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.





(2007), PG-13 [Hard R-13*] ... may be best described as pediatric pornography ... Plus a baby-killing video game.



Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database

Production (US): Akom Production Company, Gracie Films, Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Distribution (US): Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Director(s): David Silverman

Producer(s): James L. Brooks, Matt Groening, Al Jean, Jay Kleckner, Amanda Moshay, Felicia Nalivansky, Matt Orefice, Richard Sakai, Mike Scully, Craig Sost

Creator: Matt Groening

Developer: James L. Brooks, Matt Groening

Screenplay: Matt Groening, Al Jean, James L. Brooks, Ian Maxtone-Graham, George Meyer, David Mirkin, Mike Reiss, Mike Scully, Matt Selman, John Swartzwelder, Jon Vitti

Consultant Writer: Joel Cohen, John Frink, Tim Long, Michael Price

Cinematography/Camera:

Music: Hans Zimmer

Production Management: Julie Peng

Art Direction: Dima Malanitchev

Viewed At: Driftwood Theater 6





It seems that for many of us life is such that we have become so hungry for some levity in our lives that we will take even vulgarity as humor and call it good ... if that is all we can get [Isa. 5:20]. And that is all we get in The Simpsons Movie -- bizarre, empty vulgarity that fogs the mind and obscures wholesomeness, painting immoral as amoral. [Eph. 5:4] These "Babylonians", these destroyers from within are here to stay [Jer. 37:9] as long as we continue [Ps. 12:8] to partake of their delicacies [Ps. 141:4]. Maybe our acceptance of such vulgarity is because "We have become so drugged by the narcotics of extremes in and as entertainment that what once was morally unacceptable has become morally invisible: what was once immoral is now amoral." --TC



For those of you who have been with us for years, you know that the CAP analysis model treats animated behaviors as influential as onscreen behaviors by live actors/actresses if the behaviors demonstrated by the animated characters may reasonably be duplicated by or subjected to a child. With that in mind, The Simpsons Movie may be best described as pediatric pornography since it includes much male adolescent nudity including full frontal nudity.



The Simpsons Movie is fully equivalent to most R-rated films in magnitude or influence envelope in five of the six CAP investigation areas. I guess that makes it a "kiddie R".



I am not going to "dignify" this film with a commentary of its plot or story. The "plot/story" was little more than a vehicle to transport the vulgarity to you: a device to enable imparting filth. I should think reputable environmentalists would be offended by being associated with this film by being part of the target of it.



With a final score of 15 out of 100, I have nothing good to say about any of the parts that just might have a positive statement (as most films do) because, however few they are, positive elements are so deeply embedded in animated manure they are nearly invisible. The immoral screaming of this film drowns out the gossamer whispers of good. The caliber of this film could also be compared to filling a theater auditorium with manure two inches deep then sprinkling a drop or two of perfume in three of four places. While sitting in your chair are you going to be able to smell the perfume? Even if you are sitting next to where the perfume landed?



Wanton Violence/Crime (W)

The violence/crime content of this film was intense or dense enough to cause loss of all the starting 100 points in this investigation area, leaving an area score of zero. Three drowning deaths. Eye impalement with the claw of a claw hammer. A father choking a child. Gunfire to kill. Arrow impalement. A hanging staging. More. [Prov. 16:29] Plus a baby-killing video game.



Impudence/Hate (I)

In addition to the obligatory uses of profanity [Col. 3:8], The Simpsons Movie presented many matters of family friction and "shock value" distortions of right: the son firing pellets at the father; the father daring the son to skateboard nude; the mother telling the daughter that since she is female she is free to hold on to anger forever; the father calling the daughter "an accident"; more. [Luke 17:2] This investigation area found enough ignominy to cause the loss of all but 9 of its starting 100 points.



Sexual Immorality (S)

Sexual immorality content in this film not only presented things such as posterior cleavage, crotch hit, a homosexual kiss, masturbation innuendo, implied intercourse, a female pointing the direction to go by swinging her breasts and, of course, characters in underwear plus self-touching, this film portrayed long sequences of full adolescent nudity. Once with anatomically correct full frontal nudity centered on the groin. While the French fry scene in the trailers was there, a scene without the French fry was also there. [1 John 2:26, 1Ths. 4:1 - 3, Rev. 22:15] The content of the film in this investigation area also caused the loss of all its starting 100 points.



Drugs/Alcohol (D)

Mainly because of issues of adolescent intoxication and addiction to alcohol, this film earned the lowest possible score (zero out of 100) in this investigation area. And because of the vulnerability of the target age stratum, I am going to make a big deal of the alcohol-related content of The Simpsons Movie.



The drinking and drunkenness are of significant danger in this film suggested by the MPAA as being fit for the middle school age stratum. A study by the American College of Physicians (ACP) revealed that adolescent exposure to drinking and smoking in and as entertainment leads to undeniable abuse of alcohol among underage kids. 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% were under fourteen years old) only 16% were completely restricted from viewing R-rated movies.



The researchers selected R-rated movies because they assumed R-rated movies typically present more drinking than movies of other classifications. This assumption is no longer true. The researchers were not aware of the matter of "R-13" proven by this ministry (see R-13) and four years after us by Harvard University scientists (see Harvard Agrees With Us). The bottom line? The focus is the influence of adolescent exposure to drinking (and smoking) in and as entertainment is undeniable regardless of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) classification.



