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Entertainment Media Analysis Report
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MAR2012.016

(2011), PG-13 [R-13*] (106.3min)


Final Score
Analysis Date
Date Posted
Influence Density
MinMax
February 15, 2012
February 18, 2012
33
1.43
-78

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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



(2011), PG-13 [R-13*] ... "We compliment each other just like Satan and Christ."


Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database
Production (US): Summit Entertainment, Sunswept Entertainment, TSBD Canada Productions, TSBD Louisiana, TSBD Productions, Temple Hill Entertainment, Total Entertainment, Zohar International
Distribution (US): Summit Entertainment
Director(s): Bill Condon
Producer(s): Bill Bannerman, Wyck Godfrey, Stephenie Meyer, Mark Morgan, Irina Neves, Karen Rosenfelt, Isabelle Tanug
Screenplay by: Melissa Rosenberg
Novel: Stephenie Meyer
Cinematography/Camera: Guillermo Navarro
Music: Carter Burwell
Film Editing: Virginia Katz
Casting: Debra Zane
Production Design: Richard Sherman
Art Direction: Troy Sizemore, Lorin Flemming
Viewed on Summit Entertainment Home DVD


If the tag line "We compliment each other just like Satan and Christ." (which I quoted from the script of this film) offends you (it should), so should the movie. That line perfectly and finally exposes the heart of the Twilight Saga.

The first thing I want to point out about the content of this film and do so boldly is what is said in a background song that your mind likely captures but your head might not. The writers have finally exposed this saga for what it is. As Bella readies for nuptial consummation, a background singer speaks the following:

"We compliment each other just like Satan and Christ."

I suspect the intent of using that line was to attach what that line says to the personae of the two quintessential characters, Edward and Bella. But I cannot remember ever hearing a more subtle sacrilegious, unholy and e-v-i-l attack of Jesus than that. There is nothing about Jesus that compliments Satan or vice versa. Not only did Jesus allow Himself to be mutilated, tortured and murdered so we, indeed any of us who believe, even if just one, could have Life, He spent three days in Hell so you and I would not have to spend one moment there. I take great offense at that line.

The Twilight films and others like them lead the viewer to embrace evil by whitewashing and sanitizing evil with romance in the name of courage and sacrifice; by calling evil good by the evil doing "good." [Isa. 5:20] There are many who would use all manner of vain philosophy [Col. 2:8] and smooth talk [Rom. 16:18] to deny Christ just enough to excuse getting their fix of such entertainment, who will defend access to it and will take joy in exposing others to it. The Twilight films and others like them nurture self-absolution from His Word and indeed from Him to excuse embracing such "attractive" evil in the name of entertainment. One of the techniques Satan uses to get people to lift him above Jesus is to get people not to glorify Jesus: to minimize Jesus; to walk away from Him. That line in the song indeed does just that by reducing Jesus to a flattering equal status with Satan. Satan doesn't care that much if we don't believe in him as long as we don't believe in Jesus. One step to that end is to set Jesus aside for a couple hours. Long enough for influences such as Twilight to sink in. Team Edward? Team Jacob? Maybe Team Satan.

The story is predictable if one has seen any of the other Twilight Saga films. This installment is a culmination of the buildup of the previous three installments, which in turn sets the stage for more of the same in the next installment. Edward (Robert Pattinson) and Bella (Kristen Stewart) do battle with all that is righteous to marry. Together they create what the film terms a demon fetus, a fetus that threatens to kill Bella. And that gives Edward the right to "save" Bella by killing her by making a vampire of her. Discovering that the fetus will kill Bella, the Cullens tear it out of Bella in the most horrific procedure ever shown on a PG-13 screen.

I am not going to take the time to share any more of the story or subplots with you because to do so might imply some sort of grandeur for this work of immoral cinematic cyanide. I feel such profound disapproval of this piece of "sin-ema" that I may not do an analysis of the next installment. Besides, the trend revealed below predicts more of the same in future installments: more "R-13."
The graphic above is the comparative we are maintaining of the Twilight Saga films. There is much said by the data shown. One of the "much" is that all four of the Twilight Saga films are R-13, each with nearly the same scoring distribution pattern revealing the concentrations of assault on morality and decency. Another "much" from the data is that the Breaking Dawn, Part 1 installment has the highest influence density of all Twilight installments, therefore the most severe influence even though it does not possess the lowest final score.

