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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 MAR25045  (2005), PG-13 [PG-13*] (2hr 12min) 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. Nearly 1000 analyses for parents, grandparents, pastors, youth leaders and more. |
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(This section may be and sometimes is somewhat subjective.)
 Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database Production (US): Warner Bros., Di Bonaventura Pictures, Syncopy Distribution (US): Warner Bros. Director(s): Christopher Nolan Producer(s): Larry J. Franco, Benjamin Melniker, Charles Roven, Emma Thomas, Cheryl A. Tkach, Michael E. Uslan Characters: Bob Kane Story: David S. Goyer Screenplay: Christopher Nolan, David S. Goyer Cinematography/Camera: Wally Pfister Music: Ramin Djawadi, James Newton Howard, Mel Wesson, Hans Zimmer, Muslimgauze Film Editing: Lee Smith Casting: John Papsidera, Lucinda Syson Production Design: Nathan Crowley Art Direction: Peter Francis, Stuart Kearns, Paul Kirby, Simon Lamont, Steven Lawrence, David Lee, Patrick Lumb, Shane Valentino, Su Whitaker Viewed At: Driftwood Theater 6 While Batman Begins earned an influence density (ID) figure of 1.08 which places it in the range of influence densities earned by R-rated films (0.89 to 2.04, the higher the figure the more dense the assaults on morality), Batman Begins earned a a final score of 57 out of 100 which places it near the bottom of the range of scores earned by PG-13 films (67 to 55 out of 100) in the comparative baseline database of movies, three points up from the top of the scoring range earned by R-rated films (54 and below out of 100). A very violent and drug-riddled PG-13 film but is not a "R-13." Though heavy on violence and drug-related matters, Batman Begins was delightfully lite on sexual matters. The only sexually oriented matters noted were one instance of the use of two women as toys and of Katie Holmes wearing clothing (the filmmakers decide what is worn) which permitted ghosting of anatomy through the clothing. Even the theater owner noticed it. And I imagine every teen boy will notice it. [Eph. 4:19] If such a display is not intended to be sexually oriented, why do other filmmakers use comments of locker room caliber about such a display? [Eph. 5:4] And there was only one use of God's name in vain. Though it was without the four letter expletive, it was still using God's name in vain. [Deut. 5:11] In addition, a character coached another to seek revenge, violence was used to gain revenge [Rom. 12:19] and one character called another a fool. [Matt. 5:22] If Batman Begins is played through a curse filter on your home DVD/VHS to eliminate the 11 uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary, its Impudence/Hate score will increase from 65 out of 100 for the big screen version up to 92 filtered. [Eph. 4:29, 2 Tim. 2:16] Unfortunately, there is no filter available to the average home viewer that would filter out the plethora of references to drug use, forced druggings and other drug/alcohol-related elements of this film. Nor would any known filter available to the home viewer eliminate the gunfire murders. Find your old bat utility belt in the closet and don your bat ears. No, it is not Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer or George Clooney. It is the more stylized Christian Bale who brings Batman to the big screen this time. True to the original DC Comics, 8 year old Batman (Gus Lewis) witnesses the murder of his rich parents, Dr. Thomas Wayne (Linus Roache) and Martha (Sara Stewart) after they exit an opera through the back door. Young Bruce had a bad experience with bats after he, accompanied by young Rachel Dawes (Emma Lockhart) on a mischief escapade on the Wayne Manor grounds, fell into a cave where bats "attacked" him and the scenes in the opera made him relive his terror with bats. Still without resolution (maybe that should be spelled r-e-v-e-n-g-e) regarding the murder of his parents, Bruce dumped Princeton, ended up in prison. After being rescued by Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson) Bruce trekked to the distant Himalayas with a small blue flower in-hand to train with the ninja-like League of Shadows under Ra's Al Ghul (Ken Watanabe) and Ducard, a nasty pair indeed. Seven years later, Bruce returned to Gotham City to find it had decayed into complete criminal rule at the hands of Carmine Falcone (Tom Wilkinson). The family butler, Alfred Pennyworth (Michael Caine) told Bruce who had been "missing" for seven years, that Bruce had been declared dead. Wayne Enterprises, which had built the city up by helping the working class, had fallen into the selfish hands of the evil CEO, Richard Earle (Rutger Hauer). Determined to restore the once grand ethics of a noble city, Bruce started his world famous life as the caped crusading crime fighter. Feeling obligated, Earle gave Bruce a token job in the company. Soon Bruce is paired up with Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman), a company scientist who had been part of the development of a machine that was to be used as a dastardly weapon to vaporize the entire water supply of Gotham city which had been tainted by Dr. Jonathan Crane - The Scarecrow - (Cillian Murphy) with a drug that would make servants of the entire Gotham city population. Bruce enlisted the scientific aid of the professionally beaten and abused Fox and amassed an arsenal of Fox's creations to become the Batman we know. Bruce also enlisted the aid of the only honest cop in town, Sgt. James Gordon (Gary Oldman) who, toward the end of the show, became Lt. Gordon, the early version of Commissioner Gordon. Rachel, who became the Assistant DA, provided as much integrity among a licentious population as Gordon. There is a lot more that could be told about this film. But to do so before it has even played for the first time would be spoiling too much of it for the sake of this Summary/Commentary. Being a sci-fi fan, I could almost recommend this film as a great Saturday night popcorn flick but the 11 uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary and a few other issues prevent me from doing so. You decide. Please rely on the listing in the Findings/Scoring section to decide whether Batman Begins is fit for your family. 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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