Within the ACP study population, the prevalence of having tried alcohol without parental knowledge was



46% for those with no restrictions

16% for those with partial restrictions

four percent for those with complete restrictions.



Rather revealing of the influences of the entertainment industry wouldn't you say? And emboldening children to sin with drink in and as entertainment screams of violating Luke 17:2. Even the University of Connecticut corroborates our finding and that of the ACP. [Eph. 5:18]



I can add to the ACP study that reveals films which present drinking and drunkenness contribute to underage substance abuse. I submit that it is not so much the presence of alcohol in films or the rating of the film(s) that embolden youth to abuse it, but is rather the attitude portrayed: the attitude of freedom form authority, freedom form accountability and freedom for consequences. PG-13 and R-rated films, sometimes lesser rated films, are typically heavy with attitude. Our report on this, ATTITUDE: In Perspective -- Investigation Area Scoring and Trend in CAP Entertainment Industry Investigations, Special Report-001 may provide more understanding of the point.



This investigation area also found enough content to cause the loss of all its starting 100 points.



Offense to God (O)

Lo and behold! Five points out of 100! That is the score earned due to content of this film in this investigation area. While the use of God's name in vain is often, once even with the four letter expletive [Deut. 5:11], as one character convulses on the floor another character fans through the pages of the Bible while desperately groaning "This book doesn't have any answers." [2Tim. 3:16] Contempt for God, faith and the Scriptures were present throughout. [Ps. 31:18]



Murder/Suicide (M)

An impalement murder plus a video game murder and a personified robot graphically committing suicide by gunfire to the head with the head contents spewing probably should have caused the Murder/Suicide score to be lower, but the analysis model will not let me inject any of my subjective opinions into the scoring distribution.



What was the MPAA thinking!?





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SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S)

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CHAPTER/VERSE



Isa. 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Eph. 5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. Ps. 141:4 Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; let me not eat of their delicacies. Prov. 16:29 A violent man entices his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good. [As a bad influence does not have to be real to influence badly, a "violent man" does not have to be real to influence violently. It took years for the American professional health agencies to finally understand what God was telling them. See Joint Statement on the Impact of Entertainment Violence on Children Congressional Public Health Summit for more information. See also 1 Cor. 15:33 below.] Col. 3:8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander (injurious speech), and filthy language [aischrologia: foul speaking, low and obscene speech] from your lips. 1 John 2:26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. ["These things I have written" includes lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes from 1 John 2:16. An example of "them that seduce you" includes they who demonstrate sexual sin, however innocuous it may seem, in and as entertainment which can "seduce" the viewer, can lead one astray by desensitizing one and emboldening him/her to believe sexually immoral deeds, thoughts and display are acceptable OR by eroding one's natural inhibition against sexually immoral deeds and thoughts. And anything in and as entertainment that draws the viewer's attention to sexuality, sexual deeds, nudity and the private parts clothed or not, seen or not is sexual.] 1Ths. 4:1 - 3 Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; ... Rev. 22:15 Outside [of Heaven] are the dogs, those [unforgiven] who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral , the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. Eph. 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. [Since "drunk" is methusko {meth-oos'-ko}: to intoxicate; make drunk; to get drunk; become intoxicated, "wine" can be any intoxicating substance including illegal drugs or abuse of prescription drugs. The issue is do not abuse the body by intoxicating it. Though it is not a sin to drink, it is a sin to get drunk OR to influence to get drunk OR to drink in defiance such as underage drinking. 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.] 2Tim. 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, Ps. 31:18 Let their lying lips be silenced, for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly against the righteous.



***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.]





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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.)





Wanton Violence/Crime (W)

action violence, repeatedly three drowning deaths baby-killing video game eye impalement injury choking child slapstick violence, repeatedly bully assault stupidity with a firearm crushing/squashing death four gunfire injuries brutality arrow impalement theft implication leading to false arrest hanging staging father choking son firearm to control, repeatedly animal attack physical assault with joy in revenge death by crushing



Impudence/Hate (I)

seven uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary, twice by an adolescent child firing pellet gun at father father daring son to skateboard nude tattoo mob mentality at the daughter's anger the mother said "You're a woman. You can hold on to it forever" adolescent insult of father, repeatedly son calling father by first name, twice father calling the daughter an accident



Sexual Immorality (S)

posterior cleavage crotch hit child nudity, frequent, including full frontal anatomically correct nudity homosexual kiss adults in underwear implied intercourse anatomical reference female pointing the direction to go by swinging her breasts self-touching



Drugs/Alcohol (D):

"Binge responsibly" smoking, repeatedly adolescent drinking adolescent drunkenness adolescent alcoholism comment re: drinking is okay adolescent intoxication collapse drugging to control, including a child smoking drugs



Offense to God (O)

one use of God's name in vain with the four letter expletive and ten without, once by an adolescent blasphemy "this book [the Bible] doesn't have any answers" contempt for God, faith and the Scriptures throughout "We told you so" on a church marquis



Murder/Suicide (M)

impalement murder video game murder by gunfire robot committing suicide by gunfire