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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 MAR2012.037  (2009), PG [PG*] (89.1min) 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): Christmas Film, Inc., The Hatchery, LLC, RHI Entertainment, Jaffe/Braunstein Films, Bauman Entertainment -- A Hallmark Channel Presentation Distribution (US): Vivendi Entertainment Director(s): Neill Fearnley Producer(s): Randolph Cheveldave, Ted Bauman, Howard Braunstein, Dan Angel, Margaret Loesch, Nancy Welsh, Linday Mofatt, Neill Fearnley, Daniel Wilson Based on the book by Kenny Rodgers and Donald Davenport Teleplay: Donald Davenport Cinematography/Camera: Michael Balfry Music: John Sereda, Paul Michael Thomas Film Editing: Jana Fritsch Casting: Candice Elzinga Production Design: James Hazell Viewed on Vivendi Entertainment DVD Christmas in Canaan is a warm story about a few years in the life of the Burton family in Canaan, Texas circa 1964: the father Daniel (Billy Ray Cyrus), grandpa Riley (Tom Heaton), daughter Sarah (Jessica McLeod then Emily Tennant), sons DJ (Jak Ludwig then Matt Ward) and Bobbers (Darien Provost then Brendan Meyer). The heart of the story is the relationship of young DJ with a boy named Rodney Freeman. Rodney lives with his grandmother, Eunice (Candus Cgurchill). DJ and his family are white. Rodney and Eunice are black. The story emerges under the racial strife of the 60s in the deep South. The story opens with DJ and Rodney in the fifth grade. Rodney is well learned. DJ is barely making the grade and blames it on having to do so many chores. On the bus to school DJ argues the capital of New York is New York City. Rodney knows it is Albany. DJ talks down his nose at Rodney with a countenance of racism. Rodney calls DJ stupid. From there the fire starts. After a fight between DJ and Rodney, complete with bloody lip, bloody nose and tattered clothes, Daniel discovers the racial fire in DJ and figures the two boys being made to live together for one week would soften the friction. So, Grandma Eunice and Daniel agree to have the boys live together, a couple days at Grandma Eunice's place and a couple days at the Burton's. Does it work? You'll find out if you watch this DVD. One of the ways the writers used to portray Christmas was indeed clever. All performers were most effective in imparting that which was intended to be said. It was a hard year at the Burton farm. Money was exceptionally tight. Daniel did not have the money to buy nice gifts. Instead, he cut clippings from a Sears catalogue and put them in Christmas present boxes, complete with wrapping paper and ribbons and bows. While this maneuver might not work in the real world as well as it should, it worked quite well in the story. Rodney, now a young adult writer wrote succinctly about Christmas in Canaan in this way "Clippings from a Sears catalogue instead of actual gifts turned a meager Christmas into a celebration of joy ... a celebration that didn't hang on things but on hope." 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) - 40 out of 100 With frequent brandishing of a shotgun including pointing it in the face of a character plus the swinging of it and loading it to scare two young boys plus the arson with endangerment of many and a few other matters of the violent nature listed in the Violence section of the Findings/Scoring section, the violence content was found to be equivalent to the same areas in some R-rated features. Which gives reason to share with you God's Word about violence. In more than 50 places from the Old Testament to the New Testament God admonishes us against violence. Proverb 16:29 puts it into perspective quite succinctly. In Proverb 16:29 God warns that violence can be "catching": that violence can lead one into the way that is not good. Since God "published His findings" about violence, four professional public health agencies have done likewise, indeed, have plagiarized his Word about violence, likely without knowing it. Well, now that man has echoed God's Word about violence then God must be right, right? Impudence/Hate (I) - 40 out of 100 Twice someone utters profanity [Col. 3:8, Eph. 4:29] and twice is twice too many. But the profanity was not the strongest presence of assault on morality and wholesome ethics applicable to this content investigation area. Other matters that added to the total envelope of impudence and/or hatred included some instances of racism, of stereotypical adolescent misbehavior and an adult threat of a child. Maybe if people understood that God says anyone who offends His little ones (which includes at-home teens) would be better off with a millstone tied about his/her neck then cast into the sea [Luke 17:2], there would be far fewer abuses of children. Sexual Immorality (S) - 100 out of 100 There is no content in this film that could fall under this Sexual Immorality content investigation area. Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 78 out of 100 Booze and drinking with drunkenness appear in one sequence. [Eph. 5:18] Offense to God (O) - 93 out of 100 Once someone use God's name in vain but without the four letter expletive [Deut. 5:11] and another character calls Riley an "old fool." [Matt. 5:22] Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 There are no murders or suicides in this film. 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) - 40 out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - 40 out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - 100 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 78 out of 100 Offense to God (O) - 93 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 |