As shown in the graphic to the right, another "much" to the data we have gathered is that our prediction of the final score for the Breaking Dawn, Part 1 installment was 15 out of 100, placing the it deeply into the R-13 realm of 54 and below out of 100. Instead, Breaking Dawn, Part 1 earned a final score of 33 which is about 17% higher than the prediction of 15 but is still deeply buried in the R-13 realm. Though the prediction was about 17% off, the actual result was still deeply into the R-13 realm ... as predicted.

There is much more revealed by the above data but I suspect your parental intellect is quite enough to gather much of the rest of the "much" yourselves.

Breaking Dawn, Part 1 is yet another beautiful piece of cinematic work with exemplary thespian performances and flawless story flow ... but at what cost? Beautiful? Remember, the antiChrist will be beautiful, too.

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Following are brief discussions of the content per individual content investigation area. As always the Findings section of this report, the heart of the CAP Analysis Model, is the best source for discovering the full accounting of the content of this film.

Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - Zero out of 100
The largest portion of violence in this installment is due to the quite intense and rather frequent animal attacks such as pursuit to kill, battle and threats. Other violence includes the extraordinarily bizarre removal of the demon fetus from Bella and the bloody aftermath. In a dream Bella sees all her wedding guests as bloody victims of vampire killing. The listing in the Findings section provides itemization of the violence content.

The magnitude of the violence in this film is enough to steal all 100 of the starting points in this content investigation area. R-rated films earned scores of 54 and below in the comparative baseline database. This film earned a violence area score of zero out of 100. You do the math. The violence content in Breaking Dawn, Part 1 is clearly R-equivalent.

God warned us a long time ago in Proverb 16:29 that violence can lead the observer into the path that is not good: that violence is "catching." Almost 2000 years later man has plagiarized God's Word by four public health agencies publishing their findings which warn that viewing violence in and as entertainment, especially by the young, can, among other things, lead to real life violence and to believing violence is an acceptable means of settling conflict. God also warned us of embracing violence in 1 Cor. 15:33. Indeed He has spoken darkly of violence more than 50 times in the Old and New Testaments. When are we going to listen?

Impudence/Hate (I) - 66 out of 100
Pleasantly enough this installment is atypical of "PG-13" in profanity with only three uses of it throughout the entire 106.3 minutes of programming. However, other matters of impudence and/or hatred drag the score down. Please see the Findings section for a full accounting of the Impudence/Hate content. [Mal. 4:1]

Sexual Immorality (S) - Zero out of 100
This is another area that is clearly equivalent in magnitude to many R-rated films. In addition to other matters of sexual immorality (see the listing in the Findings section) at least 11 times Edward and Bella are in bed together making out either nude or in their underwear (note that gender-specific parts are seen only once). That we do not "see anything" does not mean the actor, actress, filmmakers and more do not.

While each of the times they were in bed together was ostensibly in preparation for intercourse, one of those times the viewer sees them clearly having intercourse under the bed sheets. "But Edward and Bella just got married. What would you expect them to do on their wedding night?" Well, Edward and Bella may have been stage "married" but Pattinson and Stewart were not. Even if they were married such antics are not for public viewing. [Hebr. 13:4] The extent and intensity of sexual demonstrations in this film are clearly equivalent in overall magnitude to the same in many R-rated films.

Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 53 out of 100
The only alcoholic beverages noted in this film was during the wedding and once after. Also, Bella's dad said "I plan on getting drunk." But at the wedding alcoholic content was intense enough to lose quite a few of the starting 100 points in this content investigation area. Other than the alcoholic content, the forced injection of Edward's "venom" into Bella was the only other content applicable to this investigation area. The comment by Bella's dad is what might carry the most severe influence regarding underage drinking -- a reel reality corroborated by the American College of Physicians (ACP) which published in 2002 a report which revealed that adolescent exposure to drinking in and as entertainment undeniably leads to abuse of alcohol among underage viewers. The report 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

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

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

Offense to God (O) - Zero out of 100
This is the third of three of the six investigation areas that earned an area score equivalent to many R-rated films in this content area. And that does not surprise me what with this movie being a glorification of vampirism and lycanthropy. The content applicable to this investigation area is much too lengthy to even summarize here. Please inspect the listing in the Findings section for a full accounting of the content applicable to this investigation area. [Deut. 18:10 - 12]

Murder/Suicide (M) - 78 out of 100
A vampire or vampires murder two men as Edward describes his history of which Bella is not aware. And later in the show Edward finally murders Bella by wantonly killing her by changing her into a vampire.

