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Entertainment Media Analysis Report
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MAR2012.021

(2010), NR (12+) [G-NR*] (79.3min)

Final Score
Analysis Date
Date Posted
Influence Density
MinMax
March 10, 2012
March 11, 2012
92
0.15
-25

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Christian Long Distance

SUMMARY / COMMENTARY:
(While the Scriptural references are certainly not subjective, my commentary may be and sometimes is somewhat subjective.)

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



(2010), NR (12+) [G-NR*] ... conjures a lot of emotion


Production (US): Pure|Filx Entertainment, a Clean Slate Production in association with 10 West Studios
Distribution (US): Pure|Filx Entertainment
Director(s): D. David Morin
Producer(s): Jeff Peterson, Harold Cronk, Matthew Failford, Brittany Lefebvre, Michael Scott, David A. R. White, Russell Wolfe, Byron Jones, Tom Sabb
Written by: David Michael Anthony
Screenplay by: Alan Smithee, D. David Morin
Cinematography/Camera: Todd Barron
Music: David Miner
Film Editing: D. David Morin
Casting: Billy DaMota
Production Design: Philip Carrel
Art Direction: Trent Weaver
Viewed on Pure|Filx Home Entertainment DVD


Johnny, which is not rated (NR) but awarded the 12+ label by the Dove Foundation, earned a final score of 92 which places it solidly in the G-equivalent scoring range of 87 to 100 out of 100 in the comparative baseline database. The only reason this film earned the yellow CAPCon Alert Light is because of the Wanton Violence/Crime (W) content investigation area finding enough content to yield an area score of 75 out of 100 which is PG-equivalent. More on this in the individual content discussion areas below.

Johnny conjures a lot of emotion due to the theme of a young foster boy, Johnny (Jerry Phillips), living with knowing he will die soon from leukemia. Johnny has no parents. There is no record of his father. His mother was killed by a drunk driver. Johnny is under the custodial care of the Children's Social Services, the Michigan counterpart of the Texas Child Protective Services (CPS).

Dr. Mike Miller (Lee Majors), Johnny's primary care physician, referred Johnny to Dr. Carter (Mel fair) because Dr. Carter is an oncologist and better suited to treat Johnny's leukemia. Dr. Miller warned Dr. Carter that Johnny is a very special kid, one who will steal his heart. Dr. Carter took a cavalier attitude about that warning but soon learned what Dr. Miller was talking about.

Dr. Carter and his wife Julia (Musetta Vander) lost their ten year old son, Robby in a car accident two years earlier. Julia has not been able to let go of the loss and, in the opinion of their daughter, Kayla (Aubyn Cole) who is 9 _ years old, walks around "like a zombie." Julia blames herself for their son's death since she was texting when she and Robby were broadsided in their car. Julia is emotionally devastated and is in a consuming state of grief and guilt ... and it shows.

Dr. Carter has become so smitten with Johnny that he decides to adopt Johnny. But Dr. Carter forgot one tiny little detail - he did not discuss adopting Johnny with Julia first. Dr. Carter feels that adopting Johnny will heal his family from their loss of Robby. Julia thinks her husband is out of his mind for bringing a terminally ill ten year old boy into their home so "soon" after losing their also ten year old son. How can they go through another loss? Julia is adamantly opposed to it but agrees to try it out for a week. Kayla is feeling more and more rejected by her mother. Dr. Carter is feeling more and more distant from Julia.

Johnny, who has given his heart to Jesus, has been touting for a long time that he is on a mission from God. Little does Dr. Carter know he and his family - and inherently Willie -- are Johnny's mission.

There the story really takes off but I will not spoil it any further. This film is, for the lack of a better word, special to me since my wife and I have provided foster care to 40 children over 18 years ... and adopted eight of them. So I can say I know how Dr. Carter, felt when he adopted Johnny.

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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) - 75 out of 100
While there is nothing particularly violent in the physical sense, there are a number of emotionally disturbing instances: emotional misery (frequent), a constant theme of doom for a little boy with death looming, the boy suffering asystole, a young boy coughing up blood and a scene of death of a little boy. A bully assault adds to the total violence package. While each was "necessary" to the story and plot, our goal is to let you know of them so you might be in a better position to make an informed moral decision whether a film is fit. It is not up to the filmmakers or the MPAA to decide for you what is acceptable for your youth. It is up to you, mom/dad, and you alone. This is the content area, the only area of the six, that warranted the yellow CAPCon Alert Light which is an indicator to solicit your attention to the content. If any of the six CAP content investigation areas (W, I, S, D, O, M) find content to yield a score of 86 or less the yellow CAPCon Alert Light is applied to it as an alert to parents that they should give serious attention to the content findings.

