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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 MAR2012.039  (2012), PG-13 [PG-13*] (132min)
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(While the Scriptural references are certainly not subjective, my commentary may be and sometimes is somewhat subjective.)
 Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database Production (US): Marvel Studios presents, Paramount Pictures in association with Albuquerque Studios Distribution (US): Walt Disney Studios Director(s): Joss Whedon Producer(s): Victoria Alonso, Avi Arad, Louis D'Esposito, Jon Favreau, Kevin Feige, Alan Fine, Jeremy Latcham, Stan Lee, Patricia Whitcher Written by: Zak Penn, Joss Whedon Screenplay by: Joss Whedon Comic Book by: Stan Lee, Jack Kirby Cinematography/Camera: Seamus McGarvey Music: Alan Silvestri Film Editing: Jeffrey Ford, Lisa Lassek Casting: Sarah Finn, Randi Hiller Production Design: James Chinlund Art Direction: Benjamin Edelberg, Jann K. Engel, Gregory S. Hooper, Billy Hunter, Richard L. Johnson, Randy Moore Viewed at Showbiz Cinemas The CAP Analysis Model has proven its worth ... again. By its worth I mean in this case maintaining objectivity and not letting the opinions of the investigator affect the scoring. When finished viewing the film I though to myself "Self, I didn't know a filmmaker could put that much violence in a 2.2 hour film. This film has got to be another R-13 if only because of the saturation of it with violence." Well, after crunching the numbers I found the CAP Analysis Model proved me wrong ... again. The final score for The Avengers is 58 out of 100. Films rated PG-13 in the comparative baseline database of film analyses earned final scores from 55 to 67 out of 100. The Avengers is indeed not another R-13 but rather earned a PG-13 equivalent final score, a rather low PG-13 equivalent score but a PG-13 equivalent score nonetheless. The Wanton Violence/Crime content investigation area score of zero out of 100 is certainly R-equivalent but the final score, the average of the six investigation area scores, is PG-13 equivalent. By the way, the Impudence/Hate content investigation area score is also R-equivalent but all four of the other area scores are PG-13 equivalent, PG-equivalent or G-equivalent. Therein is one of the truly unique features of the CAP Analysis Model. The distribution of scoring over the six CAP Investigation Areas reveals where any concentration of assaults on morality and wholesome ethics lie. Noting the scoring distribution revealed by the CAP thermometer scoring display shows this film is intensely thick with violence, is relatively heavy with profanity (incorporated into the scoring by the Impudence/Hate area), is moderately exhibitionistic with sexually oriented displays, presents alcohol/drug content worthy of somber parental attention, is comparatively light in abuse of God's name and portrays murder and/or suicide. This provides a perfect pre-viewing content tour for parents, grandparents and anyone else with children in their charge. Note that "children" includes at-home teens. The Avengers consist of the Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo). Captain America (Chris Evans), the archer Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Black Widow (Scarlett Ingrid Johansson). I am quite a few years out of comic books but I thought there were more to The Avengers and did not include Hawkeye and Black Widow. No matter. These six provided quite enough for the story. The Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division), Colonel Nick Furry (Samuel Jackson) activates and mobilizes The Avengers to do battle with renegade exiled Norse "god", Loki (Tom Hiddleston). Loki, the brother of Thor, both sons of Odin, plans to steal an extemely powerful and long-lasting source of energy called the Tesseract and give it to the Chitauri, an alien race Loki met during his exile who are bent on conquering the galaxy, in exchange for their help in bringing the human race to its knees for Loki. Using the Tesseract, Loki opens a portal for the Chitauri and the battle for the very existence of the human race begins. There is little benefit in summarizing the plot and story any further since today is the opening day for the film and to do so would spoil the film too much. I am, however, going to reveal the extent of the assaults on morality and wholesome ethics in spite of the risk of spoiling some of the film.
