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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 MAR26069  (2006), PG [PG*] (1hr 19min) 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 1000 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.)
 Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database Production (US): Gran Via, Imagine Entertainment, New Line Cinema, Walden Media Distribution (US): New Line Cinema Director(s): Bob Dolman Producer(s): Cale Boyter, Michael Disco, K.C. Hodenfield, Mark Johnson, David Kaufmann, Alex Schwartz, Philip Steuer, Tom Williams Novel by: Thomas Rockwell Screenply: Bob Dolman Cinematography/Camera: Richard Rutkowski Music: Mark Mothersbaugh, Robert Mothersbaugh Film Editing: Janice Hampton, Frederick Wardell Casting: Stephanie Corsalini Production Design: Caty Maxey Art Direction: John Frick Viewed At: Driftwood Theater 6 Billy "Worm Boy" Forrester (Luke Benward) - with three "Rs" - is a victim of his father (Thomas Cavanagh) moving the family due to a new job. Now Billy has a new "job" -- to start a new life at a new school. Billy's little brother, Woody (Ty Panitz) doesn't help since Woody is the "perfect" cute little boy, at least according to mom (Kimberly Williams). Once at school, Billy is tormented by class bully, Joe Guire (Adam Hicks) and his gang. Joe snatches Billy's lunch box and replaces the contents of the thermos with worms. Now, Billy must save face and boasts that he eats worms all the time. In the ensuing frenzy of social warfare, Billy hits Joe in the face with one of the worms. Now the gauntlet has been thrown down and Billy must eat ten worms on Saturday by 7:00 PM. The rest of the show is about how Billy eats ten worms: fried, stewed, microwaved and a plethora of other ways to prepare worms. In one case, when the boys could not get to a way to cook the worm, Joe uses a magnifying glass to do the job, thus the "Magni-fried Worm." Others included "barfmalloo", "the green slusher", "radioactive slime delight", "the burning fireball" and "the Peanut Butter & Worm Jam Sandwich." Even the school principal, "Boiler Head" Burdock (James Rebhorn) ends up eating a worm in an omelet. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) This investigation area revealed a number of issues of violence, especially in the form bully tactics. Joe's older brother, Nigel (Nick Krause) bullies Joe to the point of submission. The film does hint that it is because of the older brother's tormenting that Joe is a bully. [Prov. 3:31] The adolescent crew is also seen trespassing and breaking and entering to commit petty theft as they concoct ways to cook worms and to find a variety of worms to win the bet for Billy to eat ten worms. [Hab. 2:9] And they do so without any regret or remorse. Impudence/Hate (I) The Impudence/Hate investigation area found many issues of tormenting. Tormenting is a form of oppression and God speaks darkly of oppression 20 times in the KJV Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Indeed, the amount of oppression in this film is the only reason this film earned a red CAPCon Alert light rather than a yellow light. See CAPCon Alerts for more information. Sexual Immorality (S) The very young Ty Panitz speaks a couple vulgar innuendo. I wonder whether the filmmakers knew that s/he who teaches and/or causes our youth (which includes at-home teens) to sin would be better off if a millstone were tied about his/her neck then cast into the sea? [Luke 17:2] And attention to the human posterior is not ignored in this film. Drugs/Alcohol (D) The only instance of Drugs/Alcohol noted in this film was the one instance of drinking an alcoholic beverage. God speaks quite ominously about abuse of drink in Eph. 5:18. Though it is not a sin to drink, it is a sin to get drunk OR to influence to get drunk or to drink in defiance such as underage drinking. A study by the American College of Physicians (ACP) has found an undeniable link between the presentation of alcoholic beverages and tobacco in and as entertainment and abuse of them and arrogance/defiance with them by adolescents. And teaching/causing youth to abuse alcohol/tobacco (or drugs) by emboldening youth with them in and as entertainment invokes Luke 17:2. If alcoholic beverages in entertainment were not a problem for our young, why is there and why has there been such a push to get and keep booze commercials off prime time broadcast TV? Even the University of Connecticut corroborates the ACP finding. Offense to God (O) The boys claimed an old woman who owned a fishing store was a witch, but she clearly was not. The only example of behavior noted in this investigation area was the use of God's name in vain by an adolescent. While Luke 17:2 is again invoked, Deuteronomy 5:11 is too. Murder/Suicide (M) No instances of murder and/or suicide were noted. With a final score of 75, How to Eat Fried Worms earned its place squarely in the middle of the scoring range earned by PG films in the comparative baseline database. One can at least chuckle at the ingenuity of the writer on how to prepare worms for human consumption. By the way, the filmmakers were sure to inform everyone that no worms were harmed in the making of this film. I say "So what" if worms were harmed. I have threaded worms on hooks and drowned them hoping a fish would eat them -- then I the fish. Such rhetoric by filmmakers reminds me of the group of folks who shout "Cruelty!" at fishing, claiming that just because fish cannot scream does not mean they don't feel pain. Well, God gave us the wildlife on this planet for our use. Not our ABuse, mind you, but definitely for our use. We are to be good stewards of the wildlife but never subordinate to them. [Gen. 1:28, Gen. 9:3] 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. |
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 Wanton Violence/Crime (W) Impudence/Hate (I) Sexual Immorality (S) Drugs/Alcohol (D): Offense to God (O) Murder/Suicide (M) |
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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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