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Entertainment Media Analysis Report
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MAR2012.081

(2012), PG-13 [R-13*] (126.75min)

Final Score
Analysis Date
Date Posted
Influence Density
MinMax
November 16, 2012
November 18, 2012
47
1.04
-84

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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.



(2012), PG-13 [R-13*] ... did not expect this film to earn a R-13 score


Production (US): A Marvel Entertainment, Laura Ziskin, Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach Produnction
Distribution (US): Sony Home Entertainment
Director(s): Mark Webb
Producer(s): Stan Lee, Kevin Feige, Michael Grillo, Laura Ziskin, Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach
Screenplay by: James Vanderbuilt, Alvin Sargent, Steve Kloves
Story by: James Vanderbuilt
Based on: Marvel Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko
Cinematography/Camera: John Schwartzman
Music: James Horner
Film Editing: Alan Edward Bell, Pietro Scalia
Casting: Francie Maisler
Production Design: J. Michael Riva
Viewed on Sony Home Entertainment DVD


This version of the Spider-man films is a rehash with mostly the same characters with different performers. It still tells of Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield), still in high school in this version, getting bitten by a unique spider then developing spider capabilities. Mary Jane is replaced by Peter's high school sweetheart, Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone). Uncle Ben and Aunt May are still Uncle Ben and Aunt May but Ben is played by Martin Sheen and Aunt May is played by Sally Field.

One day, Peter at four years old (Max Charles) discovers the den of his father, Dr. Richard Parker (Campbell Scott), in shambles. Richard expects the trashing of his den to be the work of men looking for a secret formula he had developed. Sensing the event to be a danger to his family Richard quickly hustles Peter and his wife, Mary (Embeth Davidtz) out of the house. Richard and Mary leave Peter with his Aunt May and Uncle Ben then disappear, a disappearance than oozes "sequel" since other events in the story hint of it. Apparently Peter's parents were killed in a plane crash. With his aunt and uncle, Peter grows to intelligent adolescence.

Peter has been living a life of torment at the hands of his high school nemesis, Flash "Eugene" Thompson (Chris Zylka). One day, an attractive young lady named Gwen comes to his rescue and a romantic spark between them is ignited.

Peter had found some papers of his father's scientific work and seeks to find the man with his father in an old picture, Dr. Curt Conners (Rhys Ifans). Peter finds that Conners works in research in the Oscorp building as the foremost authority in herpetology. Together with Richard, Conners was working on a special formula that would cure all that ails anyone and would even re-grow missing limbs. Later, feigning his identity to appear as an intern, Peter sneaks into the Oscorp building to meet Conners but finds his high school sweetheart, Gwen also works in the Oscorp building as the emcee for the group of new interns into which Peter has sneaked. But she remains silent about it.

Later Peter showed up at Dr. Conners' home doorstep. Initially, Dr. Conners recognized Peter as one of the new interns at the Oscorp building and tries to get Peter to leave. Soon, Peter plagiarizes his father's work to influence Dr. Conners into inviting Peter in. It is then Dr. Conners gets his first taste of Richard Parker's work which promises to complete the new formula.

There is, of course, a great deal more to the plot and story but I won't spoil the film any further should you decide, based on what we have yet to reveal about it, that this cinematic work is fit for your family.

With a final score of 47 out of 100, the content of this film falls well into the range of scores earned by R-rated features (54 and below out of 100) in our comparative baseline database of film analyses. By cursory observation of the film I did not expect it to earn a R-13 score but the CAP Analysis Model proved me wrong ... again. There are a few moments the content seems a little graphic but overall it subjectively "feels" more like a "hardcore" PG. But after crunching the numbers I see that, in spite of the few instances of somewhat graphic content, there are so many of the "lesser" kind of content to yield a magnitude of content equivalent to some R-rated features in the comparative baseline database.

For your information and convenience, to the right is a scoring data comparative of the four Spider-man installments. It reveals this 2012 installment is the lowest scoring of the four installments. All four installments earned a zero score in Wanton Violence/Crime (W) but this 2012 installment earned a zero score also in Impudence/Hate (I). There is much more information to gather from the above comparative by the studious and probing reader but I will leave the additional information to your scrutiny.

