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

MAR24013
(2004), PG-13
Analysis Date
CAP Final Score
CAP Influence Density
MinMax
January 29, 2004
46 out of 100
2.01
-93

By popular demand, my pict will be here for a while then moved to the end of the report pages.

Written/Prepared by:

T. Carder



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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.



(2004), PG-13 -- Cheating used to be portrayed as wrong, ...



Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database
Production (US): Paramount Pictures, MTV Films, Spyglass Entertainment, Tollin/Robbins Productions
Distribution (US): Paramount Pictures
Director(s): Brian Robbins
Producer(s): Roger Birnbaum, Jonathan Glickman, Donald J. Lee Jr., Brian Robbins, Michael Tollin
Story: Marc Hyman, Jon Zack
Screenplay: Mark Schwahn, Marc Hyman, Jon Zack
Cinematography/Camera: J. Clark Mathis
Music: John Murphy
Film Editing: Ned Bastille
Casting: Amanda Mackey Johnson, Cathy Sandrich
Production Design: Jaymes Hinkle
Art Direction: Sandi Tanaka
Viewed At: Driftwood Theater 6


Another R-13. Earning a final score of 46 with R-rated moves in the comparative baseline database earning scores of 54 and below out of 100, there's no arguing it.

A group of larcenous high school kids fearing the SAT exams resort to crime. They stole the answers to the SAT to cheat their way into their favorite college. Cheating used to be portrayed as wrong, even in movies, instead of with the new age "I did what I did" grasp for freedom from authority Even I remember when cheating was portrayed as wrong.[2Tim. 2:5]

Other than that, there is little to be said about this film. Nothing outstanding. Nothing unforgettable. Of course, the end justifies the means as the self-redeeming caper kids show regret for the dastardly deed and don't even take advantage of the ill-gotten gain. I guess that shows to go you that all sins along a path are justified by its noble destination. Maybe by man's rules but not God's.

Since the high schoolers were not learned enough to make the grade nor honest enough to accept their failure and work to fix it, theft was the only thing their adolescent minds could come up with. Well! Why work when you can steal, right? And how convenient. Rebellious teen comrade Francesca's (Scarlett Johansson) father owned the building housing the Educational Testing Service which manages the SAT and the answer key. Francesca knows all the security guards and their rounds and the times of them.

During her first try at the SAT, very smart Anna (Erika Christensen) freezes up and bombs. Kyle (Chris Evans), an architect wannabe, does not do well enough on his first try at the SAT to get into the top architect school, Cornell University. Desmond (Darius Miles) has been scholastically squeaking by on basketball graft but has realized he must do well on the SAT to qualify for a scholarship to St. John's where he can learn knowledge that he can use for earning an income after basketball. Doofus techno whiz kid, Roy (Leonardo Nam) is continuously stoned and could not care less about the SAT but joins in because the beans were spilled to him while in a bathroom stall as Kyle spoke too loud about the plans to steal the SAT answers.

Of noteworthy concern to parents who care about the moral standards of their children, there are 51 uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary in this 92 minute romp into teen freedom from authority, freedom from accountability and freedom from consequences. [Col. 3:8; 2 Tim. 2:16 - 17] All but a few of the 51 uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary plus the one use of the most foul of the foul words and God's name in vain (but without the four letter expletive) were spoken by teens. [Deut. 5:11; Titus 2:6-8; Prov. 8:13; Prov. 8:13]

While there were no noted instances of intercourse in this PG-13 (which is becoming quite unusual for a PG-13), judging by the animation of the boy and girl making out in a car, there was little doubt about where they were headed. But there were many other issues of sexual immorality: dressing to maximize the female form and/or skin exposure repeatedly; sexual comments and innuendo, both heterosexual and lesbian; below-navel skin, female. [1Ths. 4:3 - 7] And there certainly were issues of teen arrogance against parents and portrayal of parents as shallow, self-serving, "sugar daddy" nymphomaniacs. [Isa. 2:17; Eph. 5:4]

Profane language, sex and arrogance were the big point losers in this teen film: the cinematic matters on which Hollywood filmmakers seem to think teens thrive and for which teens have come to thirst because of being fed so much of them by Hollywood. [Luke 17:2] And if you don't believe that, take every use of the three/four letter word vocabulary, every manner and issue of sexual immorality and every flip-off to authority out of the film and see how many teens pay to watch it.

The listing in the Findings/Scoring section will reveal all that was noted.



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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.

  • 2 Tim. 2:5 (KJV) And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. (NIV) Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules.
  • 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.
  • 2 Tim. 2:16 - 17 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker...
  • 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 an expletive. With or without the four letter expletive, the use of God's name in any way other than respect, reverence or thoughtful discussion is in vain. That includes the popular three syllable sentence with His name trailing it AND the misuse of Jesus' name.]
  • Titus 2:6-8 Similarly, encourage the young men [and women] to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
  • Prov. 8:13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
  • Prov. 8:13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech [obstinate in opposing the norm or the accepted].
  • 1Ths. 4:3 - 7 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 control of 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; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.
  • Isa. 2:17 The arrogance of man will be brought low and the pride of men humbled; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day,
  • Eph. 5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

    ***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 and present it 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, submit to 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.
  • Rom. 5:19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
  • 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.


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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 Perfect Score (2004) CAP Thermometers

    Wanton Violence/Crime (W)
  • tantrum with property
  • planning theft, repeatedly
  • gunfire to kill
  • breaking and entering with theft

    Impudence/Hate (I)
  • 51 uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary
  • one use of the most foul of the foul words plus a euphemism of it
  • punk presence
  • placing money before education
  • facial piercing, repeatedly
  • teen tantrum
  • excusing wrongdoing with "I did what I did."
  • arrogance against father
  • portrayal of parents as shallow, self-serving
  • finding camaraderie in crime
  • human urination
  • arrogance against mother

    Sexual Immorality (S)
  • sexual immorality with young women by older male ("sugar daddy" antics), repeatedly
  • sexual comments (including lesbian), innuendo, talk, repeatedly
  • adult in underwear
  • vulgar pose
  • male zipping up his pants
  • dressing to maximize the female form and/or skin exposure
  • gamming
  • toilet humor
  • below navel skin, threatening exposure of that which follows, repeatedly
  • vulgar euphemism
  • making out in a car with inappropriate touch
  • excessive cleavage, repeatedly
  • suggestive eye movement
  • older man and younger woman in bed together

    Drugs/Alcohol (D):
  • smoking, repeatedly
  • teen drinking, repeatedly
  • teen drunkenness
  • teen use of illegal drugs, "continuously stoned"
  • drug paraphernalia

    Offense to God (O)
  • three useS of God's name in vain by teens but without the four letter expletive
  • thanking God for a successful wrongdoing

    Murder/Suicide (M)
  • gunfire murder




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

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