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Entertainment Media Analysis Report
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MAR25083

With Comparative
(2005), PG-13 [R-13*] (2hr 23min)

Analysis Date
CAP Final Score
CAP Influence Density
MinMax
November 16, 2005
52 out of 100
1.29
-93

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Christian Long Distance

SUMMARY / COMMENTARY:
(This section may be and sometimes is somewhat subjective.)

If Scriptural references appear, the full text appears at the end of the Summary / Commentary.



(2005), PG-13 [R-13*] -- There is no backing out. And people die in this tournament.


Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database
Cast/Crew Details Courtesy imdb.com
Production (US): Warner Bros., Heyday Films, WWE Films
Distribution (US): Warner Bros., IMAX Corporation
Director(s): Mike Newell
Producer(s): David Barron, David Heyman, Peter MacDonald, Tanya Seghatchian
Novel by: J.K. Rowling
Screenplay by: Steven Kloves
Cinematography/Camera: Roger Pratt
Music: Patrick Doyle, John Williams
Film Editing: Mick Audsley
Casting: Shaheen Baig, Stéphane Foenkinos, Mary Selway, Fiona Weir
Production Design: Stuart Craig
Art Direction: Mark Bartholomew, Alastair Bullock, Alan Gilmore, Neil Lamont, Gary Tomkins
Viewed At: Driftwood Theater 6


At last! I finally got to provide one more analysis report to you before the first show on opening day! The members of our email distribution list received the scoring distribution and a short commentary about 1:30 AM this morning.

It is said the antiChrist will be appealing to all except those who recognize him for what he is. He will seem to be a uniquely fine and noble kingly man with all the answers but will have a dark and sinister heart whose only interest is to steal, kill and destroy [John 10:10]. That is a good "metaphor" for this, yet another installment in the Harry Potter thief of minds and hearts -- and maybe souls of they who do not recognize it for what it is. To say to your kids (or yourself) "It's all fantasy" just might not be enough. A bad influence [1 Cor. 15:33] does not have to be real to influence badly. Besides, there comes in the lives of many children a time when your words become no more than that ... words.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire has one of the finest packages I have seen in film. It presents outstanding organization, intense imagery, wondrous technical achievements and ingenious creativity. It is truly a painstaking work of art. But it is dark art with a dark and sinister heart. It has many lures to confound and confuse the inexperienced and uninformed. [Eph. 4:14] It glorifies the practice of witchcraft and sorcery by presenting them not only as a goal of youth but as a noble behavior. This film has great power to desensitize many into accepting that using witchcraft and sorcery for "good" is noble while God says otherwise [Isa. 5:20]. It is not the user of magic nor the use of it which determines its holiness or unholiness. The source of the power determines its holiness ... or UNholiness. The manner of magic portrayed in this film is not from God. The only place God appears in the script is the use of His name in vain. Jesus does not appear at all even though the story involves Christmas.

A word on "magic." Our Director - Child Psychology Support, a practicing clinical psychologist and licensed school counselor has this to say about "magic" in and as entertainment: "Kids who revere Harry can't help to notice their own impotence by comparison, and yearn for the antidote that having "magical powers" would provide." Such dissonance can cause and has caused children to not only have unclean thoughts but to dabble and experiment with dark evil matters. If Jesus had thrown Himself off the pinnacle at Satan's tease would the angels in Matt. 4:5-6, who would have lifted Him up from being dashed on the rocks, have sinned with their "magic?" Did Jesus sin as He used His "magic" to cast out demons, heal the sick, raise the dead, make the blind see and the lame walk? There is a great deal of difference between the "magic" of witchcraft and sorcery and "magic" from God. Angels and angel-possessed people use holy power from God. Witches, wizards , sorcerers. etc. use power from Satan which makes it unholy, even if it is called "white magic." Again, the source of the power determines the holiness or unholiness of it, not the user or the use. And to practice, experiment with, dabble in or even embrace unholy magic (or "magik" to some) is sinful. [Deut. 18:10 - 11, Rev. 21:8]

R-rated films in the comparative baseline database earned scores of 54 and below out of 100. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire earned a final score of 52 which certainly makes it a "R-13" but a "lite" R-13. It is heavy with and clearly equivalent to many R-rated films in violence and witchcraft and sorcery. The content of this film was also equivalent to some lite R-rated films in impudence and/or hate because of an instructor being physically abusive of a few of his students and because of seven uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary (all by an adolescent), cheating, cruelty and name-calling and other ignoble behaviors. But regarding sexually immoral behaviors this film is equivalent to some "hardcore" G-rated films. Many G-rated films present non-graphic murder. So, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, with its only one non-graphic murder, is easily equivalent to G-rated programming in this area.

In this version of the Potter phenomenon, Hogwarts students vie for the coveted honor of being one of three champions in the Tri-Wizard Tournament.

Selection of champions is made by the Goblet of Fire. A hopeful, 17 years or more old, tosses his/her name on a piece of paper into the flame of the Goblet of Fire. Once names are tossed into the Goblet of Fire they cannot be retracted. Selection is final once the goblet selects a name by spewing out a piece of paper with a name on it. There is no backing out. And kids die in this tournament ... without any mention of parental consent, of course.

Though it may cost a champion his/her life, each champion is to use his/her wizard and witchcraft skills to do three Tournament tasks, each with a specific goal. The winner will earn the right of eternal glory. Can you see it yet? Just these two paragraphs are filled with evidence of the dark and sinister heart of the Potter franchise.

