CAPCon ALERT

Click on CAPCon Alert image for explanation
ChildCare Action Project:
Christian Analysis of American Culture (CAP Ministry)
www.capalert.com/
Entertainment Media Analysis Report
A service to His little ones (which includes at-home teens) through you, their parents and grandparents, in His name by His Word

MAR23114
(2003), R

Analysis Date
CAP Final Score
CAP Influence Density
MinMax
November 1, 2003
48 out of 100
1.59
-100


Give your visitors access to more than 700 CAP movie analyses while your page stays open. Put the link above on your web page. FREE! Test it! Click it!



We exist only through your generosity!
Make your tax-deductible donations to the CAP Ministry through

Click here to see

UPDATED December 31, 2003

US MAIL in US Dollars to
CAP Ministry
PO Box 177
Granbury, TX 76048-0177

Preferred. NO Service Charges.
If either of the above two links have not worked properly for you, please try again. THANK YOU!!!

SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE:
To subscribe to or unsubscribe from our FREE text-only versions of our Entertainment Media Analysis Reports as they are calculated, visit our Mailman. If you experience difficulty with Mailman, send us your request. Your email address will NOT be given or sold to other parties.
ALERT: To fully understand this report you should first visit the topics suggested by the CAP Site Map (Table of Contents). Further, if you do not want the plot, ending, or "secrets" of a movie spoiled for you, skip the Summary/Commentary. In any case, be sure to visit the Findings/Scoring section -- it is completely objective to His Word and is the heart of the CAP Entertainment Media Analysis Model applied to this movie.






SUMMARY / COMMENTARY:


If Scriptural references appear, the full text appears at the end of the Summary / Commentary likely using a mix of KJV and NIV.



(2003), R -- And what a waste!



Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database
Production (US): Universal Pictures
Distribution (US): Universal Pictures
Director(s): Richard Curtis
Producer(s): Tim Bevan, Liza Chasin, Richard Curtis, Eric Fellner, Debra Hayward, Duncan Kenworthy, Chris Thompson
Written by: Richard Curtis
Cinematography/Camera: Michael Coulter
Music: Craig Armstrong
Film Editing: Nick Moore
Casting: Mary Selway, Fiona Weir
Production Design: Jim Clay
Art Direction: Rod McLean, Justin Warburton-Brown


Well! A "Christmas story" with Jesus! Indeed, twice this film gives proper credit to the Reason for the season. Twice "baby Jesus" was spoken as part of the nativity scene play being presented by elementary school students. From England, no less! I am proud of Universal Pictures and Richard Curtis for being politically incorrect even if only for two brief moments. But I am not proud of them for the content of the rest of the show. I will explain. Regarding the immoral content, the film is nothing like the previews.

The story is of a number of individuals who find love starting at 5 weeks before Christmas, building to Christmas day. What a wonderful idea. The mixing of several different stories into one easy to follow package is masterful.

Single Prime Minister David (Hugh Grant) fell in love with one of his single aides, Natalie (Martine McCutcheon) who suffered moves made by the married US President (Billy Bob Thorton) on an international relations visit. Having realized the inappropriateness of a relationship with Natalie, Prime Minister David ended it by having Natalie dispatched out of his office. But the relationship did not stay that way. And not in one case I can remember does David and Natalie end up in bed together. But the same cannot be said for the rest of the yule lovers.

I think the first bedding done was by Harry (Alan Rickman) and his outstanding wife Karen (Emma Thompson). But they were fully clothed in nightwear with no sexual activity at all. The sexual activity came from (among others which I will reveal) Harry's secretary, Mia (Heike Makatsch) who had interests in Harry. And she advertised those interests by spreading her knees apart in front of him.

In Harry's office was Sarah (Laura Linney) who had amorous aims for fellow office worker, Karl (Rodrigo Santoro). She had been in "secret" love with Karl for more than two years. And everyone knew it. Even Karl. Harry even tried to coax Sarah into telling Karl of her affection for him. But Sarah was too timid to speak up. Karl required that she speak up if there was to be anything realized in her attraction to him. Eventually the two found reason to share their love ... in bed. But fortunately, Sarah was too addicted to answering her cell phone for there to be any thing beyond snuggling in their nuderwear (no, I did not misspell that).

In another subplot, lonely and forlorn writer Jamie (Colin Firth) fell in love with his Portuguese housekeeper, Aurelia (Lúcia Moniz) who spoke English as well as he spoke Portuguese. It took her stripping to her underwear to rescue his work blown into a pond by the wind to push him over the threshold of realizing he loved her.

Even the kids got into the love act in this film. A devoted and loving father, Daniel (Liam Neeson) lost his wife and left him with a young son, Sam (Thomas Sangster) about 10 years old who was in love with a beautiful and talented 10 year old singer in his school. Of course, these two 10 year old kids acted as though they were worldly and capable of being 30-year olds, well beyond their years, portraying persona unfair to the typical 10 year old who desperately wants to be older. What else is to be expected when dad teaches the 10 year old son all about love ... all about sex using street-level vulgar expletives and innuendo to do it What else is to be expected of a 10 year old when he is taught that immoral intercourse is the ultimate goal of a premarital love relationship?

