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Entertainment Media Analysis Report
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MAR2011.072

(2011), PG-13 [Ultra-lite R-13*] (1hr 47.5min)

Final Score
Analysis Date
Date Posted
Influence Density
MinMax
June 21, 2011
June 22, 2011
53
1.15
-75

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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 [Ultra-lite R-13*] ...


Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database
Production (US): Warner Brothers, Dark Castle Entertainment, Panda
Distribution (US): Warner Home Video
Director(s): Jaume Collet-Serra
Producer(s): Richard Mirisch, Adam Kuhn, Charlie Woebcken, Christopher Fisser, Susan Downey, Steve Richards, Sarah meyer, Peter McAleese, Henning Molfenter, Joel Silver, Leonardo Goldberg, Andrew Rona
Novel by: Didier Can Cauwelaert
Screenplay by: Oliver Butcher, Stephen Cornbwell
Cinematography/Camera: Flavio Labiano
Music: Joh Ottman, Alexander Rudd
Film Editing: Tim Alverson
Casting: Lucinda Syson
Production Design: Richard Bridgland
Viewed on Warner Home Video DVD



After about half an hour or so of the film I said to myself "Self, this is going to have to get a lot worse for it to reach PG-13." It did. With a final score of 53 it j-u-s-t made it into R-13. Two more points in the final score, maybe better put, loss of two fewer points due to assault on morality and decency, and this film would have earned its MPAA-stamp of PG-13 by earning a final score of 55 which is the bottom of the scoring range earned by PG-13 movies in the comparative baseline database.

This film built its story and characters smoothly and progressively. It presents one of the most uniform build ups I've have ever seen in film. The writers spent an effective amount of time building the story and the characters enough to enable the viewer to care about them. But only enough to make the story keep you guessing.

Is Dr. Martin John Harris (Liam Neeson) really Dr. Martin John Harris? Yes. And no. The story starts out with him being Martin Harris with Elizabeth 'Liz' Harris (January Jones) as his loving wife and partner in life. At least Marin thought so. Or did he get so absorbed in to a fictitious character built by financial spy masters that he only thought he was Martin Harris?

On his way to the Hotel Adlon Kempinski in Berlin with Liz, Martin looses track of his briefcase with all his identification in it. As Liz went into the hotel lobby to register, Martin was helping the cabbie unload the luggage when Martin realized his briefcase was gone. The urgency of the matter required that Martin immediately head back to the airport to fetch his briefcase while Liz stayed at the hotel.

Without letting Liz know what he was doing, Martin hailed a cab to go back to get his briefcase. On the way to the airport the cabbie, Gina (Diane Kruger) reacted to a large metal cabinet falling off a truck and ended up crashing through a bridge railing and into a river. Gina rescued the unconscious Dr. Harris but darted off into the background when the EMTs arrived. After cardiac arrest, Dr. Martin was in a coma for four days.

All of Martin's identification was in that briefcase. He had no way of proving who he was. Not to the hospital doctors, the police or even the hotel staff. Dr. Harris was to give a presentation at the Biotechnology Global Summit at the Adlon hotel but could not get in without identification. Thinking he saw Liz in the crowd at the Summit, Dr. Harris convinced the head of hotel security to take him in so his wife could vouch for him ... but Liz had never met this man. And "the real" Dr. Martin Harris, the one with identification, appeared at her side. So begins a rather complex and intricate story.

Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - Zero out of 100
The violence content of this film is indeed strong. This investigation area found the content to be R-equivalent. Rather graphic pursuits to kill freckle the content. Detailed assaults and fights invade the story occasionally. Of the most invasive of the violence content included the graphic explosion which visibly tossed bodies about like shrapnel and another that enveloped a woman. Some of the fights end up in death.

This is a good example to again share with you God's admonition against violence. [Prov. 16:29] And 2000 years later man decided to plagiarize God's Word and warn us that "viewing violence may lead to real life violence."

Impudence/Hate (I) - 44 out of 100
Someone speaks a phrase of profanity 14 times through the 107.5 minutes of the program. If you feel you must utter an expletive of profanity to be able to adequately communicate your feelings or attitude, God disagrees with you. [Eph. 4:29, Eph. 5:4, Prov 4:24]

Sexual Immorality (S) - 75 out of 100
The extent of sexually immoral demonstrations of behavior in this film are largely flash images of sexual intimacy between Martin and Liz. Though the images are flash images it is clear what they are doing. And since it is clear what they are doing in flash images, flash images are just as influential as longer exposure images. One might say to that "Then go ahead and show us the longer exposure images." To that I say since the flash images are just as influential as longer exposure images in communicating what is being done then the flash images deserve to lose film content points as well as longer exposure images. Under the CAP analysis mode, they do. "Flash" does not "sanitize" sexually immoral behavioral demonstrations onscreen. And though the sexual acts were between Harris and his wife, Neeson and Jones are not married. Even if they were, such display is not for 200,000,000 viewers. [1 Thess. 4:1 - 7]

Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 72 out of 100
More than the drinking and smoking typically found in PG-13 films, this film presents two instances of forced drugging to kill. At least there are no episodes of teen drinking parties which seem typical of many teen (PG-13) films.

