 RED does not mean "stop." GREEN does not mean "go." Click on the CAPCon Alert image for explanation |
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 MAR2011.067  (2011), PG-13 [Hard R-13*] (1hr 51min) 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.)
 Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database Production (US): Columbia Pictures, Relativity Media, Original Film, Legion Entertainment Distribution (US): Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Director(s): Jonathan Liebesman Producer(s): Jeffrey Chernov, Samuel Dickerman, David Greenblatt, Ori Marmur, Neal H. Moritz, Lisa Rodgers Written by: Chris Bertolini Cinematography/Camera: Lukas Ettlin Music: Brian Tyler Film Editing: Christian Wagner Casting: Debra Zane Production Design: Peter Wenham Art Direction: Andrew Neskoromny Viewed on Sony Pictures Home Entertainment DVD  I am disappointed. Battle: Los Angeles is little more than a war movie with occasional footage of aliens. It presents a well-made story with strong linkage between subplots and solid character and story development within the limitations of time available, but one might expect a healthy viewing of the aliens in a movie about alien invasion. I doubt that 5% of the screen time had anything to do with "alien." All in all this film could be seen as little more than a war film and the aliens could have been the Japanese, North Koreans, Iraqis or any other wartime enemy. Please note, however, that this film is not your typical John-Wayne-storming-the-beach war movie. It is intense and graphic at times. And pathetic with profanity throughout. The coastal waters of Los Angeles, along with 20 other large cities, were bombarded with meteors. At least they were thought to be meteors until the "meteors" slowed down just before impact. From the churning waters arose things not of this earth: things bent on eradicating human life. Why? I will not spoil the "why" just in case you decide to rent this video (or watch it on the FX Network in 2013) in spite of the content we reveal about it. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - Zero out of 100 Rated PG-13 for "... sustained and intense sequences of war violence and destruction..." At least the MPAA got that part right. But "right" for 13 year olds? NOT! It is hard enough to combat the violence now too often exhibited by youth without feeding their already meager coping skills with more violence. Yes, "viewing violence may lead to real life violence." Not only does man sat that, God says that. [Prov. 16:29] God warns that violence is "catching." But God told us that 2000 years before man decided to plagiarize His Word. I have not seen a better example of "R" violence than this film. And I have seen more than 1300 films. With a Wanton Violence/Crime investigation area score of zero out of 100, the violence content of this film is definitely R-equivalent. There is not so much human gore or blood but there is so much of other forms of violence that the magnitude or envelope of violence is so huge as to be as great an influence as if blood and gore were included. See our CAP Rule of 1000 publication for more information about this technique of loading the content of movies. Impudence/Hate (I) - Zero out of 100 Rated PG-13 "for ... language." Do tell. I guess it is okay with the MPAA that your 13 year olds listen to 120 uses of profanity in 111 minutes, more than two per minute (64.9 per hour). Far more than most R-rated films. Maybe some expect Marines and other soldiers in the middle of heated combat to talk that way but neither does being a soldier or being in combat trump God's Word. And never will. We will all accept that One Day. Whether we believe it or not. Whether we like it or not. Whether we care or not. [Col. 3:8, Eph. 5:4, Eph. 4:29] Maybe some or even most kids talk that way in school. Well! Why do you think they do? Maybe mom/dad talk that way at home? If so, then Luke 17:2 comes into play. And so does Matt. 25:40. While the familial influence is yet the strongest influence on the planet, the only exofamilial entity on the Earth that more deeply and intimately saturates our youth than the entertainment industry is air. Sexual Immorality (S) - 79 out of 100 Nobody gets in bed with anyone. And nobody displays their private parts. But Hollywood's impression of Marines apparently includes crude humor and sexual innuendo. [Eph. 5:4] Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 67 out of 100 Again Hollywood feeds our teens with drinking, smoking and drunkenness in and as safe and comfy entertainment. The American College of Physicians ... and God ... advise strongly against emboldening our youth with alcohol and tobacco in and as entertainment. A 2002 study by 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 finding 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 And God warns of the dangers of alcohol in Eph. 5:18. Offense to God (O) - Zero out of 100 Fifteen uses of God's name in vain with the four letter expletive plus 15 without it. God doesn't like that. He warns of consequences for those who abuse His name. But does Hollywood care? They will. [Deut. 5:11] Whether I say so or not. Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 While killing of our soldiers as an act of war might be considered murder, the CAP analysis model does not include killing as acts of war and lawful police action or defensive killing as murder. There were indeed portrayals of many killings (incorporated into the Wanton Violence/Crime investigation area scoring) but no murders. There was, however, one suicide. A mortally wounded lieutenant manually detonated a bag of C-4 as aliens walked by to lessen the forces against his men (and woman). While a noble act indeed, suicide is suicide and is not something to toy with. Suicide is murder ... murder of the self. Granted, even Jesus told us there is no greater love than for a man to lay down his life for his friends. [John 15:13] But we must be very careful with this concept. The term "lay down" is tithemi {tith'-ay-mee} which includes many things in its definition: things such as to make, to appoint, to kneel down, to wear or carry no longer, to lay aside money, to set forth. To "lose one's life" is not one of them. Note also that "lay down" does not translate to "sacrifice." "Sacrifice" translates to "victim", "to kill", "to slaughter" and "offering." So, "lay down" may mean just the act itself of risking or offering up one's life without losing it. Please be very careful with that verse. It is truly a noble thing of love to give of one's self for others -- to offer one's life -- but I am not so sure one must die because of it. We are not Jesus. And giving up of our lives for others as He did for us would not be the same. Understand that Jesus did not say in that verse "be killed for his friends." I may be mincing words in this blog but suicide is the most final fatal mortal act one can do. With suicide there is no second chance, no changing the mind. None. 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. |
 |
(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) - Zero out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - 79 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 67 out of 100 Offense to God (O) - Zero 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 |