 RED does not mean "stop." GREEN does not mean "go." Click on the CAPCon Alert image for explanation |
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 MAR2012.029  (2011), PG-13 [PG-13*] (137.1min) 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. |
|
  (a PayPal account is NOT required). The CAP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Christian ministry. Donations are TAX-DEDUCTIBLE. |
on what Hollywood feeds your kids. SUBSCRIBE (or unsubscribe) to our FREE email version of these reports and our COMING SOON notices. |
  Christian Long Distance |
(While the Scriptural references are certainly not subjective, my commentary may be and sometimes is somewhat subjective.)
 Production (US): DreamWorks II Distribution Co. LLC, Reliance Entertainment, Amblin Entertainment, The Kennedy/Marshall Co Distribution (US): Walt Disney Studios Potion Pictures Director(s): Steven Spielberg Producer(s): Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Revel Guest, Adam Somner, Tracy Seaward, Kristie Macosko Krieger Screenplay by: Lee Hall, Richard Curtis Cinematography/Camera: Janusz Kaminski Music: John Williams Film Editing: Michael Kahn, Patrick Crane Casting: Jina Jay Production Design: Rick Carter Art Direction: Neil Lamont Viewed on DreamWorks Distribution Home Entertainment DVD After watching the show I "felt" this was not a PG-13 film at all. But the CAP analysis model proved my feelings wrong ... again. The final score of 64 for War Horse places it within the range of scores earned by PG-13 films in our comparative baseline database (55 to 67 out of 100). But as "PG-13" as it is no one gets in bed with anyone, no gore drips off the screen, no teens scream obscenities at their parents and no underage drinking is present as are somewhat typical of PG-13 flicks. Each of the Wanton Violence/Crime (W), the Impudence/Hate (I) and the Drugs/Alcohol (D) content investigation areas found enough assaults on morality and wholesome ethics to be R-equivalent in those areas (not because of intensity but rather because of sheer numbers) but the Sexual immorality (S), Offense to God (O) and Murder/Suicide (S) investigation areas earned area scores of 100, 90 and 100 out of 100, each being G-equivalent scores. The scoring distribution is truly not what I expected. Albert Narracott (Jeremy Irvine), son of Ted (Peter Mullan) and Rosie Narracott (Emily Watson), witnessed the birth of a foal. That started Albert's life-long attachment with the foal he later named Joey. Albert spent as much time as he could raising and training Joey. It wasn't long before Joey reciprocated Albert's attachment. A war between Germany and England broke out and, coupled with financial hardships that threaten the farm, Ted sold Joey to Captain Nicholls (Tom Hiddleson) to be his officer's horse. In a bungled skirmish with the supposedly unprepared German army, Capt. Nicholls rode Joey into battle from which Capt. Nicholls did not return. Joey is drafted to be a horse to pull ambulances and weapons. Event after event led Joey into service which he could no longer tolerate. Joey bolted and became tangled in barbed wire in "no man's land" between the British and the German armies. Both the British and the Germans lost their desire to war and a soldier from each side went into no man's land to rescue Joey from what would have eventually been a fatal entrapment. By a coin toss the British soldier won custody of Joey who was taken out of service for medical attention. Albert had also joined the British army and became a casualty to war gas. Albert was also taken out of service for medical attention. By a series of happenstances and after four years Albert was able to honor his promise to Joey to be with him again. There is much, much more to this 137.1-minute movie which I will not try to summarize any further lest I spoil it. But I will give you a full accounting of the content regarding assaults on morality and wholesome ethics. Following are brief discussions of the content per individual content investigation area. But 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 Most of the violence in this film appears as battle and warfare violence. There is no gore and no guts blown all over the battlefield but the scenes of war dead strewn about can be graphic. In one case an explosion tossed a body. There are also a number of individualized warfare killings. In a moment of what may be temporary insanity brought on by years of hardship and impending financial catastrophe, Ted Narracott was seen staring down the barrel of a shotgun at Albert ... a shotgun he was going to use to kill Joey. In addition, two German soldiers are executed by firing squad for desertion, a grandfather threatened to kill anyone who harmed his granddaughter and a scene of hopelessness ending in death was seen. The extent of the violence content of this film is clearly equivalent to that in many R-rated films except for the lack of gore typical of many R-rated features. The extent of the violence content of this film is clearly equivalent to that in many R-rated films except for the lack of gore typical of many R-rated features. Because there is so much violence, to try to summarize it all here would cheat your grasp of the extent of it. Please look to the listing in the Findings section for a full accounting of the violence content. Though the typical war gore is absent from this film, the violence is still well portrayed. And God has something to say about violence. In many verses God speaks darkly of violence. In Proverb 16:29 in particular He speaks of violence being "catching": that it can lead one "into a path that is not good." It would be wise to seriously consider God's admonitions against violence when deciding for which age stratum, if any, this film is fit. In addition to God "publishing His findings" about violence, four professional public health agencies have published their findings about viewing violence in and as entertainment: that violence in and as entertainment can, among other things, lead the viewer, especially the young, into real life violence and can lead the viewer into believing that violence is an acceptable means of settling conflict. Impudence/Hate (I) - 49 out of 100 Atypical of most PG-13 films, this one presents only seven uses of English profanity plus two vulgar British slang terms. [Col. 3:8, Eph. 4:29] In addition to the language content, this film presents a number of instances where one character treats others as low class citizens in addition to an episode of desertion, a series of lies and military pilfering of private property 'for the war effort.' Sexual Immorality (S) - 100 out of 100 There is no film content applicable to this content investigation area. Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 47 out of 100 Drinking and smoking appears rather frequently, enough to be equivalent in magnitude to the same content in many R-rated features. And that can be a serious danger to the youth who see this film. In a 2002 study 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 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 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 modification applies to any behavior demonstrated in and as entertainment, including good behavior. Offense to God (O) - 90 out of 100 There is nothing blasphemous, evil or Satanic about the content of this film. No witchcraft. No sorcery. No occultism. Indeed, in many cases it praises God in prayer and in testimony to faith. Rosie did, however, call people "fool" a number of times. [Matt. 5:22] Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 Attempted murders, attempted suicides, deaths by war and police action are not incorporated by this content investigation area. The wartime killings in this film were incorporated by the Wanton Violence/Crime content investigation area. 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 --> 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.] 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. |
 |
(The objective heart of the CAP Analysis Model, independent of and insulated from the Summary / Commentary section.)   Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - Zero out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - 49 out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - 100 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 47 out of 100 Offense to God (O) - 90 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. |
|
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. Tom Carder Chaplain and President ChildCare Action Project (CAP): Christian Analysis of American Culture 100% dependent on your tax-deductible financial support |  |
Christian Long Distance |
|
We exist only by your tax-deductible donations. PLEASE  Features PayPal! You do NOT need an account to donate. |
| 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 |