There are other love stories but to tell you of them all would completely spoil the movie if you decide the filth and vulgarity are acceptable. And what a waste! A waste I tell you! Every single use of the three/four letter word vocabulary (all 15 of them), every use of the most foul of the foul words (all ten of them) [Col. 3:8; Prov. 22:11], every pornographic image of intercourse and oral sex with full and explicit detailed nudity AND positioning AND motions was absolutely unnecessary! Not one single sexual innuendo, comment, story or invitation or gesture was needed. Not one! [Gal. 5:19; 1Ths. 4:2-5; Rev. 21:8] This would have been a fully delightful, warm and witty romantic comedy without them. But n-o-o-o! It had to be ruined with tons of sexual immorality and filthy language. Even one secular reviewer said Love Actually should be acceptable for teenagers. [Luke 17:2} Wow! That is pushing immoral programming on to those least capable of managing the fires created by it. Now do you understand why I still analyze R-rated movies?

By the way, some time ago I told you about our attempts to gain access to as many pre-release screenings of films as possible so I could get to you the information for which so many of you come to our pages before a film is released. One very good way to do that would be by joining the Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association which coordinates screenings to all new releases available for screening. However, using religious discrimination (they are privately funded, they can do that) the president of it would not let me join because "religious organizations tend to say negative things about films." Duh! If films did not have negative things in them I would not tell you about them. It seems the film industry is afraid for you as mom/dad to know about the true content of films before they are made available to your kids. Let me share with you an email I sent out to our private distribution about this in the textbox below. Maybe you would like to voice your concerns to the film studios:

How Afraid is the Entertainment Industry of you knowing the moral content of their films?

Very afraid. Apparently.

And I suppose they should be judging from the trends we are revealing. Many entertainment industry representatives sure seem to act like there is something to hide as soon as they hear this is a Christian ministry which informs you, the parents and grandparents, pastors and other youth oriented service providers of the truth about the content of films so you can make an informed decision before seeing a film whether it is fit or not for your kids (which includes at-home teens).

Does the entertainment industry have something to hide? Do their "products" have something to say to your kids they don't want you to know about? Are they trying a version of the "Don't tell your parents" tactic? Are they so dependent on teen dollars that they would have you shielded from that to which your teens are exposed in and as entertainment? Since more than half of all moviegoers are non-adults(1), since more than half of all feature-length, non-cartoon movies made are rated R(2), and since I have seen for myself the uselessness of the "R" rating in keeping youth out, what else are we to believe?

So far only the client studios of Levenson & Hill (which include Paramount and Warner Bros.), who are apparently the only family-sensitive studios, are not afraid for you to know. The client studios of [name withheld] (some of which are Newline, 20th Century Fox, Fox Searchlight, Lionsgate, Columbia) and now the DFW Film Critics Association have denied the CAP Ministry access to pre-release screenings by, what a representative of the DFW Film Critics Association termed, religious affiliated organizations. The representative of the DFW Film Critics Association tried to assure me it was not a matter of discrimination when his reasoning was the very definition of discrimination. I believe in his heart he knew it was but his hands were tied and did a polite job of discriminating. Indeed, if one us was bordering rude it was me toward the end of the conversation! And for that I apologize to the representative who is bcc'ed in this email and ask Jesus His forgiveness.

Is there more you need to know about how Jesus and the modern entertainment industry do not mix? And if something and Jesus do not mix ...? [Maybe YOU should be afraid of what the entertainment industry is feeding our kids.]

I have tried my best to get access to pre-release screenings so you would have knowledge of the content of films before your kids have access to them either by big screen or VHS/DVD and have had only limited success. Maybe if each of you wrote to the studios expressing your disappointment, they may change their minds.

__________
(1) A 2002 Loews movie trivia slide
(2) Our own study Where's the G?

I've been discriminated against because of my Christian faith before and will be again I'm sure. But when films parade negative things for our kids (which includes at-home teens) I will tell you about them objectively as soon as I can so YOU can make an informed decision whether a film is fit. I will not disappoint DFW Film Critics Association and will continue to give you all the details about the content of films about which you have expressed a need-to-know for more than eight years. Unfortunately, before-release information can happen only seldom ... unless you make a big enough noise. I never thought it could be said but I feel like Ralph Nader a couple decades ago who published "Unsafe at Any Speed" about cars. Well, I'll tell you all about "unfit on any screen", just like Love Actual.


SPECIAL NOTE: We will be reducing the volume of coverage in the Summary/Commentary section of our reports and the number of reports generated in an effort to reduce costs until full funding can be achieved. The Findings/Scoring section of each report, the heart of the analysis model, will NOT be reduced in any way.