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SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S)

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CHAPTER/VERSE

  • Isa. 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.
  • Col. 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
  • Rom. 16:18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.
  • 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 "fantasy" 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. Their findings include:
    --> Children who see a lot of violence are more likely to view violence as an effective way of settling conflicts. Children exposed to violence are more likely to assume the acts of violence are acceptable behavior.
    --> Viewing violence can lead to emotional desensitization towards violence in real life. It can decease the likelihood that one will take action on behalf of a victim when violence occurs.
    --> Entertainment violence feeds a perception that the world is a violent and mean place. Viewing violence increases fear of becoming a victim of violence, with a resultant increase in self-protective behavior and a mistrust of others.
    --> Viewing violence may lead to real life violence. Children exposed to violent programming at a young age have a higher tendency for violent and aggressive behavior later in life than children who are not so exposed.
    Further, God speaks darkly of violence 56 times in the Old and New Testament of the KJV.]
  • Mal. 4:1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. ["Proud" - zed {zade'}: arrogant, proud, insolent, presumptuous; the arrogant ones.]
  • Hebr. 13:4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure [which includes before AND during marriage AND gender AND onscreen], for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. [Whether we believe it or not. Whether we like it or not. Whether we care or not.]
  • 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. 18:10 - 12 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination [to seek knowledge of the future], or an observer of times [seeks knowledge of the future], or an enchanter [one who practices divination, observes the signs or omens], or a witch, Or a charmer [makes alliance with evil by charms], or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer [one who communicates with the dead]. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD:...
  • 1 Cor. 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

    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 when what is vile is honored among men [when enough people continue to defend what is vile, embrace it, enjoy it, want it, submit to it.]
  • 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.)

    The twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1 (YEAR) CAP Thermometers

    Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - Zero out of 100
  • pile of bloodied bodies - vampire murder victims in a dream
  • animal attacks and battle with animals, repeatedly, intense
  • planning assault
  • animal pursuit to kill, repeatedly
  • extraordinarily bizarre surgical delivery
  • bloody aftermath of bizarre delivery, twice
  • clinical death
  • physical abduction of screaming woman

    Impudence/Hate (I) - 68 out of 100
  • three uses of profanity
  • crude term
  • lie to parent to hide pregnancy, twice
  • defiance of father

    Sexual Immorality (S) - Zero out of 100
  • sexual reference, twice
  • excessive cleavage, twice
  • exhibitionistic dancing
  • wedding dress exposing top of glutei fissure
  • full nudity, both male and female (gender-specific parts unseen), repeatedly
  • intercourse (gender-specific parts unseen)
  • man and woman in bed making out in foreplay nude and in underwear, repeatedly
  • woman in bed nude (gender-specific parts unseen)
  • brief side nudity - female
  • sexual bruising
  • adults in underwear, repeatedly
  • revealing nightwear
  • man and woman in bed in underwear
  • images of nudity in the distance

    Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 58 out of 100
  • party drinking, multiple
  • "I plan on getting drunk"
  • drunkenness
  • booze, repeatedly
  • forced injection with "vampire venom"

    Offense to God (O) - Zero out of 100
  • "Childhood is the kingdom where nobody dies"
  • dream catcher
  • magical appearance
  • vampires and werewolves throughout
  • excusing murder with vampirism
  • inhuman power, frequent
  • portrayal of adulterous interests
  • "We compliment each other like Satan and Christ"
  • vampire and werewolf behaviors, frequent
  • demon pregnancy
  • shape-shifting, repeatedly
  • images of evil doing horror to babies and fetuses
  • drinking blood to feed unborn demon fetus
  • clairvoyance
  • inflicting multiple vampire bites
  • image of unholy transformation
  • unholy healing

    Murder/Suicide (M) - 78 out of 100
  • two vampire murders of "street slime"
  • vampire murder of Bella















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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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    * CAP Equivalence to MPAA Rating Scale:
    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.

    The current CAP to MPAA** nomenclature is:

    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
    ** G, PG, PG-13 and R are registered trademarks of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).




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