CAPCon ALERT

RED does not mean "stop." GREEN does not mean "go." Click on the CAPCon Alert image for explanation
CAP Movie Ministry
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

MAR28025

(2008), G [G*] (1hr 31min)

Final Score
Analysis Date
Date Posted
Influence Density
MinMax
December 5, 2008
December 8, 2008
95
0.10
-29

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.
This space for sponsors.

PLEASE . . . . . . .


(a PayPal account is NOT required)
OR (preferred) by Check or Money Order.
The CAP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Christian ministry. Donations to us are TAX-DEDUCTIBLE

Stay informed ...OBJECTIVELY...
on what Hollywood feeds your kids. SUBSCRIBE
(or unsubscribe)
to our FREE text-only email version of these reports and our COMING SOON notices.
Email this report to friends and
tell them about the CAP Ministry:






Christian Long Distance

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.



(2008), G [G*] ... is one of the most "G" G films I have seen in a long time.


Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database
Production (US): Pixar Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures
Distribution (US): Redbox, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Director(s): Andrew Stanton
Producer(s): Lindsey Collins,John Lasseter,Gillian Libbert,Jim Morris,Thomas Porter
Written Credits: Original Story - Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter; Screenplay: Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon
Music: Thomas Newman
Film Editing: Stephen Schaffer
Casting: Natalie Lyon, Kevin Reher
Production Design: Ralph Eggleston. Joshua Hollander, Andrea Warren
Art Direction: Jason Deamer
Viewed on Buena Vista Home Entertainment DVD


This film analysis is sponsored by E&HP.

The story opens circa 2800 AD with Wall•E (voice of Ben Burtt), a robot trash compactor, the last robot on Earth busying himself with his job to continue to blanket the Earth with mountains of cubes of compacted garbage. It finally happened ... the Earth became smothered with trash about 700 years ago and mankind left the planet on the Axiom spaceship. For 700 years the Axiom passengers and crew pampered themselves with their satiated lives of obese laziness.

Occasionally, the Axiom Captain would send a probe back to the Earth to monitor when the Earth again became able to support life. The probes were called Extraterrestrial Vegetation Evaluators (EVEs). The story is, in part, a story about a romance between one of those probes and Wall•E.

The meeting between Wall•E and an EVE starts out with the typical Hollywood (or human?) shoot-first mentality by the EVE, affectionately called Eve (Elissa Knight) by Wall•E. As Wall•E spies Eve as she searches for life in Earth, she shoots at Wall•E with a Linda Hamilton Terminator resolve to kill. To be sure, this is an animated film with a robot as the quintessential character but personification of non-living things in and as entertainment dissolves much of the non-living veneer of the characters and makes them appear as sentient, living beings.

"...makes them appear as sentient, living beings." As Psychology Department Head Dr. Karen Nelson and practicing counselor Dr. Larry Gilliam and even our own Director - Child Psychology Support agree with me, it would be unusual for even a 16 year old to be able to fully separate fantasy from reality. If you doubt the power of entertainment to implant ideas or challenge values and beliefs, let me say the words "the poison apple." Very few need any clues to know by what film that phrase was made well known. Even our kids know from where "the poison apple" came though the phrase's parent film was released decades before they were even born. And they have seen it maybe once. How about a scene of midland beef haning from the porch?

Soon, Wall•E and the EVE begin to reconcile and discover each other ... nonverbally. But as they explore each other they come to develop a sort of communication and the EVE becomes Eve. As Eve does her job Wall•E becomes smitten with Eve and she, at first, a smidgen with he.

It isn't long before Eve finds a single plant growing out of the garbage. Finding her target, Eve reports back to her spaceship which launches to report back to the Axiom with her discovery. With such a discovery, the Axiom crew and passengers can return to the Earth!

But Wall•E did not want Eve to leave. So, if she won't or can't stay with him, he will go with her. Wall•E attaches himself to the outside of the ship and screams though a perilous trip through more garbage -- space garbage -- on his way to wherever it is Eve is going.

A couple of points of trivia. Wall•E presents a few notable connections with other films: Terminator, Robocop, Star Trek (original), Blade Runner, Toy Story, 2001: A Space Odyssey (AUTO resembles HAL) and others. The film also uses sounds from other sources such as the chirping of R2D2 of Star Wars fame plus the startup tones of the Macintosh computer. By the way the "voice" of AUTO is provided by MacInTalk of Macintosh computers. I bring up Macintosh computers because every file of the CAP website has been prepared with a Mac.

