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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 MAR2010.018  (2009), PG-13 [Hard R-13*] (2hr 1min) 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): Imprint Entertainment, Summit Entertainment, Sunswept Entertainment, Temple Hill Entertainment • Distribution (US): Summit Entertainment • Director(s): Chris Weitz • Producer(s): Bill Bannerman, Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey, Mark Morgan, David Roker, Mark L. Rosen • Writing Credits: Melissa Rosenberg (screenplay), Stephenie Meyer (novel "New Moon") • Cinematography/Camera: Javier Aguirresarobe • Music: Alexandre Desplat • Film Editing: Peter Lambert • Casting: Sean Cossey, Rene Haynes, Joseph Middleton • Production Design: David Brisbin • Art Direction: Catherine Ircha • Viewed on Summit Entertainment DVD  Though vampires and werewolves do not exist (they are imaginary projections borne of perception of demons and demon possessions), this new installment continues to try to glorify that which is unholy and to lead the viewer to empathize and sympathize with it. Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is culpable for inducing and fueling teen suicide -- for love of course. Now comes The Twilight Saga: New Moon to fan the unquenchable fires of foiled love: to rekindle the terminal templates planted by Romeo and Juliet -- for love of course. Though this script may definitely be a danger for the forlorn, it may not be as much a template for teen suicide as a tease template to teens to embrace the unholy -- for love of course. Maybe selling one's soul for love? Well!? Bella (Kristen Stewart) is planning on it, wants it, tries to get it, and is looking forward to it, to living forever with a monster as a monster -- for love of course. And Edward (Robert Pattinson) is chomping at the bit(e) to grant her wish -- for love of course. Alice (Ashley Greene) has volunteered to steal Bella's soul but Edward decided he wants to do it -- for love of course. I hope this one-paragraph blog puts a new moonlight on the subject -- for love of course. Below is a scoring comparative between the two versions of Twilight to start this Summary/Commentary.  The comparative shows how this 2009 version of the Twilight franchise is measurably more morally invasive than the 2008 version, enough so for it to earn a final score into the realm of R-13. It is significantly more intense in Wanton Violence/Crime (W) content and in Impudence/Hate (I), particularly in profanity. It is also more intense in unholy matters and abuse of God's name, not because of the investigation area scores -- both versions earned zero in Offense to God(a) -- but because of the number of examples per hour which increased 6.7 per hour over the 2008 version. (a) Investigation Area scores can be and in this case are less than zero but less-than-zero scores are meaningless to the scoring and are displayed as zero. After the Cullens thwart the desires of the "vampires" Laurent (Edi Gathegi), Victoria (Rachelle Lefevre) and James (Cam Gigandet) to have Bella in the 2008 version, after James gets dismembered and incinerated by the Cullens and after Bella is released from the hospital due to James' brutalization of her, Forks High School junior Bella, under the watchful eye of Victoria, enjoys a little touchy-feely with Edward at their Prom and all live happily ever after ... until The Twilight Saga: New Moon opens ... with a vengeance. Victoria is still out to kill Bella (and Edward) since Bella's "man" (Edward and "family") killed her "man" (James). Just a little reality check before I proceed for those who think movies are a good source for learning our culture and how to manage life. From the 2008 version, James broke Bella's leg intentionally by u-shaping his right hand over Bella's midshaft tibia/fibula, her shin bones, and pressing down. Note that such a break mechanism would not work since the weaker bones in the hand would break before the much stronger tibia. But Hollywood demonstrates it can be done so it must be possible, right?. Well!? It was a "vampire" with super-human strength doing it, right? Later Bella gets thrown across a floor full of broken mirror glass and suffers a shard in her right upper leg, severing her femoral artery. Also, James did a "vampire" bite on the inside of Bella's right forearm proximal to the wrist. The appearance, size and position of the bite mark changes between three shots which included a view of the bite mark. Later in the hospital Bella was fitted with the "proper" interventions and adjuncts, even her right forearm was bandaged. The lie was that Bella fell two flights of stairs and through a window. In a forensics sense a human-shaped bite mark cannot be created by falling down stairs and through a window. Also in a forensics sense the hospital staff broke the law by not reporting the bite. Further, the bruising pattern of a tib-fib break by transverse pressure of a u-shaped human hand, which would have been a clue to any medical staff, could not be created by a fall down stairs or through a window. Such goofs are typical of fantasy productions which embrace evil themes. This 2009 version is no exception. Oh! One more thing. Do not try a tourniquet to control bleeding as did "Dr." Cullen in the 2008 version. The victim can lose the limb if a tourniquet is used. Poisonous by-products soon build up in blood made stagnant by a tourniquet. Direct pressure is best with elevation if possible. The Twilight Saga: New Moon opens with Isabella "Bella" Swan, in a dream, seeing herself as old. The vision comes as a birthday present compliments of the unholy power of a sparkling Edward. Bella is now 18 years old and is a senior