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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 MAR2011.071  (2010), PG-13 [Lite PG(13)*] (1hr 34.5min) 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): Level Path Productions, Whitow Films, The Trial Productions, LLC Distribution (US): Fox Home Entertainment Director(s): Gary Wheeler Producer(s): Gary Wheeler, Mark Freiburger, Matthew Modine, robert Whitlow, Kathy Whitlow, Brad Mix, Joh Ayers, Reid McGraw, Cha Gundersen Screenplay: Mark Freiburger, Gary Wheeler, Robert Whitlow Novel by: Robert Whitlow Cinematography/Camera: Tom Priestley, Philip Hurn Music: Rob Pottorf Film Editing: Jonathan Olive Casting: Beverly Holloway, Beverly Holloway Casting Production Design: John D. Kretschmer Viewed on Fox Home Entertainment DVD  Because of the loss of his wife, Laura and two sons to a car wreck, attorney Kent "Mac" McClain (Matthew Avery Modine) is suffering ... and so is his practice. At the point of having a gun to his chin and a bottle of drugs at the ready, a phone call from Judge William L. Danielson (Rance Howard, Ron Howard's father) snaps Mac back to reality with an order to represent accused murderer, Peter Thomason (Randy Wayne). In a daze of bewilderment and pain, Mac agrees to interview Thomason. Thomason is accused of murdering his girlfriend 21 year old heiress Angela Hightower (voice of Kera O'Bryon). At the interview, nothing of any substance that can be used in Thomason's defense was offered. All Mac could see is that Thomason reminds him of his son, Zach ... and that the ghosting of his lost son he saw in Thomason might be significant. It might be. Mac has to almost completely restart his practice. His first stop was to meet with his previous assistant, Mindy (Nikki Deloach) who agrees to again work for Mac. Now Mac needs an investigator. The first that comes to mind is his brother in law, Ray Morrison (Robert Forester). Also needing someone to pick Thomason's amnesiac brain, Mindy recommends Dr. Anna Wilkes (Clare Carey). Finally, Mac slowly comes to believe he needs help that cannot be found in past associates or professional comrades. This is an intriguing and comfortable film about courtroom proceedings that mimic most courtroom dramas but with a Spiritual flair. I am not going to spoil the film any further in case you find it fit by the content we reveal. The MPAA rated this film PG-13 for "some thematic material and a disturbing image." Granted, God is praised as He should be for our reliance on Him (which I am certain is the "thematic elements") but I could not find any "disturbing image" worthy of parental concern enough to be pointed out in the rating caption. The film shows flashes of the car wreck in which Mac's wife and sons were killed but the only thing about it that even approaches graphic is a small head wound on Mac with a little blood on the collapsed driver's side air bag. The film also displays a gunshot to disable an aggressor but neither the discharge of the gun nor the impact of the bullet is seen, only the pointing of the gun at the aggressor and the sound of the discharge. This film is not of typical PG-13 caliber. It is a PG(13)* film which means a film which earned a PG-equivalent score under the CAP Analysis Model but was rated PG-13 by the MPAA. We have been applying the CAP Analysis Model to films for more than 15 years now and have performed analysis of nearly 1400 films. We have even proven, regarding film content, that which Harvard University researchers proved but we proved it four years before them. Because of a number of matters of violence and/or crime and of alcohol consumption and/or illegal drug references, the magnitude of the content is indeed worthy of a PG label but certainly not a PG-13 label. The final score earned by the content of this film is 81 out of 100. This score places the content of the film solidly within the upper portion of the range of scores earned by films rated PG (86 to 68 out of 100) in the comparative baseline database. I suspect the PG-13 label is mostly because of the "Christian" content. Gotta do our best to keep children away from anything "Christian", don't we now? By the trending seen in nearly 1400 film analyses, not sex and violence and hate or other assaults on morality and decency, just "Christian." So sayeth the MPAA anyway. Apparently. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 44 out of 100 Because of the frequency of violence and/or crime content, this film is actually equivalent to some R-rated films in violence/crime. Films rated R in the comparative baseline database earned scores of 54 and below out of 100. The violence/crime content of this film earned an area score of 47. Examples of the violence/crime content include the images of the traffic collision, a tale of murder and a tale of suicide, an episode of defensive gunfire causing injury, defensive assault, embezzlement [Hab. 2:9] and others. Please look to the listing in the Findings/Scoring section for a complete listing of the findings. God has told us that violence is "catching." [Prov. 16:29] Man has since echoed God's warning and has issued a finding "viewing violence may lead to real life violence." It would be prudent to consider the impact of the violence portrayed in this film before you decide for which age stratum it might be fit. Impudence/Hate (I) - 89 out of 100 The prosecutor told his assistant to pull the building fire alarm if his meeting lasted longer than 15 minutes. There is also a series of lying on the stand [Rev. 21:8] but there is not a single use of profanity in the entire film. This investigation area was unable to find any assaults on morality and decency beyond those which might typically be found in G-rated films. Sexual Immorality (S) - 100 out of 100 There was nothing found that would apply to this investigation area. This film is fully G-equivalent in Sexual Immorality due to the absence of any sexually immoral portrayals or demonstrations. Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 58 out of 100 On a number of occasions someone drinks an alcoholic beverage and numerous times illegal drugs and their use are referenced. Though these matters are inherent to the story, therein lies some danger. 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 The area score of 58 places the content applicable to this investigation area equivalent to most PG-13 films. This is the only investigation area to find content matching the MPAA rating. Offense to God (O) - 96 out of 100 The only content found that applies to this investigation area was a single use of God's name in vain and then without the four letter expletive. But once is one time too many. With or without the four letter expletive. God is not happy with abuse of His name. [Deut. 5:11] This investigation are found the content to be fully G-equivalent. Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 There is a tale of murder in this film, that of Angela Hightower, a tale of suicide and there is a portrayal of contemplation of suicide -- these elements are incorporated into the Wanton Violence/Crime scoring -- but there are no murders or suicides portrayed in the entire 94.5 minutes of programming. The content found by this investigation area is also fully G-equivalent. 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) - 44 out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - 89 out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - 100 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 58 out of 100 Offense to God (O) - 96 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 |