Impudence/Hate (I) - 87 out of 100
A lie by Dr. Carter, his deceit of his wife and an animated martial argument were the only matters found applicable to this content investigation area. Note that a single unforgiven lie is enough to cost our eternal future. God is adamant about lying. So much so that in Revelation 21:8 He warns that the [unforgiven] liar will not make it into Heaven.

Sexual Immorality (S) - 100 out of 100
There is nothing noteworthy in the film regarding sexually immoral behaviors or imagery.

Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 100 out of 100
Neither is there any possession or consumption of illegal drugs, no tobacco whatsoever and no abuse of prescription drugs in this film.

Offense to God (O) - 87 out of 100
Johnny speaks a euphemism of God's name, making it a use of God's name in vain. [Deut. 5:11] Dr. Carter gives rationale for not believing in God and does so before a child. Dr. Carter later again denies God exists.

Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100
There are no murders or suicides in the entire 79.3 minutes of the show.

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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

  • Rev. 21:8 But the [unforgiven] fearful [deilos {di-los'}; timid, cowardly], and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers [sexually immoral], and sorcerers [all forms of evil/magic to force or do harm], and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. ["Timid" as used in this verse does not mean humble or meek. It means cowering in fear when, e.g., someone threatens your loved one and you hide in the shadows to save yourself as your loved one is victimized.]
  • Deut. 5:11 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain. [Vain is shav {shawv}: emptiness, nothingness, vanity, such as in slang or profanity. With or without the four letter expletive, the use of God's name in any way other than respect, reverence or responsible discussion and in praise and prayer is in vain. That includes the popular three syllable sentence with His name trailing it AND the misuse of Jesus' name or title even if as a euphemism. So, trying to excuse such expressions with "I was talking TO God/Jesus when I said that" or It's just words" or "I was acting" will not work with Him. Nor will "Everybody says that" excuse the sin of using His name in vain. If everyone on the planet who has ever drawn a breath used His name in vain, it would still be a sin to do so. If no one ever did, it would still be a sin to do so. Whether we believe it or not. Whether we like it or not. Whether we care or not.]

    Selected Scriptures of Armour against the influence of the entertainment industry

  • Jer. 37:9 This is what the LORD says: Do not deceive yourselves, thinking, 'The Babylonians [the destroyers from within] will surely leave us.' They will not!
  • Ps. 12:8 The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men [when enough people continue to defend what is vile, embrace it, enjoy it, want it, submit to 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 [kakov: of a bad nature, not such as it ought to be] 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 us], 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 one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto 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 {skan-dal-id'-zo} - scandalize; 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.]
  • 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.)

    Johnny (2010) CAP Thermometers

    Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 75 out of 100
  • emotional distress, repeatedly, occasionally intense
  • constant theme of fatal doom for a little boy
  • little boy in asystole (heart standstill)
  • bully assault
  • young boy coughing up blood
  • scene of death of young boy

    Impudence/Hate (I) - 87 out of 100
  • lie
  • husband deceiving his wife
  • animated marital argument

    Sexual Immorality (S) - 100 out of 100
  • none noted

    Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 100 out of 100
  • none noted

    Offense to God (O) - 87 out of 100
  • euphemism of God's name in vain by a young boy
  • adult caregiver expressing disbelief in God before a young boy
  • adult denying God exists

    Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100
  • none noted















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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 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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    * CAP Equivalence to MPAA Rating Scale:
    Please note our new manner of indicating a film's Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) rating in comparison with the CAP equivalence such as "PG-13 [R-13]." The first term is the Motion Picture Association of America's (MPAA) rating. The second term [in brackets] indicates that which the film earned under the CAP analysis model. In the example, "PG-13 [R-13]" indicates the MPAA rated the film PG-13 but the film earned a CAP final score in the scoring range earned by R-rated movies in the comparative baseline database. Other comparative terms used might be "PG [13-PG]", "G [PG-G] or even 'PG-13 [PG]" as was the case for Alien vs Predator. I doubt there will ever be a "G [R]" used, but only time will tell. The CAP analysis model is Rock-solid. The MPAA is not.

    The current CAP to MPAA** nomenclature is:

    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
    ** G, PG, PG-13 and R are registered trademarks of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).




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