Though a condition for vying for status of one of the three champions is being 17 years old or older Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), who is 14, somehow gets named. Not only is he too young according to the rules, he is a fourth in a tournament of three champions. Potter is accused of cheating but the selections of the goblet are final.

The tournament involves fighting a fire-breathing dragon to fetch a golden egg the dragon is guarding, an underwater battle with hordes of creatures to rescue friends and a living maze doing what it can to stop the champions from reaching the prize. In each task, the lives of the champions are at risk. Some of the champions die.

By the way, death eaters get involved, too.

Since this report is being provided on opening day of the movie, I will not spoil anymore of the plot or story. But I beseech you to inspect closely the listing of direct observations in the Findings/Scoring section.

As promised, below is a scoring comparative of the four Harry Potter films.



The Harry Potter films are pretty much peas in the same pod, each earning a final score of 59 plus or minus 7 points, the three PG films in the PG-13 scoring range (13-PG*) and the one PG-13 in the R scoring range (R-13). One of the great features of the CAP Analysis Model is its usefulness in making truly objective comparisons. It is fairly self-explanatory but if you do have questions, email us.


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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

  • John 10:10 The thief [the antiChrist] cometh not, but for to steal [souls], and to kill [Christians], and to destroy [our faith]: ... [Jesus used "thief" to metaphorically identify Satan]
  • Isa. 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.
  • Eph. 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
  • Matt. 4:5 - 6 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
  • Deut. 18:10 - 11 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
  • Rev. 21:8 But the [unforgiven] fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers [the NIV says those who practice magic arts including witches, warlocks, wizards, sorcerers, spiritists, diviners, necromancers, etc.], and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

    ***Selected Scriptures of Armour against the influence of the entertainment industry***
  • Ps. 12:8 The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men [e.g., create progressively vile/offensive entertainment with impunity and no consequences to younger and younger audiences every year when enough people continue to defend it, embrace it, pay for it, enjoy it, want it].
  • Col. 2:8 Beware lest any man [by his influence] spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
  • 1 Cor. 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
  • Rom. 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
  • Jude 1:4 For there are certain men* crept in unawares [secretly slipped in among you], who were before of old ordained to this condemnation [whose condemnation was written about long ago], ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness [a license for immorality], and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. [*men: anthropos {anth'-ro-pos}, generic, a human being, whether male or female]
  • Matt. 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto [or for] one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto [or for] me.
  • Luke 17:2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. ["Offend": skandalizo - to entice to sin; to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey; to cause to fall away. "Little ones": mikros - little;, small of age; younger which can include at-home teens].
  • Ps. 119:133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me [let no sin rule over me].
  • John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
  • 1 Thess. 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. ["Evil" includes all things that are sinful.]


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    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.
  • FINDINGS / SCORING:
    (The objective heart of the CAP Analysis Model, independent of and insulated from the Summary/
    Commentary section.
    )

    Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) CAP Thermometers

    Wanton Violence/Crime (W)
  • action violence, repeatedly, frequent, varying intensities
  • attack by demon-like beings resulting to total destruction of a large camp
  • magic as firing weapons, repeatedly
  • gambling
  • animal attacks to kill, repeatedly, some graphic
  • injuries with blood
  • three erect floating bodies anchored underwater
  • trident threat to neck
  • more underwater peril
  • dead body
  • plant attack of a girl
  • plants attacking to kill, repeatedly
  • self amputation of hand to provide flesh for spell to resurrect/conjure
  • stabbing/slicing a child to get blood for spell
  • sight of murder victim
  • extensive duel with magic
  • grotesque imagery of transfiguration
  • threat to kill a child, repeatedly

    Impudence/Hate (I)
  • seven uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary
  • blaming youth for unseen mischief
  • physically accosting of a student to get his attention with thinly veiled threat
  • social cruelty with name-calling
  • unnecessary roughness by an instructor, repeatedly
  • cheating, repeatedly

    Sexual Immorality (S)
  • camera angle to force viewer on private parts (clothed)
  • insult with anatomical reference
  • inappropriate touch
  • male adolescent bathing
  • female character watching with glee the male bathe
  • female character snuggling with the bathing male character

    Drugs/Alcohol (D):
  • reference to drinking of whiskey
  • consuming from a pocket flask, repeatedly
  • forcing a character to drink a substance to change him

    Offense to God (O)
  • images of the dead, repeatedly
  • communicating with evil/demons
  • talking snake (the last talking snake was Satan beguiling Eve)
  • death by magic, repeatedly
  • transporting by magic, multiple
  • wizards/sorcerers levitating/flying, repeatedly, frequently
  • "Snoopy doghouse" exaggeration of perspective by magic
  • "I love magic"
  • disturbing images of death, repeatedly
  • impossible events such as a frigate surfacing from under water
  • portrayal of the use of magic to change, control, write, become invisible, transfigure, create, miniaturize, pass through, grow, foresee, heal, cause pain and more, repeatedly, frequently
  • magic to kill
  • stained glass window character crying
  • moving still photos/paintings
  • speaking face in fire coals
  • Christmas without Jesus
  • plants alive, repeatedly
  • evil incantation
  • demon shape-shifting
  • spirits floating about
  • unholy battle as if between the angel Michael and Satan
  • spiritism
  • demon possession, repeatedly
  • long sequence of doing battle with evil

    Murder/Suicide (M)
  • murder by magic











  • Christian Educators Association International







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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.



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