condemns murder even as one of the Ten Commandments. [Exod. 20:13] And suicide is murder of the self.


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    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

  • Prov. 16:29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good. [The issue is the violence, the 'way that is not good' no matter how "small" or "justified" the violence might seem, and its "leading" effect on the observer. "A violent man" can be any character of any age, any gender, human or not in the act of committing (demonstrating in the case of entertainment) violent behavior/action whether for good or evil OR the violent behaviors/actions themselves. Such exposure can and does embolden the viewer into aggression, especially youth. It took years for the American professional health community to finally affirm, probably without knowing it, that which God told us in 1 Cor. 15:33 below. See also Joint Statement on the Impact of Entertainment Violence on Children: Congressional Public Health Summit for more information. Further, God speaks darkly of violence 56 times in the Old and New Testament of the KJV.]
  • 1 Peter 5:5 Likewise [in humility as the elders who have charge over you], ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud [huperephanos {hoop-er-ay'-fan-os}: an overweening estimate of one's means or merits, despising others or even treating them with contempt, haughty], and giveth grace to the humble.
  • Eph. 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
  • 2 Tim. 3:12-13 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
  • Luke 4:12 Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' "
  • 1 Tim. 2:9 I also want women to dress modestly, ... [Which applies to men as well.]
  • Eph. 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. [Since "drunk" is methusko {meth-oos'-ko}: to intoxicate; make drunk; to get drunk; become intoxicated, "wine" can be any intoxicating substance including illegal drugs or abuse of prescription drugs. The issue is do not abuse the body by intoxicating it [1 Cor. 6:19]. Though it is not a sin to drink, it is a sin to get drunk OR to influence to get drunk OR to drink in defiance such as underage drinking.]
  • Deut. 5:11 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain. [Vain is shav {shawv}: emptiness, nothingness, vanity, such as an expletive. With or without the four letter expletive, the use of God's name in any way other than respect, reverence or responsible discussion and in praise and prayer is in vain. That includes the popular three syllable sentence with His name trailing it AND the misuse of Jesus' name or title. So, trying to excuse such expressions with "I was talking TO God/Jesus when I said that" or It's just words" or "I was acting" will not work with Him. Nor will "Everybody says that" excuse the sin of using His name in vain. If everyone on the planet who has ever drawn a breath used His name in vain, it would still be a sin to do so. If no one ever did, it would still be a sin to do so. Whether we believe it or not. Whether we like it or not. Whether we care or not.]
  • Exod. 20:13 You shall not murder. [This is the 6th of the Ten Commandments]

    ***Selected Scriptures of Armour against the influence of the entertainment industry***
  • Jer. 37:9 This is what the LORD says: Do not deceive yourselves, thinking, 'The Babylonians [the destroyers from within] will surely leave us.' They will not!
  • Ps. 12:8 The wicked freely strut about [e.g., create progressively vile/offensive entertainment with impunity and no consequences and present it to younger and younger audiences every year] when what is vile is honored among men [when enough people continue to defend it, embrace it, enjoy it, want it, submit to it. I call attention to Ps. 12:8 to warn of the creeping desensitizing power of "entertainment."]
  • Col. 2:8 Beware lest any man [by his influence] spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
  • 1 Cor. 15:33 Be not deceived: evil [kakov: of a bad nature, not such as it ought to be] communications corrupt good manners.
  • Rom. 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
  • Jude 1:4 For there are certain men* crept in unawares [secretly slipped in among us], who were before of old ordained to this condemnation [whose condemnation was written about long ago], ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness [a license for immorality], and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. [*men: anthropos {anth'-ro-pos}, generic, a human being, whether male or female]
  • Matt. 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
  • Luke 17:2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. [Offend: skandalizo {skan-dal-id'-zo} - scandalize; to entice to sin; to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey; to cause to fall away.]
  • Ps. 119:133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me [let no sin rule over me].
  • John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
  • 1 Thess. 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. ["Evil" includes all things that are sinful.]


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    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.
  • FINDINGS / SCORING:
    (The objective heart of the CAP Analysis Model, independent of and insulated from the Summary / Commentary section.)


    Rust (2010) CAP Thermometers

    Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 63 out of 100
  • multiple long sequences of home fire imagery, some with human screams
  • portrayal of funeral pain
  • tale of arson murder
  • unauthorized viewing of police files

    Impudence/Hate (I) - 52 out of 100
  • one use of the three/four letter word vocabulary plus three uses of the term for human posterior plus one euphemism for the most foul of the foul words
  • teen attitude of arrogance, defiance and rebellion, repeatedly
  • father/son friction
  • teen deception

    Sexual Immorality (S) - 93 out of 100
  • very short skirt, twice

    Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 41 out of 100
  • smoking, frequent, including teen smoking
  • teen drinking
  • teen drunkenness

    Offense to God (O) - 74 out of 100
  • putting God to the test [Luke 4:12]
  • three uses of God's name in vain

    Murder/Suicide (M) - 93 out of 100
  • one teen suicide (off-camera)















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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 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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    Please note our new manner of indicating a film's Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) rating in comparison with the CAP equivalence such as "PG-13 [R-13]." The first term is the Motion Picture Association of America's (MPAA) rating. The second term [in brackets] indicates that which the film earned under the CAP analysis model. In the example, "PG-13 [R-13]" indicates the MPAA rated the film PG-13 but the film earned a CAP final score in the scoring range earned by R-rated movies in the comparative baseline database. Other comparative terms used might be "PG [13-PG]", "G [PG-G] or even 'PG-13 [PG]" as was the case for Alien vs Predator. I doubt there will ever be a "G [R]" used, but only time will tell. The CAP analysis model is Rock-solid. The MPAA is not.

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