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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 MAR28023  (2008), PG [PG*] (1hr 25min) 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 1200 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): Walden Media, New Line Cinema Distribution (US): New Line Cinema Home Video Director(s): Eric Brevig Producer(s): Cale Boyter, Michael Disco, Beau Flynn, Brendan Fraser, Cary Granat, Charlotte Huggins, W. Mark McNair, Alex Schwartz, Mylan Stepanovich, Evan Turner, Tripp Vinson Based on Novel by Jules Verne Screenplay: Michael D. Weiss, Mark Levin, Jennifer Flackett Cinematography/Camera: Chuck Shuman Music: Andrew Lockington Film Editing: Steven Rosenblum, Paul Martin Smith, Dirk Westervelt Casting: Vera Miller, Elisabeth Rudolph Production Design: David Sandefur Art Direction: Jean Kazemirchuk, Michele Laliberte, Re'al Proulx Viewed on New Line Cinema DVD This analysis is sponsored by E&HP, LD, GG, DD, MT and DC. Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008) is basically geological eye candy with a little story as fill. Some ingenuity and creativity were evident in the scenery but the film is more spectacle than story. Other films such as Indiana Jones with the mine cart ride and Spy Kids with the forever falling were parodied but all in all this PG-rated theme park romp was enjoyable. A better story would have helped. By the way, as usual of the caliber of modern cinema, for whatever reason the girl looses the most clothing during the action. The Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008) DVD comes in both the standard 2-D vision format and in 3-D format but separately packaged. I cannot tell you if there are any differences between the two formats since I watched only the standard vision format. Several scenes of the standard format were typical of the 3-D format such as the yo-yo coming at the screen. Though this 2008 version is not intended to be any sort of strict adaptation of the original 1959 Jules Verne's A Journey to the Center of the Earth with Pat Boone as Alec McKuen, James Mason as Professor Lindenbrook and Arlene Dahl as Carla Göteborg, it seems to be more of a mockery than a remake or even sequel of the original. Vernian college professor Trevor Anderson (Brendan Fraser) is to entertain his fatherless 13-year old nephew, Sean (Josh Hutcherson) for ten days while Trevor's sister-in-law, Elizabeth (Jane Wheeler) settles in Canada to later fetch Sean. Sean's dad, Max (Jean Michel Paré) was lost, presumably killed about ten years earlier. As Elizabeth drops Sean off at his uncle's house Sean displays the "It ain't good enough, no matter what 'it' is" attitude that Hollywood seems to want us to think is typical of "13" and expresses it to his mom and uncle. Sean does not want to be dumped on his uncle. Maybe it is understandable that a 13 year old who lost his father does not want to stay with his uncle for 10 days, but that does not excuse arrogance and verbal rebellion against fair authority. Go ahead and be unhappy with the "uglies" that life sometimes throws at us but keep the smart-alec attitude of disrespect out of it. Go ahead and express your hurt but do so in a respectable way. Our Lord has some rather stern things to say about the arrogant and rebellious mouth. Above I said "Vernian" describing Professor Anderson. In the movie "Vernian" applies to they who believe the original book was not fantasy but contained real clues to a path to the center of the Earth: that Professor Lindenbrook (James Mason) of the 1959 story indeed made the trip and the book is an recounting of his trek. Professor Anderson and Sean were bound to prove this to be true by retracing Dr. Lindenbrook's path to the center of the Earth. Professor Anderson and Sean travel to Iceland to begin their trek of confirmation. Arriving at what once was an institute for such research the duo meet a mountain guide, Hannah Ásgeirsson (Anita Briem) who warns them the legend of Lindenbrook is pure fantasy. Hannah's late father was a Vernian, too, and died while trying to prove the same thing Anderson is trying to prove. Undaunted, Anderson hires Hannah for 5000 of the local "dollars" ... per hour ... to escort Anderson and Sean up the target volcanic mountain to find the famous path to the center of the Earth: 5000 "dollars" per hour until she is safe back in her home. On the mountain, Anderson finds a sensor left there ten years ago by his brother and Sean's dad, Max. The sensor recorder contains ten years of readings absolutely vital to Anderson's attempts to prove himself and his brother right. But as Anderson unearths the sensor a lightning storm arrives and targets the sensor's antenna which attracts the lightning bolts. As Anderson and company dive for safety in a cave in the side of the mountain lightning destroys the sensor ... and collapses the cave entrance. Now entrapped, Anderson and company