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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) - Zero out of 100
Violence/crime content basically swirls around a few core content elements such as assaults, beatings, action violence, defiance of police and police violence, creature violence and bully violence. There are enough of these content matters to steal all the starting 100 points from this content investigation area. Think that not to be a problem for the impressionable? Consider ...

God warns about violence and its influence more than 50 times from the Old Testament to the New Testament. Proverb 16:29 seems to sum up His admonitions against violence rather well. In Proverb 16:29 God warns that violence can be enticing: that violence can be "catching"; that it can lead one into a path that is not good. And sure enough, man [thankfully] plagiarized God's Word by four professional public health agencies warning that violence in and as entertainment can, among other things, lead the observer, especially the young to real life violence and that it can lead the observer to believe that violence is an effective means of settling conflict. God further warns of the sweetness of ill-gotten gain by crime festers and spoils [Prov. 20:17]. He further warns, figuratively, an athlete cannot earn the victor's trophy unless he competes by the rules. [2 Tim. 2:5]

Impudence/Hate (I) - Zero out of 100
Contradictory to the trend of the content of PG-13 films this PG-13 film presents only seven uses of profanity plus three incomplete/masked uses of the most foul of the foul words. [Col. 3:8, Eph. 4:29] Though the contribution to the ignominious content of this film by the profanity is ugly enough, it was not enough to cause of the loss of all the starting 100 points from this content investigation area. Many of the starting points were lost to adolescent disrespect, defiance, deceit, antagonism [1 Pet. 5:5 - 6, Isa. 30:1] and to lying [Rev. 21:8].

Sexual Immorality (S) - 66 out of 100
Atypical of PG-13 films, no one gets in bed with anyone in this film. The only nudity is of a creature returning to human form at a distance and then not showing any gender-specific anatomy. However, two teens engaged in a clothed make-out frenzy on school property, a female in a very short skirt repeatedly, an adolescent boy in an adolescent girl's bedroom repeatedly and Spidey wearing a form-fitting outfit which often reveals his anatomy plus an adult in her underwear stole a third of the starting 100 points of this investigation area.

Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 74 out of 100
Booze appears only once but untested drugs are injected into a character's body repeatedly. Also, the police are subjected to a morphallaxis substance to change them into reptiles and Dr. Connors tries to cause the entire city to inhale the morphallaxis substance though Spidey is successful at foiling that attempt and in distributing an antidote. Though distributing the antidote was a good thing in that it returned the police to human form, it was still forcing drug consumption on the populace.

Offense to God (O) - 61 out of 100
God's name is abused 11 times but each time without the four letter expletive. [Deut. 5:11] Other than that Peter is portrayed as having non-human powers throughout the film.

Murder/Suicide (M) - 84 out of 100
Two murders are portrayed. Once by gunfire and once by run-through impalement. Both are rather graphic.

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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

