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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 MAR27062  (2007), G [G*] (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): Mandate Pictures, FilmColony, Walden Media, Gang of Two Productions Distribution (US): Fox-Walden, Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation Director(s): Zach Helm Producer(s): Joseph Drake, James Garavente, Richard N. Gladstein, Barbara A. Hall, Nathan Kahane, Jim Miller Written by: Zach Helm Cinematography/Camera: Roman Osin Music: Alexandre Desplat, Aaron Zigman Film Editing: Sabrina Plisco, Steven Weisberg Casting: Robin D. Cook, Amanda Mackey Johnson, Cathy Sandrich Production Design: Thérèse DePrez Art Direction: Brandt Gordon Viewed At: Driftwood Theater 6 Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium may be thought of as an amplified or modernized, cultural-targeted Mary Poppins. There is a lot of magic in it but, like in Mary Poppins, in no case was any magic used to do harm or force people to do against their will such as in the Harry Potter films or the Lord of the Rings films. Also as in Mary Poppins the lead character(s) could have been and angel. A note about magic. Yes, it exists. I've never seen it in action nor have I ever dabbled in it, but Jesus had it. He healed the sick with it. Made the lame walk with it. The blind to see and raised the dead with it as well as cast out demons with it. And He gave the magic to His disciples. Satan has magic and gives it to his agents. Remember, Satan is second in power only to God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. So, what's the difference? The magic Jesus and His disciples used was holy power from the Father. Satan's magic is not holy. So, it is not the use of the magic nor the user that makes the magic holy or unholy. It is the source of the magic. In turn, there is no such thing as a "good witch" or "good warlock" no matter how s/he uses whatever power s/he might have even if it is used for good purposes since the power a witch/warlock might have is not from God. Two hundred and forty three year old Edward Magorium (Dustin Hoffman) has owned a magic toy shop for over 100 years. He is getting ready to pass on and is looking for a successor to continue his shop. Twenty three year old Molly Mahoney (Natalie Portman) who has been working the shop since her teens is the only candidate Mr. Magorium wants. Molly is not so sure. She wants to nurture her composer skills and play music at which she apparently is quite good. So. Mr. Magorium sets to sifting affairs to ready for his coming death and hires a mutant, er, an accountant to calculate the worth of his store which he has never tracked. The mutant is stuffy Henry Weston (Jason Bateman). Amidst the affairs is nine year old Eric Applebaum (Zach Mills) who is a regular of the shop and is also a hat collector. He and the intensely pragmatic mutant hit it off well after some ice-breaking guided by the wisdom of his mother, Ellie (Rebecca Northan). Indeed, Eric becomes the flux for a budding romance between Molly and the mutant. Normally, the store and all its contents are quite animated and colorful. Always busy, busy, busy doing things that toys do. Some even sneak into the shopping bag of customers getting ready to leave the store. But during Mr. Magorium's attempts to install Molly as the new store owner, the store has a tantrum because Mr. Magorium is leaving -- the store and all its contents turn dark and colorless. And lifeless. From there this semi-romantic fantasy story is predictable and I will not belabor it in this summary/commentary. With a final score of 94 this movie is a true G-equivalent movie -- with a couple issues. Only a few matters might raise parents eyebrows and they are discussed in the individual investigation area discussions that follow. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) The only contents that apply to this investigation area include some action violence as the store throws a tantrum and all the ado about death and dying. [Eccl. 8:8] Impudence/Hate (I) Lies [Prov. 6:16, 19], tattoos [Lev. 19:28] and one use of the three/four letter word vocabulary [Prov. 22:11] stain the content applicable to this investigation area. The one use of the three/four letter word vocabulary is a euphemism of a more harsh word, but it is still an expletive. Even curse-free filters blank it out. Still, enough content was found by this investigation area for the film to earn an area score of 84 out of 100 which requires by procedure the display of a yellow CAPCon Alert light. If the film's content were just a tiny bit more wholesome and earned a score of 87 in Impudence/Hate, the film would have earned the display of the green CAPCon Alert light, but very, very few films in the more than 1200 we have analyzed have earned the right to display the green CAPCon Alert light. Sexual Immorality (S) The only content applicable to this investigation area is Natalie Portman wearing a dress that exposed a large gap over her chest. Such a display of skin normally not seen is clearly sexual: clearly intended to tease, to incite lust in the male viewer. If she had worn a dress that covered the gap, the Sexual Immorality investigation area score would have been 100. Sure, some highfalutin, high society performers wear such clothing for such affairs, but does that make such a cultural-specific display acceptable? If you think "Yes" then the fact that some cultures eat other people makes it acceptable since it is a cultural-specific behavior. Don't argue with me about what is morally acceptable. Argue about it with God. He will give you a much better Answer than I ever could. [1Cor. 8:9, Matt. 5:28] Drugs/Alcohol (D) There were no displays of alcoholic beverages or consumption of them, no tobacco, no illegal drugs nor abuse of prescription drugs noted in the entire 89 minutes of this film . Offense to God (O) The only film content applicable to this investigation area is the reference to belief in reincarnation. [Hebr. 9:27] Murder/Suicide (M) There were no noted instances of murder or suicide. 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) |
| 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. |
| In the name of Jesus: 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. Lord, Master, Teacher, Savior, God. Tom Carder President ChildCare Action Project (CAP): Christian Analysis of American Culture 100% dependent on your tax-deductible financial support |  |
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