Thank you for your patience as we diligently search for funding. Anyone who wishes to volunteer to help us locate 501(c)(3) nonprofit funding and sponsors is encouraged to notify me.



ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo


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.

  • Col. 3:8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
  • Prov. 22:11 He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend.
  • Gal. 5:19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ...
  • 1Ths. 4:2-5 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his [or her] own body [which includes drives, touching, seeking, lusting (even after images), promiscuity, etc.] in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God;
  • Rev. 21:8 But the [unforgiven] cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars -their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.

    ***Selected Scriptures of Armour against the influence of the entertainment industry***
  • Ps. 12:8 The wicked freely strut about [e.g., create progressively vile/offensive entertainment with impunity and no consequences to younger and younger audiences every year] when what is vile is honored among men [when enough people continue to defend it, embrace it, pay for it, enjoy it, want it. I call attention to Ps. 12:8 to warn of the creeping desensitizing power of "entertainment."]
  • 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 (KJV) Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (NIV) Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.
  • Jude 4 For certain men* whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change [warp, distort, falsely represent, situationally redefine, counterfeit, conditionally apply] the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. [*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 would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. [cause by teaching or example]
  • Ps. 119:133 Direct my footsteps according to your word; 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.


    ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo


    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:


    Love Actualy (2003) CAP Thermometers

    Wanton Violence/Crime (W)
  • talking about hiring a hit man

    Impudence/Hate (I)
  • 15 uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary
  • 10 uses of the most foul of the foul words
  • adolescent arrogance toward mother
  • excusing the use of foul language
  • portraying children clearly beyond their typical social/sexual developmental stage, repeatedly
  • cohabitation treated as morally acceptable
  • father using vulgar language before his son
  • lies
  • vulgar language before children, repeatedly
  • foul language by a child (and I'm sure mom/dad said "It's okay" as they go to the bank.

    Sexual Immorality (S)
  • woman in bed in underwear
  • camera angle to force viewer on private parts, repeatedly
  • vulgar motions of intercourse (clothed)
  • talk of them use of male prostitutes as nude dancers at a stag party
  • sexual invitations/offers, repeatedly
  • female nudity both full and partial, often, both during a vulgar act of immorality and not
  • male nudity both full and partial, often, both during a vulgar act of immorality and not
  • inappropriate touch
  • homosexual suggestion and mannerism
  • sex talk, comments, innuendo, stories, references, repeatedly, some quite vulgar and with explicit language
  • intercourse with full nudity and full exposure
  • sexual invitation by spreading legs
  • adults in underwear, frequently
  • vulgar gesture, repeatedly
  • vulgar pose
  • sexual vulgarity to young son by father "Meatloaf got laid..."
  • adulterous attempts, repeatedly
  • adulterous invitations, repeatedly
  • gaping face kissing
  • implication of masturbation using stuffed animal
  • co-stripping to underwear
  • man and woman in bed in underwear making out, repeatedly
  • man and woman in bed nude
  • windwshade shadows of orgy
  • vulgar sex talk to young son
  • homosexual accusation
  • male to male kiss
  • dressing to maximize the female form and/or skin exposure

    Drugs/Alcohol (D):
  • drug reference
  • booze, repeatedly
  • drinking, repeatedly

    Offense to God (O)
  • 19 uses of God's name in vain without the four letter expletive
  • adultery; adulterous attempts, invitations, reciprocations

    Murder/Suicide (M)
  • none noted




  • Please visit our sponsor(s):

    ACCEPTING SPONSORS AND SEEKING VOLUNTEERS TO HELP LOCATE 501(C)(3) FUNDING!




    And please visit also these links.




    CLICK HERE


    SEARCH FOR CHRISTIAN LYRICS
     Artist:   Album:   Title:   Lyric:  



    Single Christian Network



     Click Here for a Quality Christian Site






    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.



    Join Christian Banner Exchange Network Today!





    The ChildCare Action Project (CAP) is a nonprofit Christian ministry. We rely on public support. If you wish to contribute to the CAP, please send your donations to
    ChildCare Action Project
    Post Office Box 177
    Granbury, TX 76048-0177

    Your gifts are tax deductible in accordance with Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Tax Codes. Please feel free to write to us.



    You are welcome to go to the
    CAP Reports page
    or go to the
    Top of the CAP Home Page
    or the
    CAP Site Map (Table of Contents)
    or leave me an email message or comment at
    cap@capalert.com



    Thank you for visiting us and may God bless you. Prayerfully, we will provide you with some of the most revealing commentary and investigative reporting you have ever read.

    In the name of Jesus:
    Lord, Master, Teacher, Savior, God.

    ChildCare Action Project (CAP): Christian Analysis of American Culture

    Copyright ChildCare Action Project (CAP) Ministry






    Since December 5, 2000

       The Fundamental Top 500