at Forks High School in Washington state, home of the Spartans. Awakened from her dream by her father, Forks Police Chief Charlie (Billy Burke) with birthday gifts the scenery moves to Bella driving to school on a winding road through a majestic and serene forest of the state of Washington. In clever contrast Bella's radio is announcing that another hiker is missing bringing the total of presumed dead to three, presumed killed by an animal. Arriving at Forks High School Bella dutifully begins photographing her friends to fill the picture album her mother bought her with the camera her father bought her -- for senior year pictures. Soon the 109 year old Edward shows up -- for love of course and plants a juicy wet one on Bella -- on school property of course -- who insatiably reciprocates. It is as if they are both hungry all over as they kiss, as if the kiss was just an hors-d'oeuvre, just the beginning of ... After a few social encounters Bella and Edward begin their scholastic day with Romeo and Juliet. You remember it don't you? The Shakespearean story in which the boy poisons himself to death when he thinks the girl is dead and the girl stabs herself to death when she sees the boy dead? The story with the suicide theme? For love, of course. The story written by a literary master of old that so many think it is innocent of inducing suicide and thoughts of suicide in our high school youth (the age stratum with the highest suicide rate) because it is written by a master? The story that seems so popular with high school educators? The great olden story that homogenizes with the story of this film so well? A story of suicide -- for love course? Yeah, that one! By the way, Edward has it wrong about Romeo and Juliet. He says Romeo "killed his true love" when the actual story says she killed herself with a dagger, with Romeo's dagger at that. And the story's claim that romeo "killed his wife" is wrong. Juliet was not Romeo's wife. Edward, by the way, envies Romeo ... "not the girl, the suicide." So much so that Edward tries the Romeo act when Edward thinks Bella is dead. I wonder if anyone is picking up the thread? Just a little more about the story ... Soon Bella and Edward participate in a Cullen family party for Bella in celebration of her birthday. In it Bella, though uncomfortable with the idea of a birthday party, accepts gifts from those present. First from Rosalie - a necklace picked out by Alice, then from Emmett - a sound system for her truck already installed, then from Dr. and Mrs. (Carlisle and Esme) Cullen. It is fortunate in so many ways that Carlisle is an MD because Bella gets a paper cut from the wrapping on the gift from Esme and Carlisle. It's not a bad cut but it bleeds ... visibly. It is just a paper cut and hardly needs a MD to care for it. But after Jasper becomes inflamed by the sight of blood and lunges for Bella, Edward knocks Bella out of the way and subdues Jasper. In the melee Bella is further injured producing more blood which in turn sets almost all of the "vampire" family afire -- all except Edward and Dr. Cullen. While all this is going on, Victoria is still lurking for Bella and Edward, seeking to kill them. Laurent has recanted his quest for Bella's blood and James has been killed and is no longer a threat to Bella or Edward. And the story goes on ... I have spoiled enough of the story and plot and will stop here to get to that for which most of our faithful visitors come. Please read the individual investigation area discussions of content below or read the listings in the Findings/Scoring section (the heart of the CAP analysis model) for the most complete itemization of content available. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - Zero out of 100 One of the biggest reasons this 2009 version is more violent than the 2008 version is the incessant attention to suicide -- for love of course. The matter of suicide is not a toy to be bandied about for any reason let alone in and as entertainment clearly targeted at teens who have the highest suicide rate of all age strata. Not even by the literary masters such as Shakespeare and especially not in films such as this one which is clearly targeted at the teen cinematic dollar, the highest paying age stratum of all moviegoers. To be but in one's young 20s and earlier -- the "I don't care what they do to me" age stratum where it is cool to be bad(b) -- is difficult enough but to also be star-crossed lovers thwarted by whatever it is doing the thwarting, whatever 'it' is doesn't matter, can be devastating. Suicide is the third leading cause of death in youths 15 - 24 years old, ten out of every 100,000 [Source: TeenHelp.com]. In addition, youth have a higher rate of suicide than mature adults (see the next paragraph). If you or someone you know might be threatening suicide or has suicidal thoughts, call 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) or 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). (b) Ref: Karan Omidvari at St. Michael's Medical Center in Newark. "To be but in one's young 20s and earlier?" Why would I say that? Since you've asked I'll tell you. Drs. Karen Nelson, head of a top-ten university psychology department and Larry Gilliam, a practicing counselor agree with me that it would be unusual for even a 16 year old to be able to fully separate fantasy from reality or to be able to functionally approximate the consequences of his/her actions: that such skills do no typically plateau until the early 20s. Mix those ingredients with the bane in recipes such as Romeo and Juliet and The Twilight Saga: New Moon and you have a possibly fatal concoction. It is because teens are typically less capable of coping that the teen suicide rate is