ChildCare Action Project:
Christian Analysis of American Culture (CAP)

Entertainment Media Analysis Report

MAR00598
Titanic (1997)
PG-13
CAP Score: 51
CAP ID: 0.90

Thomas A. Carder
CAP President

ALERT: To fully understand this report you should first visit the topics suggested by
the CAP Home Page Table of Contents.





Titanic (1997) CAP Thermometers Titanic (1997) was NOT a PG-13 movie! By numeric comparative analysis with movies of just a few years ago, Titanic was clearly R-rated programming! The same analytical model used to analyze the content of movies between 1995 and 1996 - the CAP Entertainment Media Analysis Model (the CAP Model) - was used on Titanic -- the very same model. Titanic clearly contained programming equivalent to R-rated movies of the analysis period just two to three years ago -- statistical proof that either the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has lowered their acceptance criteria or the CAP Model has changed. As author and engineer of the CAP Model, I can say it has not changed.

Titanic (1997) was an extremely violent movie with appalling and unjust escape of impending doom at the expense of the lives of others. But to steal thunder from the magnitutde of violence, this movie presented nudity of unprecedented extent for PG-13 movies. If Kate Winslett (young Rose DeWitt Bukater) had worn only the bottom half of a thong bikini, we would have seen less of the young lady. And this panoramic view of Winslett -- front and back -- was most certainly presented in a sensual manner. The MPAA states that "If nudity is sexually oriented, the film will generally not be found in the PG-13 category."[1] Hmmm. Makes me wonder how the MPAA defines "sexually oriented?" In addition, a scene of sexual intercourse gave definition to "steamy."

[1] The Voluntary Movie Rating System: How It Began, Its Purpose, The Public Reaction. Jack Valenti, President and CEO. ©1994.

Wanton Violence/Crime (W) lost all of its starting 100 points due to multiple violent deaths by drowning, falling, crushing, and freezing plus graphical presentation of drownings, abandonment for death, violent entrapment, effective horror of anticipation of eminent death, presentation of drowned bodies, and death by electrocution.

Impunity/Hate (I)(1) lost some of its 100 points due to the use of the most foul of the foul words.

Sex/Homosexuality (S) lost much of its 100-points bank due to nearly full nudity.

Drugs/Alcohol (D) was of the weaker of the inlfuences. The observed examples are listed below.

The use of God's name in vain with the four letter expletive FIVE TIMES contributed to the loss of more than half of the 100 starting points for Offense to God (O)(2).

Murder/Suicide (M)(3) earned some scoring loss due to a suicide with seeing a firearm at the victim's head.

The additional examples of unacceptable programming which further reduced the scoring in each Investigation Area included:

  • thirty uses of hard language (breakdown available by request in writing via #10 SASE)
  • gambling with fighting
  • reckless endangerment and encouragement to take personal risks
  • contemplation of suicide
  • near death as the result of suicide attempt
  • violent control of fiancé
  • striking of a woman
  • control with a firearm (at least eighteen instances) with injury (attmepted murder) and death resulting
  • suicidal risks
  • beating to control
  • fighting to control
  • bribing and lies to gain rescue favor and lies to cover up guilt and using a child as justification for rescue ahead of women and children
  • children in mortal danger
  • talk of suicide
  • arrogant/suicidal defiance of maternal wishes/directives
  • hatred of mother
  • eleven instances of picture nudity
  • two instances of camera angle to force viewer into overhead view of cleavage
  • at least three sexual references and innuendo
  • partial nudity
  • request for sexual performance
  • protrayal of dropping of sexual inhibitions as desirable and acceptable
  • lustful behavior and countenance
  • sexual intercourse with implied and partial nudity
  • five instances of alcoholic drink: champaign as a dinner beverage and beer to celebrate
  • seventeen instances of the use of God's name in vain without the four letter expletive

    • In accordance with the comparative baseline database of the CAP Entertainment Media Analysis Model, Titanic (1997) presented programming equivalent to R-rated material in Wanton Violence/Crime, Impunity/Hate, Sex/Homosexuality, and Offense to God. Titanic was equivalent to G-rated programming in Drugs/Alcohol and Murder/Suicide. Thus, the movie was equivalent to 66% R-rated programming and 34% G-rated programming.

    ADDENDUM May 16, 1998: By further observation of the impact of Titanic and its slap in the face of wholesome ethics, I have come to believe there has not been a more subliminal, far-reaching theft of innocence of such scale and dimension in the history of childhood than Titanic! And by personally researching all the written accountings of the survivors (the passengers, officers and crew), it wasn't even real! It was guesswork with a few points of accuracy to give it an air of credibility! Now the Romeo and Juliet of 1997 are emblazoned with anatomical accuracy into the brains of almost every child who can hold his/her own popcorn box.


    (1) As noted in CAP Special Report-001, "Investigation Area and Scoring Trend," of the six CAP Investigation Areas, Impunity/Hate was the strongest presence in all four movie classifications. It has a strong revelation about the entertainment media.

    (2) The use of the three/four letter word vocabulary without God's name is incorporated into the Impunity/Hate Investigation Area. The use of God's name with or without the three/four letter word vocabulary is incorporated into the Offense to God Investigation Area. There is no duplication. As required of the Holy Scriptures, unless God's name is used with reverence to His glory and praise, its use is considered in vain, whether literal or euphemistic.

    (3) Only portrayal of successful murder or suicide are incorporated into Murder/Suicide. Presentation of attempts to commit murder or suicide, deaths by police action, and deaths by war are incorporated into Wanton Violence/Crime.


    Please remember we believe that if even one of the six Investigation Area scores for a movie is equivalent to the CAP comparative baseline database scoring range for R, PG-13, or PG material, the entire movie should be regarded as so rated.  For example, if only Wanton Violence/Crime earns a score equivalent to R but all other Investigation Areas earn a score equivalent to G, THERE IS R-RATED MATERIAL IN THE MOVIE AND YOUR KIDS WILL SEE IT AND HEAR IT IF THEY WATCH THE MOVIE!




    Additional reviews of this movie may be located at "Movie Review Query Engine at Telerama."




    The ChildCare Action Project (CAP) is a nonprofit Christian ministry. We rely on public support. If you wish to contribute to the CAP, please send your donations to

    ChildCare Action Project
    Post Office Box 177
    Granbury, TX 76048-0177

    Tax exemption applies in accordance with Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Tax Codes.

    Please feel free to write to us.



    You are welcome to
    Go back to the CAP Reports Page
    or
    Top of the CAP Home Page
    or
    CAP Table of Contents

    or leave me an email message or comment at

    cap@capalert.com





    Thank you for visiting us and may God bless you. Prayerfully, we will provide you with some of the most revealing commentary and investigative reporting you have ever read.

    In the name of Jesus:
    Lord, Master, Teacher, Savior, God.

    Thomas A. Carder
    President
    ChildCare Action Project: Christian Analysis of American Culture (CAP)

    Copyright ChildCare Action Project (CAP)