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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 MAR24031  (2004), PGWITH COMPARATIVE |
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 (2004), PG -- ...much better... WITH COMPARTIVE  Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database Production (US): Warner Bros., Mosaic Media Group Distribution (US): Warner Bros., Warner Bros. Pictures Inc. Director(s): Raja Gosnell Producer(s): James Gunn, Brent O'Connor, Charles Roven, Kelley Smith-Wait, Richard Suckle Characters: William Hanna, Joseph Barbera Written by/Screeplay: James Gunn Cinematography/Camera: Oliver Wood Music: David Newman Casting: Heike Brandstatter, Coreen Mayrs, Mary Vernieu Production Design: Bill Boes Art Direction: Don Macaulay, Michael N. Wong Viewed at: Loews Keystone Park 16, Dallas, TX The Mystery, Inc. gang is back; Fred (Freddie Prinze Jr.), Daphne (Sarah Michelle Gellar), Shaggy (Matthew Lillard), Velma (Linda Cardellini) and Scooby-Doo (Neil Fanning voice). This time, Sarah Michelle Gellar does not show us as much of Sarah Michelle Gellar. She wears very short skirts as does Linda Cardellini, but none of the plunging necklines. The Gang thwarts the evil plans of the evil masked figure (Scott McNeil) to wreak havoc in Coolsville by creating monsters with the Monster Machine using Radomonium from certain silver mines. If you watch the show and want deeper detail into the plot, note Dr. Jonathan Jacobo (Tim Blake Nelson), Patrick (Seth Green), curator of the Coolsonian Museum and Reporter Heather Jasper Howe (Alicia Silverstone) who apparently has intentions on Fred. The Gang are led by their investigations to the Coolsonian Museum which displays many of the costumes worn by villains the Gang had defeated: Captain Cutler, the 10,000 Volt Ghost (Dee Bradley Baker), a pterodactyl, the Creeper, the Tar monster (voice of Michael Sorich), the Black Knight (voice of Bob Papenbrook) and others. At a book release and full red carpet formal affair at the Coolsonian, the evil masked figure announces his plans as several of the costumes come to life and wreak mayhem. The Cotton Candy Glob (also the voice of Michael Sorich) should never have threatened Shaggy and Scooby. I am not going to present as much detail of the plot as usual since this film has not yet been released. I will, however, provide all that was noted regarding morally questionable presentation. Scooby-Doo 2 is much better than the original Scooby-Doo (2002) not only because of the measurably lesser and fewer issues of assault on ethics and morality but because of just a plain better job at film making and story-telling. To help you see the difference in the moral quality between the two films, following is a comparative display of the scoring:  For example, note in particular the glaring lesser content of sexually questionable material and imagery [Sexual Immorality (S)] in Scooby-Doo 2 as compared to the same for Scooby-Doo (2002). The thermometers reveal a score of one left out of 100 for Scooby-Doo (2002) and 77 for Scooby-Doo 2. Scooby-Doo 2 is noticeably more violent than Scooby-Doo (2002) but is less evil as revealed by the large improvement of of the Offense to God (O) score. I will leave the rest of the comparison to you. Confidence is high our readers are quite capable of comparing the scores on their own. I provide the above comparative display simply as a matter of convenience. The filmmakers were even considerate when the camera was viewing Velma from below while she was hanging from a catwalk -- she was wearing shorts under her short skirt. The filmmakers were even more modest this time during the more acrobatic scenes, keeping exposure of the girls to a relatively respectable minimum. About the most sexually suggestive matter in the whole film was Velma in a skin-tight red leather outfit trying to vamp it up to attract a man and the camera forcing the viewer to focus on her posterior as she climbed into a van from the side door. These matters of improved morality are of significant curiosity since the screenwriter is the same as for Dawn of the Dead, namely James Gunn. There was only one use of the three/four letter word vocabulary and it was only a euphemism of a truly dirty word. [Prov. 22:11] There was, however, one clear use of God's name in vain but without the four letter expletive. There are a number of examples of crude and toilet humor such as Shaggy using Scooby as a source of compressed flammable gas and a bulldog barking in subtitles "Sniff my [euphemism of posterior]" at Scooby. Dart players throwing darts at a photo of Fred and landing one on his crotch could well have been left out. And one of the girls clamping an electric cable to the crotch of the metal clad Black Knight was a little gross. When Scooby ran between the legs of one of the monsters, the monster's pants dropped, exposing his underwear and some curvature of anatomy. A vomit shower given to one of the reporters was maybe more gratifying than offensive, but offensive crude humor nonetheless. [Eph. 5:4] About the monsters, while they are ho-hum for the adults, though clearly comical they are likely scary for the really young ones and might invoke nightmares for them. And some sequences of action violence involving the monsters were quite strong with rather graphic battle sequences. But since in the plot they were manufactured by a machine using Randomonium how could I, with a clear conscience, call them occult or Satanic. One issue I would especially like you to know about was Velma's comment about mysteries when trying to dodge a social affair with Patrick. She said "A mystery is my mistress and I must hear her sweet call." Why would a woman say she must hear the sweet call of her mistress if it were not intended to be a token reference to lesbianism/homosexuality which is subtly, almost invisibly becoming even more common in movies for the young (and public school programs). I guess it all depends on how you define "mistress." At least you know it is there. As always, we tell you about the content of films from a moral standpoint by His Word so you can be in a better position to make an informed moral decision whether a film is or is not fit for your kids and/or yourselves. By the way, a final score of 74 places Scooby-Doo 2 squarely in the scoring range (86 to 68 out of 100) earned by PG movies in the comparative baseline database circa 1996. The listing in the Findings/Scoring section will reveal all that was noted regardless of whether the listed items threaten to spoil the plot.
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. |
| In the name of Jesus: Lord, Master, Teacher, Savior, God. Tom Carder President ChildCare Action Project (CAP): Christian Analysis of American Culture 100% dependent on your tax-deductible financial support |  |