so much higher than for mature adults: I believe it is because teens, by no fault of their own, have yet to amass a functional level of experiential maturity that they are so easily and deeply influenced by such entertainment that burrows deep into the very fiber of their as yet to fully develop life. By years and years of experience and research Hollywood filmmakers have become expert at manufacturing emotion(c) and infuriatingly feed on such innate teen weaknesses. The Twilight Saga: New Moon is a perfect example. (c) "And believe me, skilled directors and actors can manufacture emotion by the truckload. It's what they do for a living." D. Kupelian, World Daily Net. Remember that God has warned us sternly about murder. "'Murder' you say!?" Yes, suicide is murder ... of the self. [Deut. 5:17] Another reason this 2009 version is more violent than the 2008 version is beast content -- the shape-shifting lycanthropes of the Quileute tribe. They bite the head off one character then rip him apart. Yet another reason is that Aro (Michael Sheen), apparent leader of the Volturi, crushes the head of another "vampire" then rips it off. Fighting and cabal warfare is also intensified in comparison, if only by frequency. Please look to the listing in the findings/Scoring section for a complete itemized list of the Wanton Violence/Crime findings. Whatever the form of the violence, God warns us about its "leading" effect, its enticing lure. [Prov. 16:29] Impudence/Hate (I) - 15 out of 100 Mostly by teens the three/four letter word vocabulary is uttered 12 times [Prov. 8:13, Col. 3:8]. Fortunately, none of the most foul of the foul words were found. Additional matters of impudence and/or hate were found in Edward's nihilistic comment "You're my only reasons to stay alive", in Bella and everyone else calling Chief Swan by his first name, in the lies and telling another to lie [Rev. 21:8] and in the planning reckless behavior -- for love of course (I just had to slap in one more). [Prov. 14:16]. Sexual Immorality (S) - 45 out of 100 The male bare chest is freely displayed, repeatedly If such displays were not intended to arouse why did Bella gawk at it and express a degree of stimulation by it. Though it is entirely legal for males to bare their chest in public that does not mean it is entirely moral. The same goes for displaying below navel skin low enough to threaten to expose that which follows (which was also displayed repeatedly, mostly by Pattinson). "Legal?" When has "legal" equaled moral? Even a trailer portrayed a bare-chested husband walking into a kitchen in front of his wife and a female guest then his wife saying to him to put on his shirt or [her guest] will never be satisfied again. Bella runs with her button-up shirt unbuttoned low enough to expose her underwear, repeatedly. Innuendo and rude gazes also appear a number of times. One time a boy atop a girl making out (clothed) is seen. These onscreen behaviors and displays may now seem rather tame to most folks since we have, over time, become so desensitized to their assault on morality and wholesome sexual humility, but has it been that long since such display was unacceptable? And what is it about desensitization that takes away the sin of the matter -- the sin of lusting after even images even ever so slightly? [Gal. 5:19] It is a sign of the times, folks when people such as filmmakers "freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men." [Ps. 12:8] Yes, "vile" might be a rather strong word for the sexual content of this film but what once was vile is vile no longer. It is we who have changed not God's Word and have thus changed our belief of His Word. We have become so drugged by the narcotics of extremes in and as entertainment that what once was morally unacceptable has become morally invisible. -TC- I will say, however, that the kissing demonstrated between Bella and Edward were not the disappearing face tongue bath kisses typical of most teen-targeted PG-13s. Too bad they each dripped with desire and hunger. Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 94 out of 100 Only once was drinking alcohol noted. No other issues of alcohol and no issues of illegal drugs or abuse of prescription drugs were noted. Offense to God (O) - Zero out of 100 This is the area of the most intense findings. In a nutshell the content was thick with wishing to give up one's soul and join the unholy such as "If this is about my soul, take it! I don't want it without you!" and mystical appearances/disappearances of characters. Other issues of an unholy content included werewolves, shape-shifting and embracing of vampirism. [Is. 5:20, Eph. 4:27, Rev. 21:8] Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 There were no murders found. Laurent was killed by the Quileute werewolves but that was a defensive killing rather than murder and was thus incorporated into the Wanton Violence/Crime investigation area. Neither were there any suicides found. While the film is incredibly thick with talk of and desire for suicide, no one committed suicide so nothing regarding suicide can be incorporated into this investigation area. Bella's implied attempted suicide to have another chance at seeing Edward was not successful and was also incorporated into the Wanton Violence/Crime investigation area as were all the instances of embracing 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) - Zero out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - 15 out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - 45 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 94 out of 100 Offense to God (O) - Zero 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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