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) - Zero out of 100 The violence content of The Avengers comes chiefly in frequent action violence, some brutal and some with deaths. No gore is noted but many episodes of action violence include graphic display indeed, such as the through-impalement of SHIELD Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) with a spear/scepter by Loki. Other examples of violence include frequent gunfire to kill, nearly constant alien weapon fire to kill, a gun battle between humans, a descriptive tale of attempted suicide and more. Please inspect thoroughly the listing in the Findings section before you decide for what age stratum, if any, this film is fit. The violence content of The Avengers is clearly more than enough to warrant reminding mom/dad about God's Word regarding the influence of violence. God warns us of the influence of violence dozens of times from the Old Testament to the New Testament but Proverb 16:29 puts the issue rather succinct. In Proverb 16:29 God warns that violence is "catching": that it can lead one into the way that is not good. In addition to God "publishing His findings" about the influence of violence, four professional public health agencies has published findings which warn that viewing violence in and as entertainment can, among other things, lead the viewer, especially the young, into real life violence and can lead the viewer to believe violence is an effective means of settling conflict. Whom else needs to warn us about the influence of violence in and as entertainment before we start to believe it? Impudence/Hate (I) - 34 out of 100 Thirteen times someone spews one or more of the three/four letter word vocabulary. One time what is claimed to be a British slang term of vulgarity which I will not explain was used. [Col. 3:8, Eph. 5:4] While none of them were the most foul of the foul words, 13 uses of profanity says more through an attitude of impunity, self-appointed absolution from accountability, than the words themselves. Additional matters of impudence and/or hatred include planning the extinction of the human race, forcing it into submission, lies and a brother stabbing his brother. [Rom. 12:18] Sexual Immorality (S) - 65 out of 100 Johansson is repeatedly seen with the zipper of her uniform top unzipped in clear excess of a functional position. In other words, having her zipper unzipped so far was clearly intentional and clearly to entice. A number of times the camera and/or the pose of the character in focus was configured to force the viewer on private parts. Several times attention to the form-fitting uniforms of the women SHIELD agents was clearly intentional. Once the posterior of Evans through a sweat suit was displayed. Now to the most graphic of the sexually immoral display in this film. [1 Tim. 2:9] Note that the following discussion is rather graphic but if your kids watch the film they will see it. Ruffalo, who played The Hulk is seen completely nude in two scenes. His genitals are conveniently hidden by his legs but he is nude and a crotch view is displayed. The "excuse" of the filmmakers to display such vulgarity in and as entertainment is likely that the Hulk, when he shrinks back to normal, would not have clothing that fit. Well, if such is "excusable" how and why did the Hulk find clothing large enough to fit his enlarged form that was previously covered by smaller clothing? It is adamantly obvious the filmmakers used this configuration of "excuses" to show nudity in a PG-13. So what makes the display of nudity a sin? One might try to excuse nudity in and as entertainment with the argument that there is nudity portrayed in many Bibles and on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Let me remind those who would try such an argument that God did not put the nudity in the Bible nor on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Man did. God speaks darkly of "nakedness" 47 times in the KJV from Genesis to Revelation. He even warned the priests to not climb the steps to an alter lest the wind expose their nakedness to the people below [Exod. 20:26]. Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 77 out of 100 In 2002 the American College of Physicians (ACP) found 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 This film demonstrates alcoholic beverage and drinking of it. Finally, Iron Man suggests to Dr. Banner that he have a "bag of weed." Offense to God (O) - 95 out of 100 While there is sci-fi action that would mimic levitation and creation of energy, there is no presence of Satanism, occultism, witchcraft or the like in this film. But God's name is abused once. And once is once too many. [Deut. 5:11]. The film (and the comic) depends heavily on polytheism through embracing Norse gods. [1 Tim. 2:5] Murder/Suicide (M) - 70 out of 100 There is much killing portrayed in this film but defensive killing, acts of war or police action or attempts at murder/suicide are incorporated into the Wanton Violence/Crime content investigation area. There are, however, acts of murder portrayed: murder by gunfire, murder by arrow (two) and murder by spear/scepter. 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. |
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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) - Zero out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - 34 out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - 65 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 77 out of 100 Offense to God (O) - 95 out of 100 Murder/Suicide (M) - 70 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 |
