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Reel World Reality 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 MAR2012.043  (2012), PG-13 [R-13*] (99.2min) 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.)
 Production (US): Screen Gems and Spyglass Entertainment present a Birnbaum/Barber Production Distribution (US): Sony Director(s): Michael Sucsy Producer(s): J. Miles Dale, Austin Hearst, Susan Cooper, Jonathan Glickman, Paul Taublieb, Gary barber, Roger Birnbaum, Cassidy Lange, Rebekah Rudd Story by: Stuart Sender Screenplay by: Abby Kohn, Marc Silverstein, Jason Katims Cinematography/Camera: Rogier Stoffers Music: Rachel Portman, Michael Brook Film Editing: Nancy Richardson, Melissa Kent Casting: Cathy Sandrich Gelfond, Amanda Mackey Production Design: Kalina Ivanov Viewed on Sony Home Entertainment DVD I thought to myself about a half hour into The Vow that it will have to degrade quite a bit to get into the PG-13 scoring range let alone the R-13 realm. It did. With a final score of 51 out of 100 the content of The Vow is R-13, a lite R-13 but a R-13 nonetheless. Mainly due to alcoholic content, sexual immorality and language. The Vow is a very moving story of a man losing his wife to traumatic amnesia. A car wreck left Paige (Rachel McAdams) with a brain injury which prevented her from ever regaining her memory of four years with her husband, Leo Collins (Channing Tatum). One night after the movies, Leo and Paige were rear-ended by a utility truck on deep snow on Chicago streets which catapulted Paige through the windshield. That is when she lost her memory of a very rich and deep love with Leo. The two met for the first time in a magic moment while getting their parking permits. A rich and rewarding love develops day by day into a bond that is apparently rare. Not long the two married. Even more rare is the chemistry Tatum and McAdams shared. Their individual contributions to the emotions portrayed are certainly effective in imparting the growing bond between the two characters. But now, Paige suffers traumatic amnesia and does not even know Leo any more. When she awoke from the controlled coma Paige thought Leo was her doctor and drew back from his touch. She remembers the family she left years ago and her high school friends, even her ex-fiancé ... but not Leo. This is a gentle romantic film but there are reasons it is rated PG-13 and why it earned a CAP R-13 final score. The reasons will be discussed below. 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) - 87 out of 100 The first instance of violent content is the rather graphic car wreck that gave Paige the head injury that caused the traumatic amnesia. She is thrown through the windshield in slow motion, giving the display a significant power. Other than the car wreck the only instances of violence are the emergency room procedures to treat the injuries and Leo hitting a man in his face. Impudence/Hate (I) - 26 out of 100 Fourteen times someone throws profanity at the audience. This is one of the content areas that present the strongest influence on the observer, particularly the young, notably in emulation of profanity. Youth do not know cuss words when they are born. They have to learn profanity somewhere. One might say they pick up the profanity from other kids at school. Well, maybe so. But from where do you think the other kids get it. Yes, they may get it from you, mom/dad if you swear but there are no consequence controls when the foul language is learned from the big screen, especially if you subliminally approve of them watching entertainment with profanity. Even the script of this film has at least one point about personal development correct. Leo says something about we are each a product of the sum total of all our experiences. Maybe to put that point into perspective you could visit our Little Straight Pins publication. [Col. 3:8, Eph. 5:4] Additional matters applicable to this investigation area include in-laws meddling in daughter's marriage, lying, and violation of controlled access. Sexual Immorality (S) - 43 out of 100 There is nothing sacred about sexual purity in PG-13s nowadays. The story may have Paige and Leo married in the story and a married couple will likely participate in such private activity, but McAdams and Tatum are not married. Even if they were such display is not for 200,000,000 viewers. Content includes an offer of sensual underwear (before married), a man on a woman in bed co-stripping, a man and a woman in bed nude (gender-specifics not seen), full rear male nudity and much more. Please look to the listing in the Findings section for a full accounting of the sexually immoral content of this film. All are okay for your 13 year olds to see and hear dontchaknow? According to the MPAA anyway. Fortunately, the MPAA is not in charge of your child's upbringing. There is no law, no tort, no ordinance nor any statute that requires you to let your kids watch such "entertainment." You, mom/dad are the final authority on your child's entertainment diet. [1 Thess. 4:1 - 7] Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 6 out of 100 The alcoholic content of this film fits well the warning provided by a 2002 study by the American College of Physicians (ACP) 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 Though no tobacco was noted in this film, 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) - 46 out of 100 That three syllable sentence with God's name trailing it seems to be rather popular in PG-13 films. God's name was abused in such a way (without the four letter expletive) 13 times over the course of the 99.2 minutes of this film. His name was also abused once with the four letter expletive. God will not overlook abuse of His name whether we notice any consequences or not. [Deut. 5:11] Fortunately, no Satanism, occultism, witchcraft, sorcery or séance or evil ritual were noted. Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 There are no portrayals of murder or suicide in this film. 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 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) - 87 out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - 26 out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - 43 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 6 out of 100 Offense to God (O) - 46 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 |
