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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 MAR24080  (2004), PG-13 [R-13]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. More than 900 analyses for parents, grandparents, pastors, youth leaders and more. |
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 (2004), PG-13 [R-13] ...filled with coincidences that could happen only in the movies.  Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database Production (US): Lakeshore Entertainment, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Distribution (US): Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corporation (MGM) Director(s): Paul McGuigan Producer(s): Andre Lamal, Gary Lucchesi, Tom Rosenberg, Henry Winterstern Written by: Gilles Mimouni (film L'Appartement), Brandon Boyce, (screenplay) Cinematography/Camera: Peter Sova Music: Michael A. Levine, Cliff Martinez Film Editing: Andrew Hulme Casting: Deborah Aquila, Mary Tricia Wood Production Design: Richard Bridgland Viewed At: Driftwood Theater 6 The entertainment industry has made a finely-tuned science of determining what the market wants in their films. One might even say they know more about what we want in and as entertainment than we do. At least they seem to think they so or at least want us to think so. If Wicker Park is any kind of product of such market research and since CAP analysis of films reveals the targeting ...er... concentration(s) of assaults on morality and ethics, it would seem that our young teens hunger for foul language, arrogance, defiance of wholesome morality, etc. (Impudence/Hate - I), sex (Sexual Immorality - S), the use of God's name in vain (Offense to God - O), most often in the form of the three-syllable sentence with God's name trailing it and a liberal splashing with booze (Drugs/Alcohol - D). This film is an ISdO film, which apparently is not an unusual pattern for PG-13 [R-13] films. We have developed a new descriptor of the content of films using the CAP analysis model. Above I termed Wicker Park an ISdO film. This means that by the scoring distribution (see the CAP Thermometer data display for this film) the greatest concentrations of assaults on morality and decency in Wicker Park are in Impudence/Hate - I, Sexual Immorality - S, Drugs/Alcohol - D and Offense to God - O as defined by a score equal to or less than 75. If an investigation area score reveals a concentration by a score of 50 or less, its descriptor initial will be represented in upper case. If an investigation area score reveals a concentration by a score from 51 to 75 its descriptor will be lower case. Wicker Park earned a score of zero in Impudence/Hate, zero in Sexual Immorality, 63 in Drugs/Alcohol and 11 in Offense to God. Thus, ISdO. Chicago ad agency executive, Matthew (Josh Hartnett) is set to become betrothed to his boss's sister, Rebecca (Jessica Paré). Just before the knot-tying, Matthew was to go to China for a very lucrative deal. But he never left. Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive. While getting things ready to disembark for China and in a restaurant with his boss, Rebecca and the Chinese representatives, Matthew spied who he believed to be Lisa (Diane Kruger) from two years ago. But suddenly after building a strong relationship with Lisa, she just disappeared. Lisa was the one who made him feel it is sad to belong to someone else when the right one comes along ["Sad To Belong", England Dan & John Ford Coley In a daze of old love starting to blaze again, Matthew tried to hide from Rebecca in the restaurant phone booth but found Lisa using it. Unsure what to say to reignite the old flame in her, Matthew merely keep incognito by ducking into the men's room until Lisa left. In a mad dash to leave the restaurant, Lisa broke one of the heels of her high-heeled shoes. What a coincidence! Lisa lost her compact in the restaurant phone booth. Matthew decided to use it as an excuse to confront Lisa. In Matthew's attempts to locate Lisa and rekindle the old flame, Matthew met Alex (Rose Byrne) after breaking into her apartment, Number 679, thinking it was Lisa's apartment to return her compact to meet with her face-to-face. After almost calling the police, Alex invites Matthew to spend the night with her. And he does. Lisa, who claimed to be a nurse, started focusing on Matthew with overtones of fatal attraction. Coincidence number 2. Luke (Matthew Lillard), long-time-no-see buddy of Matthew during his relationship with Lisa (a friendship which also suffered a two-year break), worked at the same shoe store Lisa shopped to replace her broken shoe. Coincidence number 3. Matthew had stopped by Luke's store to reminisce when whom should appear but Lisa. Now, Matthew, with Luke's support, feigns being a shoe salesman just to get close to Lisa. This film is filled with coincidences that could happen only in the movies. Why Lisa seemed to treat Matthew as if she had never met him I cannot explain. I am sorry but every time I see Matthew Lillard in a film, whether a shoe store clerk or a big city boy going on an Oregon adventure (Without A Paddle), he is always going to be Norville 'Shaggy' Rogers. The rest is up to your discovery should you decide this film is fit. Consider, though, that this film utters profanity 23 times [Prov. 22:11], God's name in vain 20 times (twice with the four letter expletive) and the most foul of the foul words once [Col. 3:8]. This film presents a woman raising her legs before a shoe salesman, co-stripping for sex, making out in underwear, a woman stripping her chest (gender-specifics unseen) to seduce, a man and a woman in bed together nude (nudity unseen), after-intercourse images, cohabitation and more [1Ths. 4:3 - 7]. All for your 13 year old kids who are quite likely at the age least able to handle the fires ignited by such sin in sin-ema. And there is more. But I will leave itemization of them to the listing in the Findings/Scoring section - the heart of the CAP Analysis Model. Please read it before deciding whether to let your kids see this film. I say it again ... who do they MPAA think they are that they can dangle such a carrot in front of our kids. Does the term "stealing childhood from children" have more of a meaning to you now? 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 heart of the CAP Analysis Model)  Wanton Violence/Crime (W) Impudence/Hate (I) Sexual Immorality (S) Drugs/Alcohol (D): Offense to God (O) Murder/Suicide (M) |
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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 more than eight 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. |
| In the name of Jesus: Lord, Master, Teacher, Savior, God. Tom Carder President ChildCare Action Project (CAP): Christian Analysis of American Culture 100% dependent on your tax-deductible financial support |  |
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Unique. Posted 5/27/04 |
ChristianStats Counter TEST Unique. Posted 5/24/04 |