Offense to God (O) - 53 out of 100
God's name is abused nine times, once with the four letter expletive. With or without the four letter expletive, the use of God's name in any way other than respect, reverence or responsible discussion is in vain. That includes the popular three syllable sentence with His name trailing it AND the misuse of Jesus' name or title. So, trying to excuse such expressions with "I was talking TO God/Jesus when I said that" or "It's just words" or "I was acting" will not work with Him. Nor will "Everybody says that" excuse the sin of using His name in vain. If everyone on the planet who has ever drawn a breath used His name in vain, it would still be a sin to do so. If no one ever did, it would still be a sin to do so. [Deut. 5:11]

Murder/Suicide (M) - 72 out of 100
Murder is done in several ways. Once by breaking the neck of a nurse to silence her. A murder is done off-screen. A graphic murder victim is seen. And an ex-Nazi spy committed suicide with cyanide to prevent being assassinated.
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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

  • 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 "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. Further, God speaks darkly of violence 56 times in the Old and New Testament of the KJV.]
  • Eph. 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
  • Eph. 5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
  • Prov. 4:24 Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
  • 1Ths. 4:1 - 7 (NIV) Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God's will that you should be sanctified [hagiasmos: be kept or made pure]: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you [hekastos: each, every, whether male or female] should learn to control his [or her] own body [which includes control of drives, touching, seeking, exhibiting, lusting (even after images), promiscuity, etc.] in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; [Be master of your body and urges, not a slave to them.] and that in this matter no one should wrong his [autos: himself, herself, he, she, his, her] brother [adelphos: a fellow believer] or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish [unforgiven] men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you [humin: you, your, yourselves]. For God did not call us [hemas: us, we, our] to be impure, but to live a holy life. [All the gender-related definitions are included to show you this verse applies to women and youth as well as men. And "sexual immorality" (fornication - pornea), by definition, applies to all matters of sexual immorality, including incest, homosexuality, lesbianism, sex with animals and relatives, etc. All God's admonitions can be summed us as any sexual contact (including visual and audible), conduct or activity outside of a monogamous heterosexual marriage is sinful.]
  • Deut. 5:11 You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. [Vain is shav {shawv}: emptiness, nothingness, vanity, such as an expletive.]

    ***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 [e.g., create progressively vile/offensive entertainment with impunity and no consequences and present it to younger and younger audiences every year] when what is vile is honored among men [when enough people continue to defend it, embrace it, enjoy it, want it, submit to it. I call attention to Ps. 12:8 to warn of the creeping desensitizing power of "entertainment."]
  • 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.)


    Unknown (2011) CAP Thermometers

    Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - Zero out of 100
  • detailed traffic wreck with injury and drowning peril
  • near vehicle-pedestrian collision
  • pursuit for ill and to kill, repeatedly
  • graphic explosion tossing bodies
  • assault resulting in unconsciousness
  • firearm for offensive, repeatedly
  • firearm to face, repeatedly
  • hostage as shield
  • long graphic fight
  • attempted murder
  • vehicular assault, repeatedly
  • reckless driving, repeatedly
  • reckless endangerment, repeatedly
  • traffic violence
  • tale of family slaughter
  • assault to subdue
  • car theft
  • kidnapping
  • pistol whipping
  • graphic defensive killing, twice
  • dead body, repeatedly
  • theft of intellectual property
  • assault to escape
  • assault with knife
  • graphic explosion enveloping woman
  • extensive fight to the death
  • defensive killing by impalement
  • massive explosion with massive damage

    Impudence/Hate (I) - 44 out of 100
  • lying, repeatedly
  • leaving the scene of an accident
  • social altercation
  • binding against will
  • 14 uses of profanity

    Sexual Immorality (S) - 75 out of 100
  • flashes of sexual intimacy, repeatedly
  • sex shop
  • man and woman making out in shower
  • sounds of intercourse
  • adults in underwear
  • man and woman in bed together
  • excessive cleavage

    Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 72 out of 100
  • drugging while under medical care
  • booze, repeatedly
  • drinking
  • smoking
  • assault drugging causing death

    Offense to God (O) - 53 out of 100
  • 9 uses of God's name in vain, once with the four letter expletive

    Murder/Suicide (M) - 72 out of 100
  • murder by neck break
  • murder (unseen)
  • murder victim - graphic
  • suicide by cyanide to prevent assassination















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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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