I will be so bold as to make a somewhat rare positive comment about a film. This film presents one of the best visual depictions of falling in love I have ever seen in an animated film. A great example of non-verbal communication. Kids undertand this stuff, folks. I even remember Eric, one of my sons when five years old spoke "He likes her!" while watching Grease with John Travolta and Olivia Newton John as Travolta sings a lost love song in the minor key to a "memory bubble image" of Olivia.

There is more I could say about this delightful romp into the future with an ecological message but let me get to that for which most of you visit the CAP Ministry.

As a preface to the individual investigation area content discussions that follow, let me tell you that with a final score of 95 Wall•E is one of the most "G" animated G films I have seen in a long time. Other than the film is rather freckled with violence there is little more to tell you. If you are concerned (which you should be) about the amount of violence your little ones absorb in the name of entertainment, this film is equivalent to the level of violence of most PG films in the comparative baseline database. But everything else is clearly equivalent to G-rated films.

Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 71 out of 100
Though part of the plot/story, this film contains a rather significant amount of violence. That the violence is part of the story it does not excuse its influence to desensitize natural inhibitions against violence and reshape values. [1 Cor. 15:33, Prov. 16:29] Violence includes such content as a series of gunfire to kill, lightning strike of a personified character twice and gunfire to disable. Note that the 74 Wall•E earned in this investigation area is the only reason the film warranted the yellow CAPCon Alert light. Just 15 more points in this investigation area score and the film would have garnered a green CAPCon Alert light.

Impudence/Hate (I) - 96 out of 100
The shoot-first mentality is the only notation of impudence.

Sexual Immorality (S) - 100 out of 100
Nothing of sexually immoral behaviors or imagery were noted.

Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 100 out of 100
No instances of drinking alcoholic beverages, consumption or possession of illegal drugs. abuse of prescription drugs or using tobacco were noted.

Offense to God (O) - 100 out of 100
Not once was the use of God's name in vain noted, either with or without the four letter expletive.

Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100
No murders or suicides were noted.


ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo


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 entices his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good. [The issue is the violence, no matter how "small" it might seem, and its effect on an observer. "A violent man" can be a man, woman OR the men/women/characters demonstrating the violent behavior/action on the screen. Knowing of Prov. 16:29 you now know why violence, especially in and as entertainment, can embolden the viewer into aggression, especially youth. See also Joint Statement on the Impact of Entertainment Violence on Children: Congressional Public Health Summit.

    ***Selected Scriptures of Armour against the influence of the entertainment industry***
  • Jer. 37:9 This is what the LORD says: Do not deceive yourselves, thinking, 'The Babylonians [the destroyers from within] will surely leave us.' They will not!
  • 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, 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 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; to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey; to cause to fall away.]
  • 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.]


    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:
    (The objective heart of the CAP Analysis Model, independent of and insulated from the Summary / Commentary section.)


    Wall•E (2008) CAP Thermometers

    Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - SCORE out of 100
  • series of gunfire to kill
  • personified character being hit by lightning twice
  • spaceship landing and space travel outside the ship peril
  • gunfire to disable
  • machine revolt violence
  • several sequences of pursuit to capture
  • several action violence sequences

    Impudence/Hate (I) - SCORE out of 100
  • shoot-first attitude

    Sexual Immorality (S) - SCORE out of 100
  • none noted

    Drugs/Alcohol (D) - SCORE out of 100
  • none noted

    Offense to God (O) - SCORE out of 100
  • none noted

    Murder/Suicide (M) - SCORE out of 100
  • none noted














  • THIS SPACE RESERVED FOR SPONSORS.
    Interested parties, send us your proposal. Your link will appear on each new analysis report prepared during the desired period and, once placed on a page, will not be removed.














    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.



    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.
    Tom Carder
    President
    ChildCare Action Project (CAP): Christian Analysis of American Culture
    100% dependent on your tax-deductible financial support

    Copyright ChildCare Action Project (CAP) Ministry





    Since December 5, 2000



    Christian Long Distance
    The Fundamental Top 500

    We exist only by your tax-deductible donations. PLEASE


    Features PayPal! You do NOT need an account to donate.



    Copyright ChildCare Action Project (CAP) Ministry
    A Nonprofit Christian Ministry

    CAP HOME PAGE