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Reel World Reality 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 MAR2011.143  (2011), PG-13 [R-13*] (1hr 58.8min) 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 1300 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.)
 Production (US): Fox 2000 Pictures, 3 Arts Entertainment, Gil Netter/Flashpoint Entertainment, Dune Entertainment, Ingenious Media, Big Screen Productions, Crazy Horse Effects Distribution (US): Fox Home Entertainment Director(s): Francis Lawrence Producer(s): Gil Netter, Erwin Stoff, Andrew Tennenbaum, Kevin Halloran Screenplay by: Richard LaGravenese Based on the Novel by: Sara Gruen Cinematography/Camera: Rodrigo Prieto Music: James Newton Howard Film Editing: Alan Edward Bell Casting: Denise Chamian Production Design: Jack Fisk Art Direction: David Crank Viewed on Fox Home Entertainment DVD  Robert Pattinson of vampire fame does not suck any blood this time but instead looses some. Reese Witherspoon is blonde again but is not Legally Blonde. Great Depression era Jacob Jankowski (Robert Pattinson), the son of poor Polish immigrants doesn't know it yet but his father hocked everything they had to put Jacob through veterinarian school. Jacob discovered his family's sacrifice for his sake when, as he was taking his final exams at Cornell University, he was called out to identify the bodies of his parents killed in a motor vehicle collision. By the timing of their deaths they may have been suicide. After that crushing blow Jacob dropped everything, including finishing his college degree. All he had to do was pass the final exam. But after loosing his parents then finding out the family is broke the pressure was too much for him and he left ... for somewhere. Jacob, now broke, found himself walking the train tracks when a slow train came along. Succumbing to the urge Jacob mounted the moving train to find it is the Benzini Brothers circus train. The circus is owned by August Rosenbluth (Christoph Waltz), a rival of the Ringling Brothers circus, whose wife, Marlena (Reese Witherspoon) is the star attraction. Getting wind of Jacob's veterinary training, Rosenbluth put Jacob in the circus vet position, even after Jacob euthanized Rosenbluth's prize horse, Silver due to a fatal condition the horse was suffering. The one most hurt by the loss of Silver was Marlena. Now the wife of the owner is forlorn and Jacob falls to the "beautiful damsel in distress" lure and starts a relationship with her, an adulterous relationship of which her husband August became aware. Now that Jacob is in love with Marlena and she with him ... and August is doing what he must to defend his marriage with Marlena, matters become dark and violent. Following are brief discussions of the content per individual content investigation area. As always the Findings section of this report is the best source for discovering the full accounting of the content of this film. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 10 out of 100 Violence content appears mostly as physical violence between circus staff and Jacob, between August and Jacob and between August and Marlena. In one scene as Marlena runs from a highly agitated August, he uses the hook of an elephant bull hook to stop her. In whatever form the violence might be, viewing it can be "catching" and lead the observer in a "path that is not good." [Prov. 16:29] Even my son when 15 admitted to the "energizing" effect of a violent video game at the arcade, access to which was fortunately under our control and was no more once we found out about it. Now, hundreds of years after God "published" his warning in Prov. 16:29, man has finally agreed with God and plagiarized His Word about violence by four professional public health agencies jointly publishing their findings about viewing violence in and as entertainment: that such influence can lead the observer, especially the young, to real life violence and can cause the observer to believe violence is an acceptable and effective way to settle conflict. But, in spite of God's warning and man's warning about viewing violence we are, or course, we feel we are much to smart for entertainment violence to change us, don't we? Impudence/Hate (I) - 47 out of 100 Fifteen times someone uses profanity [Col. 3:8, Eph. 5:4] Other than that, the impudence of facial piercings, spousal abuse and animal cruelty were the only content applicable to this content investigation area. Sexual Immorality (S) - 55 out of 100 Sexually immoral matters included several matters: multiple steps of adultery including intercourse (with no gender-specific parts seen); invitations to have sex, burlesque dancing with suggestion of nudity; full female photo nudity with multiple views; dressing to maximize the female form and/or skin exposure; camera angle to force the viewer on private parts. By God's Word we are not to engage in or embrace sexually impure matters. [Eph. 5:12, 1 Ths. 4:7, 1 John 2:16, Ezek. 16:58, Prov. 6:32] Drugs/Alcohol (D) - Zero out of 100 there is much drinking and alcoholic beverage display in this film labeled acceptable for your 13 year old children. The American College of physicians (ACP) disagrees with the MPAA. A 2002 study by the ACP revealed that adolescent exposure to drinking in and as entertainment undeniably leads to abuse of alcohol among underage viewers. The finding entitled Relation Between Parental Restrictions on Movies and Adolescent Use of Tobacco and Alcohol reports that of 4544 youths from grades 5 through 8 of fifteen Vermont and New Hampshire middle schools (90% of the youths were under fourteen years old) only 16% were completely restricted in their entertainment diets. Within the ACP study population, the prevalence of having tried alcohol without parental knowledge was Offense to God (O) - 63 out of 100 Four times someone blasphemes God's holy name. Twice with the four letter and twice without it. God is not sanguine about blaspheming His name. [Deut. 5:11] Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 Though there are murders portrayed in this film, none are seen. Only a body after-the-fact is seen. And if the act of murder (or suicide) is not seen the CAP Analysis Model will not permit incorporating in into the scoring of this content investigation area but rather into the Wanton Violence/Crime content investigation area. 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 --> 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.] 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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(The objective heart of the CAP Analysis Model, independent of and insulated from the Summary / Commentary section.)  Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 10 out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - 47 out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - 55 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - Zero out of 100 Offense to God (O) - 63 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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| 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 G equivalence: G-NR PG equivalence: PG-NR PG-13 equivalence: 13-NR R equivalence: R-NR |