  • Prov. 16:29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good. [The issue is the violence, the 'way that is not good' no matter how "small" or "fantasy" or "justified" the violence might seem, and its "leading" effect on the observer. "A violent man" can be any character of any age, any gender, human or not in the act of committing (demonstrating in the case of entertainment) violent behavior/action whether for good or evil OR the violent behaviors/actions themselves. Such exposure can and does embolden the viewer into aggression, especially youth. It took years for the American professional health community to finally affirm, probably without knowing it, that which God told us in 1 Cor. 15:33 below. See also Joint Statement on the Impact of Entertainment Violence on Children: Congressional Public Health Summit for more information. Their findings include:
    --> Children who see a lot of violence are more likely to view violence as an effective way of settling conflicts. Children exposed to violence are more likely to assume the acts of violence are acceptable behavior.
    --> Viewing violence can lead to emotional desensitization towards violence in real life. It can decease the likelihood that one will take action on behalf of a victim when violence occurs.
    --> Entertainment violence feeds a perception that the world is a violent and mean place. Viewing violence increases fear of becoming a victim of violence, with a resultant increase in self-protective behavior and a mistrust of others.
    --> Viewing violence may lead to real life violence. Children exposed to violent programming at a young age have a higher tendency for violent and aggressive behavior later in life than children who are not so exposed.
    Further, God speaks darkly of violence 56 times in the Old and New Testament of the KJV.]
  • Prov. 20:17 Food gained by fraud tastes sweet to a man, but he ends up with a mouth full of gravel.
  • 2 Tim. 2:5 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 ye also put off [rid yourself of] all these; anger, wrath, malice [kakia: ill-will, desire to injure, wickedness, depravity, evil, trouble, not ashamed to break laws, etc.], blasphemy [blasphemia: impious and reproachful speech injurious to divine majesty], filthy communication [aischrologia:foul speaking, low and obscene speech] out of your mouth.
  • Eph. 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
  • 1 Pet. 5:5 - 6 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
  • Isa. 30:1 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:
  • 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, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. [The "whoremonger" (the sexually immoral) may be summed up as the one who chooses to freely participate in any sexual contact (including visual), conduct or activity outside of a monogamous heterosexual marriage.]
  • 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 - 10 This is what the LORD says: Do not deceive yourselves, thinking, 'The Babylonians [the destroyers from within] will surely leave us.' They will not! Even if you were to defeat the entire Babylonian army that is attacking you and only wounded men were left in their tents, they would come out and burn this city down. [The "destroyers form within" do not have to be army warriors. They can be the ones who destroy through corruption of moral standards as well, such as filmmakers who perpetuate desensitization against wholesome standards. They aren't going anywhere, folks. Not until Jesus comes again.]
  • 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. And remember, mom/dad, "little ones" is mikros, meaning less by birth; younger. All of your children are younger than you and less by birth than you. So, "little ones" includes at-home teens.]
  • 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.)

    The Amazing Spider-man (2012) CAP Thermometers

    Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - Zero out of 100
  • breaking and entering with resulting peril
  • physical assault, offensive and defensive, repeatedly
  • beating, repeatedly
  • additional breaking and entering with property damage
  • plane crash wreckage
  • threat to do harm to teen girl by teen boy
  • school property damage due to showing off to gain revenge
  • robbery
  • accepting stolen goods
  • physical tormenting
  • pursuit to do harm
  • action violence of varying intensity, repeatedly
  • defying police commands with assaults on the police, repeatedly
  • extortion to experiment illegally on humans
  • animal gore
  • creature violence, repeatedly
  • police action violence, repeatedly

    Impudence/Hate (I) - Zero out of 100
  • seven uses of profanity
  • three instances of incomplete/masked uses of the most foul of the foul words
  • defiance of school rule
  • bullying, repeatedly
  • apathy toward an injured, downed adolescent
  • lying, repeatedly
  • teen antagonism toward caregivers
  • coaching to "don't tell" caregiver
  • deceit
  • harassment
  • adolescent disrespect and defiance of caregiver, repeatedly
  • marital argument, wife defending nephew against uncle
  • adolescent tantrum causing property damage
  • experimenting on self with untested substance
  • writers putting an adolescent into a "you don't believe me" impossibility

    Sexual Immorality (S) - 66 out of 100
  • make-out frenzy on school property
  • very short skirt on school property, repeatedly
  • adult in underwear
  • male form-fitting outfit revealing anatomy, repeatedly
  • adolescent boy in adolescent girl's bedroom, twice
  • flash male nudity from a distance

    Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 74 out of 100
  • booze, once
  • abuse of untested drugs, repeatedly
  • drugging of police to cause morphallaxis from human to reptile
  • efforts to cause city-wide distribution of biotoxins to change life plus distribution of a cure without authority to do so

    Offense to God (O) - 61 out of 100
  • eleven abuses of God's name, all without the four letter expletive
  • non-human powers throughout

    Murder/Suicide (M) - 84 out of 100
  • murder by gunfire with pooling of blood
  • murder by run-through impalement















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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
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    PG equivalence: PG-NR
    PG-13 equivalence: 13-NR
    R equivalence: R-NR
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