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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 MAR2012.010  (2011), PG [R-PG*] (94min) 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. |
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(While the Scriptural references are certainly not subjective, my commentary may be and sometimes is somewhat subjective.)
 Production (US): 20th Century Fox (Fox 2000 Pictures) and Dune Entertainment III, Red Hour / Deuce Three / Sunswept Entertainment Distribution (US): Fox 2000 Pictures Director(s): David Frankel Producer(s): Brad Van Arragon, Carol Fenelon, Ben Stiller, Jerry Kramer, Karen Rosenfelt, Stuart Cornfeld, Curtis Nason, Jeffrey Harlacker Screenplay by: Howard Franklin Based on the book by: Mark Obmascik Cinematography/Camera: Lawrence Sher Music: Theodore Shapiro Film Editing: Mark Livolsi Casting: Margery Simkin Production Design: Brent Thomas Art Direction: Michael Diner, Martina Javorovas Viewed on 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment DVD One can expect cinematic brownies to taste morally bad when baked with Jack Black as one of the main ingredients. When some Owen Wilson is added along with the pungent spice of Steve Martin, the mixture can be expected to be certainly not pleasing to the morally wholesome palate. I rather believe such content implanted in the youthful mind to be akin to those little straight pins that hold your new shirt in the package getting lost in the couch, always there, ready to make a point. Note that the DVD I viewed came with a theatrical version and an unrated version. I viewed the theatrical version. Knowing that "unrated" means "anything goes", I opted to not spend the time on the unrated version. The film opens with "This is a true story. Only the facts have been changed." It would be less disturbing if that were the worst of the "evils" in this modern PG. In terms of profanity, alcohol and the abuse of God's name without and with the four letter expletive, the content of this film is clearly equivalent in total magnitude to the same content in some R-rated films. In particular, I find it distressing and even deplorable that the MPAA would pass this moral cyanide off as a "kids" film by slapping a PG rating on it. The Big Year is a very good example of the moral degradation we have allowed onscreen: We have become so morally numbed by the narcotics of extremes in and as entertainment that what once was morally unacceptable has become morally invisible. -- TC Roofing Contractor Kenny Bostick (Owen Wilson) set the world record in 2003 for bird watching, or better known as "birding" in the film. The "big year" is a birder taking a calendar year to sight as many bird species as he can. Bostick saw 732 different species of birds in one year, setting a new world record. Out to break that record is computer genius Brad Harris (Jack Black). Rich executive Stu Priessler (Steve Marin) has decided to go for the golden 732 sightings as well. All three men are obsessed with birding. This is "the big year" indeed. The big year the MPAA permits vulgarities in "kids" entertainment. 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) - 68 out of 100 The Big Year is not all that violent. Sport gunfire, reckless driving, some slapstick violence, a near head-on traffic mishap, in-flight rough weather terror and a knife threat are the only matters related to violence that could be found. But on the legal side, Bostick abuses handicapped parking several times. Impudence/Hate (I) - Zero out of 100 Twenty-three times someone utters some form of profanity in this PG film. Crude terms are used three times. [Col. 3:8, Eph. 4:29, Eph. 5:4] Argumentation between Stan and his father Raymond (Brian Dennehy) is ugly at times. Cruelty raises its ugly head once but lying is the strongest presence applicable to this content investigation area. [Rev. 21:8, Prov. 6:17, Ps. 101:7] God is rather stern with lying. He won't let you in Heaven unless you are forgiven of it. Sexual Immorality (S) - 79 out of 100 Bostick's third or fourth wife, Jessica (Rosamund Pike) is not afraid to show her chest and much of that which is attached to it. Nor is she afraid to parade around in only a towel or straddle her crotch on Wilson's crotch on a bed (in underwear). Maybe Kenneth and Jessica were married in the movie but Wilson and Pike were not married. Even if Wilson and Pike were married, such marital antics are not for public display. Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 22 out of 100 Drinking and display of alcoholic beverages are rampant. The American College of Physicians (ACP) conducted a study of the influence of alcohol in and as entertainment and found, using R-rated films as their study source, that such influence indisputably leads to underage abuse of alcohol. This film contains as much or more alcoholic content than R-rated films which presents a serious deviation from previous standards for PG-rated films. The study 2002 study by the 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 Offense to God (O) - 33 out of 100 Also presenting a serious deviation from previous standards is the allowing the content to present the use of God's name in vain with the four letter expletive. That is in addition to a number of abuses of His name without the four letter expletive. [Deut. 5:11] I wonder if the filmmakers know that to cause youth to sin by example makes the filmmakers liable of the millstone sin [Luke 17:2] which warns that s/he who teaches and/or causes our little ones to sin would be better off with a millstone tied about his/her neck then cast into the sea. Whether the filmmakers believe it or not. Whether they like it or not. Whether they care or not. Note that "little ones", translated from mikros meaning younger, less by birth, includes at-home teens since your teens are "younger, less by birth" than you. Note also that "less" in "less by birth" does not mean lesser in importance or value, it means less in stature or size and development. In addition to a number of abuses of God's name, this film contains the mano cornuto or horned hand twice, mockery of God and Christmas without Christ. It is okay, people, to say "Christmas." The Federal government has officially named December 25 each year as "Christmas Day." So, it is the Christmas season, not happy holidays or winter festival or ... Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 There were no portrayals of murder or suicide found. 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 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) - 68 out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - Zero out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - 79 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 22 out of 100 Offense to God (O) - 33 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. |
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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 |
