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A service to our youth through you, their parents and grandparents, in His name by His Word MAR22082 xXx (2002), PG-13 Analysis Date: August 11, 2002 CAP Score: 27 CAP Influence Density: 2.08 MinMax: -68 |
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xXx (PG-13) -- DEFINITELY another R-13. Production: Revolution Studios Distribution: Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment Director(s): Rob Cohen Producer(s): Creighton Bellinger, Vin Diesel, Todd Garner, David Minkowski, Neal H. Moritz, Arne Schmidt, Matthew Stillman, George Zakk Written by/Screenplay: Rich Wilkes Cinematography/Camera: Dean Semler Music: DMX, Kaseem Dean, Randy Edelman, Eve, Paul Hartnoll, Phil Hartnoll, Jay-Z, Gavin McGregor Rossdale Film Editing: Chris Lebenzon, Joel Negron, Paul Rubell Casting: Nancy Bishop, Kate Dowd, Ronna Kress Production Design: Gavin Bocquet Art Direction: Phil Harvey, Jindrich Kocí, Jonathan Lee, Brad Ricker  I am going to start this Summary/Commentary for Christian parents and grandparents with an email I sent out to our private distribution in advance of completing the analysis report package. I suspect you will find it interesting and revealing (between the "<><><>" divider bars): <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> August 12, 2002 xXx is DEFINITELY another R-13. The MPAA really lost it this time. Below is the scoring distribution for xXx. Also below is the scoring distribution for Blood Work (R). Please take a few moments to compare the distributions, focusing on - say - Wanton Violence/Crime. xXx was a prime example of the use of tons of "lesser" examples of violence to get the same effect as a few bold examples such as in Blood Work and still stay within the failing standards of the MPAA for a PG-13. xXx (PG-13) earned a final score of 27 while Blood Work (R) earned a final score of 30 - very close indeed [and very "R"]. xXx was noted to have 35.8 examples per hour of violence issues while Blood Work presented only 12.0 examples per hour. Both moves earned the same score in violence but xXx had three times as many examples of violence issues as Blood Work. Few of the "tons" of examples of violence in xXx were all that gory or severe but many of the fewer examples of violence in Blood Work were boldly coldly graphic. [Both movies earned zero in violence.] I may be the engineer of the CAP analysis model but Jesus is the Designer. And it really works! All because of the use of His standards that do not change with the tides of modern morality. Only by using Rock-solid standards can we plot the relative position and movement of morality in modern entertainment. Full analysis reports of these two movies are forthcoming, hopefully one for each of two days. Finally, I apologize for not getting to these two movies until today - a full three days after their release, but "things" are just not working well without full funding. ---snip sig file--- SCORING DISTRIBUTION - xXx xXx (PG-13) earned a CAP Final score of 27 out of 100 points. Following are the scores in the six CAP Investigation Areas (out of a possible 100 points each) and the examples per hour: Investigation Area scoring: ------------------------- Wanton Violence/Crime: 0, with 35.8 examples per hour Impudence/Hate: 0, with 31.1 examples per hour Sex/Homosexuality: 12, with 13.2 examples per hour Drugs/Alcohol: 18, with 8.4 examples per hour Offense to God (occultism, satanism, etc.): 68, with 3.2 examples per hour Murder/Suicide: 65, with 2.6 examples per hour CAP ID (Influence Density) ------------------------ 2.08 Minimum minus Maximum (MinMax) ------------------------ -68 * * * * * * * SCORING DISTRIBUTION - Blood Work BLOOD WORK (R) earned a CAP Final score of 30 out of 100 points. Following are the scores in the six CAP Investigation Areas (out of a possible 100 points each) and the examples per hour: Investigation Area scoring: ------------------------- Wanton Violence/Crime: 0, with 12.0 examples per hour Impudence/Hate: 0, with 28.0 examples per hour Sex/Homosexuality: 75, with 3.4 examples per hour Drugs/Alcohol: 78, with 2.3 examples per hour Offense to God (occultism, satanism, etc.): 30, with 5.7 examples per hour Murder/Suicide: 0, with 9.7 examples per hour CAP ID (Influence Density) ------------------------ 1.76 Minimum minus Maximum (MinMax) ------------------------ -78 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>  On to the story. 
Mark Vincent, a.k.a. Vin Diesel as Xander Cage (Nicholas?), a fan of anarchy through rebellion, in trouble with the law. The trouble with the law comes as Cage steals a Senator's car and demolishes it to make a get-even statement (what an example for our 13 year olds) [Rom. 12:19]. The Senator is fighting killing video games and the same in rap music. Cage apparently feels kids ought to be able to play such games and listen to such music if they want to. Never mind what parents and God [1Cor. 15:33] say about it. I guess this movie is Vincent following his heart in staying close to the pulse of the young. At least, what he thinks is the pulse of the young. And, of course, Cage recorded all his defiance antics for show on an underground website. With a promise to clear his criminal record, Cage is recruited by NSA Agent Gibbons (Samuel L. Jackson - Unbreakable) to gather sensitive information about, what else, "Anarchy 99" in Prague. The leader of Anarchy 99 appears to have developed a secret biochemical weapon that can kill then become like water. What better plan could there be than to send an anarchist bent on self-rule in to spy on anarchists bent on self-rule. There is not much more that could be added to the story descriptive. It is basic 007 formula stuff without the intrigue and opulence ... and intelligence. And definitely adolescent. At least what Hollywood apparently thinks is adolescent. And it was L-O-U-D. Also part of the basic formula of modern entertainment in general is a mess of immoral behaviors growing more and more typical of PG-13 programming. Fourty-two uses of profanity [Col. 3:8] with two uses of God's name in vain with the four letter expletive and two without. Full rear nudity [**]. Intercourse with gender-specific areas hidden [1Cor. 7:2]. Illegal drug manufacturing and trafficking. A goal of anarchy through mass murder [2Cor. 12:20,.James 3:16]. And a lengthy list of other issues in the Findings/Scoring section. Sixty-eight and probably more items or sequences of violence [Prov. 3:31-32, Prov. 10:27] SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S) If needed to focus or fortify, applicable text is underlined or bracketed [ ]. 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. *******Food for Daily Thought******* 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. |
 Wanton Violence/Crime (W): Impudence/Hate (I)(1): Sex/Homosexuality (S): Drugs/Alcohol (D): Offense to God (O)(2): Murder/Suicide (M)(3): |
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| NOTE: The CAP Analysis Model makes no scoring allowances for trumped-up "messages" to excuse or for manufacturing of justification for aberrant behavior or imagery, or for camouflaging such ignominy with "redeeming" programming. Disguising sinful behavior in a theme plot does not excuse the sinful behavior of either the one who is drawing pleasure or example from the sinful display or the practitioners demonstrating the sinful behavior. This is NOT a movie review service. It is a movie analysis service to parents and grandparents to tell them the truth about movies using the Truth. |
| "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 nearly seven 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. |
