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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 MAR2011.030  (2008), PG-13 [Hard PG-13*] (1hr 35min) 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): Clear Entertainment, Cloud Ten Pictures Distribution (US): Cloud Ten Pictures Director(s): Duane Crichton Producer(s): Sherri Bennett, Tim Cherry, Emanuel 'Manny' Danelon, Philip Mellows, Pazz Neglia, Domenic Serafino, Wayne Thompson, André van Heerden Screenplay: Michael Jackson Music: Eric Cadesky Production Design: Svjetlana Jaklenec Art Direction: Brian Verhoog Viewed on Cloud Ten Pictures Home Entertainment DVD  Ving Rhames as a pastor! Whodda thunk it? But he did a good job. A god job indeed. While the final CAP score of 56 places the content of this film equivalent to most hard PG-13 films in the comparative baseline database (55 to 67 out of 100), a Wanton violence/Crime investigation area score of zero certainly makes the violence/crime content R-equivalent (54 and below). Blaze must die that John Henry James can live. This is a complex and extended story building up to that matter. Save God! How can man be so arrogant as to think God must be saved? Well, the point is that God must be saved ... from our arrogance that distances us from Him. That is what convicted murderer Armstrong Cane (Ving Rhames) is going to do with the inner city parishioners of a depressed area church he attended as a child, the church his father pastored. (Now there is excellent type casting -- Ving Rhames with the character name of "Armstrong.") Cane has been in a Federal penitentiary for 15 years for murder. As a much younger man the uncontrolled foolishness bound in Cane's heart drove him to kill a man for slapping him in front of his date. But while in prison, Armstrong became a pastor. On his way to step into his church, the First Community Church of God for the first time in 15 years, Armstrong meets Young Norris Johns (Dwain Murphy) as Norris deals drugs in front of the church. A competitor, Bug (David Carty) was there to do "crowdation" on Norris -- the territory of drug boss Blaze (Dean McDermott). Stepping in (or maybe "stomping in") Pastor Cane explained in no uncertain terms to the boys, especially the competitor, that no one will deal drugs in or around church property. Though Norris keeps trying to get out of dealing drugs, Blaze keeps pressuring him into continuing. Soon, Norris gets "popped" (arrested) for possession with intent to distribute illegal drugs. Pastor Cane, seeing more to Norris than meets the eye, bails him out and starts him on a path of righteousness. But the trials and tribulations along that path are many and each is incredibly difficult ... and dangerous. Dangerous not only to Norris but to Pastor Cane, Norris' grandmother Mavis (Barbara Barnes-Hopkins), his pregnant girlfriend Ashley (Genelle Williams) and her mother (Kathy Maloney) and anyone else connected with Norris. Lethally dangerous as Bug found out. There is much more to the story, of course, but I am not going to spoil it any further should you decide, based on what this report reveals, that the film is fit for your audience. Please inspect with sobriety the brief discussions of content that follow and the detailed listing of findings in the Findings/Scoring section. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - Zero out of 100 As revealed above, Saving God is easily equivalent to many R-rated films in violence/crime. Some of the more intense instances of violence/crime included abduction, firearms held to heads, armed robbery GTA, multiple assaults, extensive fighting and beating. While these events are certainly a "way of life" for most inner city youth, seeing them in and as entertainment serves to embolden and perpetuate such chosen behaviors. Even God warned us of that in His Word [Prov. 16:29] 2000 years ago. But do we listen? Whether knowing it or not, four professional public health agencies listened. Jointly. Impudence/Hate (I) - 51 out of 100 The euphemism for the human posterior was used three times but there were no other uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary nor of the most foul of the foul words. However, there were a number of matters of impudence of youth at parents. There were also threats to do harm and one use of masked profanity. Sexual Immorality (S) - 75 out of 100 Though the sex act was unseen, the pregnancy of Ashley was clearly due to immoral sex with Norris. [1 Cor. 7:1-2] Also, Pastor Danny Christopher (Ricardo Chavira) makes booty calls to himself at a girl named Peaches (not credited) who was dressed to maximize her body plus speaking with lust of her at the sight. These are the only sexual matters noted. God warns us of such desires. He, as Jesus, told men that to even look upon a woman with lust has committed adultery with her in his heart. [Matt. 5:28] And since "her" in "committed adultery with her" and "to lust after her" in Matt. 5:28 is autos meaning "him", "her", "he", "she", Matt. 5:28 applies to women ogling men as well. Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 40 out of 100 There are many references to illegal drugs and drug dealing throughout the 95 minutes of this film. There are also a few instances of a woman smoking cigarettes. Offense to God (O) - 68 out of 100 Pastor Christopher is noted saying that the Lord in the form of Danny Christopher has come to give a little bit of Salvation to Peaches as she lures him into the armed robbery. [Rom. 16:18] Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 Though there was one murder, the view of the matter was simply a dead body on the ground after the fact. None of the mechanics of murder were seen. Thus, the matter was incorporated into the Wanton Violence/Crime investigation area. 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) - Zero out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - 51 out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - 75 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 40 out of 100 Offense to God (O) - 68 out of 100 Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 * no murder or suicide noted |
| 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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