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A service to our youth through you, their parents and grandparents, in His name by His Word MAR22068 Hey Arnold! The Movie (2002), PG Analysis Date: July 1, 2002 CAP Score: 67 CAP Influence Density: 0.61 MinMax: -100 |
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HEY ARNOLD! THE MOVIE (PG) -- ...about functioning within their capabilities. Production: Nickelodeon Distribution: Paramount Pictures Director(s): Tuck Tucker Producer(s): Craig Bartlett, Marjorie Cohn, Albie Hecht, Julia Pistor, Joseph Purdy, Steve Viksten Written by/Screenplay: (characters) Craig Bartlett, (written by) Craig Bartlett & Steve Viksten Music: Jim Lang Film Editing: Christopher Hink Production Design: Guy Vasilovich Art Direction: Christine Kolosov  Remember folks. Though the CAP analysis model was developed by researching behaviors of live performers, the CAP model can incorporate animation/cartoon behaviors as if performed by live performers IF the behaviors portrayed can reasonably be duplicated by or subjected to real children. While the model is indeed very useful in that aspect, it does *not* try to quantify the abstract nature of increased separation of fantasy from reality perception inherent with cartoon animation versus live performance. The word came. All businesses and homes between 33rd street and 39th street will be torn down to make way for progress. "Change is good." Everyone will have to sell their property within 20 days. All memories will be obliterated by the wrecking ball. Though the city council is opposed to the change, Mayor Dixie (voice of Tress MacNeille) is in favor of it. Sheck (voice of Paul Sorvino) of Future Tech Industries (FTi) is going to tear down 6 square city blocks to build a shopping mall. But Sheck is not doing it as much to make money as he is to get revenge for his ancestors - the Redcoats of Britain who tried to claim the same area of the city but were repulsed by an attack with tomatoes. Arnold (voice of Spencer Klein) and Gerald (voice of Jamil Walker Smith) perform as adults to stop FTi. But that seems almost to be a lesser subplot of the story line. Nine or ten year old Helga Pataki (voice of Francesca Smith) is in love with Arnold. In the secrecy of solitude she speaks of deep devotion and almost servitude to Arnold. Toward the end of the show she even plants a juicy wet one on his mouth. Kinda overboard for a pair nine year old kids wouldn't you say? But she hates him, too. Outwardly anyway. Whenever she is in earshot of Arnold, she launches a deluge of insults at him. With a slingshot she destroys many of her fetishes of Arnold. One fetish was in her father's attic. It appeared to be about eight feet tall with all the voodoo-looking trappings staged around it as if it were a worship altar. Now what would psychiatrists say about that? I didn't write this movie, folks. I am just telling you what is there so you can make an informed decision on your own whether this cartoon is fit for your kids or not. As Arnold and Gerald plan their campaign to save their neighborhood from the wrecking ball, they are intercepted by Bridget (voice of Jennifer Jason Leigh), a mysterious *Tomb Raider* In addition to "K and J of MIB" (Arnold as K and Gerald as J), several other movie characters are represented in *Hey Arnold!* Helga's dad, 'Big' Bob Pataki (voice of Maurice LaMarche) gets doused in pickle juice and becomes The Incredible Hulk when fighting Sheck's right-hand weasel. Even *Cast Away* Arnold and Gerald come up with an idea to garner support of the community and to attract news coverage. A blockapulooza. With music and dance and booths. The whole nine yards. But the blockapulooza is raided by the "Gestapo" police. Sheck's righ-hand weasel ( I wish I could remember his name) arranged for the permit Arnold submitted to the city to allow them to hold the blockapulooza to be "intercepted." Nine year olds can submit a permit application to the city? I have interspersed a number of comments in the text of this Summary/Commentary to point to the writers placing nine year olds in situations clearly beyond the typical unsupervised capabilities of that age. Many of the situations are noble and honorable and are likely to swell your child's chest as s/he inevitably envision's him/herself in the situations mentally saying, with an imaginary fist in the air, "I could do that." But some situations surrounding the noble and courageous ones would be dangerous. I know this might draw from you a "gimme a break" mutterance, but Harvard educated Dr. Karen Nelson and many others agree with me that the ability to completely separate fantasy from reality and to fully anticipate the consequences of one's actions are not developed to their plateau until the early 20s. And we are dealing with a target audience of very young children. I'll let you do the math. Other reports on this movie have revealed that of the kids in the audience of the same age stratum as the characters, none were exhibiting the typical nine year old behaviors. All were quite somber and absorbed. I cannot confirm this effect of this movie on kids because the attendees in the audience when I watched it, all four of them, were two about 13 years old, one about 15 and one about 35. I will agree, however, that indescribable properties that might foster such a reaction from young kids were there. Please consider talking with your children who watch this show about functioning within their capabilities and exploring expansion of their capabilities in due time by your judgment and under your loving guidance [Col. 2:8]. Additional programming that may concern you includes unnecessary roughness with kids, breaking and entering with theft, threats against children, fighting and morgue dead body legs. Other concerns might include the use of "666" as part of an address of "66613" in a way as to *clearly* focus attention on the three sixes. Another was the temptation with food to buy submission. There is a connection between the triple sixes and submission if you have read Revelation [Rev. 9 - 18]. There is even attempted murder of children by blowing up an overpass in front of a transit bus being driven by Gerald. [Matt. 18:10] Arnold's grandmother escapes jail by popping up out of a commode, the typical body exudates are there plus a number of name-calling episodes. A crotch hit, kids jumping off a moving bus and more will be seen and heard by your kids if you decide this movie is acceptable for your kids. The listing in the Findings/Scoring section itemized all that was found. SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S) If needed to focus or fortify, applicable text is underlined or bracketed [ ]. 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. *******Food for Daily Thought******* 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. |
 Wanton Violence/Crime (W): Impudence/Hate (I)(1): Sex/Homosexuality (S): Drugs/Alcohol (D): Offense to God (O)(2): Murder/Suicide (M)(3): |
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| NOTE: The CAP Analysis Model makes no scoring allowances for trumped-up "messages" to excuse or for manufacturing of justification for aberrant behavior or imagery, or for camouflaging such ignominy with "redeeming" programming. Disguising sinful behavior in a theme plot does not excuse the sinful behavior of either the one who is drawing pleasure or example from the sinful display or the practitioners demonstrating the sinful behavior. This is NOT a movie review service. It is a movie analysis service to parents and grandparents to tell them the truth about movies using the Truth. |
| "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 nearly seven 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. |