must find a way out and back to the surface. From there the action begins. All I will say about that is that the trio, two males and one female as in the original story, end up being spewed out of the Earth up a lava tube to the surface, just as in the original story and just in time to prevent being eaten by prehistoric beasts and flesh eating plants and cooked by a rising lava dome. At least Sean found his father plus a small fortune in jewels. This time the lava lads and lass bring back proof of Anderson's claim. Indeed they ride some of the proof down a hillside into a farmer's home. By the way, there is no Arnie Saknussem (Thayer David [Hersey]) villain in this "sequel", the villain who shadows the original trio to steal credit for their discovery. Their only nemesis is the environment and its dangers ... and Professor Anderson's lust for proof. Don't look for much science in this science fiction. There is less science integrity than story. A final score of 72 lands the "big picture" content of this film squarely in the scoring range earned by PG films in the comparative baseline database (68 to 86 out of 100). But the final score does not reveal one of the most useful tools of the CAP Ministry service -- that of where the concentrations, if any, lie. The following discussions of the findings by individual investigation area do that for you. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 3 out of 100 This film presents violence content equivalent to some R-rated films, not because of the intensity or severity of the instances of violence but because of the sheer number of them inside 86 minutes. For more information about this loading content technique please refer to the CAP Rule of 1000. Note that a film which feeds your kids with many "lesser" examples of value challenging programming can and may have more of a morally and coping skills counterproductive desensitizing effect than a film with fewer but more severe examples. For more information on the effects of violence in and as entertainment on youth, please visit Joint Statement on the Impact of Entertainment Violence on Children Congressional Public Health Summit. Violence content includes animal and plant attacks and action violence repeatedly, death (unseen) by fall into lava, unbelievably long falls, storm peril, a near drowning and other items of the violent nature. [Prov. 16:29] Impudence/Hate (I) - 38 out of 100 Stealing most of the starting 100 points of this investigation area was the Sean character and his arrogance and rebellion. A couple lies, one in which Professor Anderson told Sean to lie to his mother and teen contempt of adult direction was expensive to this investigation area score as well. There were no instances of literal profanity noted, however Sean used "schist" (a form of layered rock) as a euphemism of profanity. It was clear the writers inserted notation of schist rock just so Sean could "cuss" even if only once. [Prov. 8:13, Isa. 30:1, Eph. 5:4] Sexual Immorality (S) - 92 out of 100 The only instances of sexually oriented programming noted were the "accidental" inappropriate touch of Hannah by Trevor as he hoisted Hannah into a vessel plus the obvious attention to "female" throughout the last two thirds of the film. [1Tim. 2:9] Regarding the "accidental" inappropriate touch, I can hear someone say "Anderson was trying to save her life! Give 'em a break!" To that I say wake up. This was a film with people performing for money. Nobody's life was in any danger. The filmmakers know exactly what goes into each and every frame, making the content of each and every frame intentional. "Plot", "story" and "message" do not excuse content. (Let me ask that if you have not please visit the BEFORE You read On ... link atop this Summary/Commentary section.) The CAP Analysis Model makes no scoring allowances for trumped-up "messages" to excuse, to manufacture justification for, or to camouflage moral assaults, aberrant behavior or imagery with "redeeming" programming. A noble destination does not excuse an ignoble path. And "acting" does not excuse sin. Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 100 out of 100 There were no examples of illegal drugs, alcohol, prescription drugs abuse or smoking noted. Offense to God (O) - 100 out of 100 There was not one noted use of God's name in vain, with or without the four letter expletive and no instances of witchcraft, sorcery, occultism, Satanism or other evil practices. Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 No murders or suicides were noted. 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) - 3 out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - 38 out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - 92 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 100 out of 100 Offense to God (O) - 100 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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