That's Entertainment?

June 2005

Dear Friends:

Summer is already in full swing, and many families — particularly those with children and teens at home — will be escaping the heat by heading to the local multiplex to catch the latest Hollywood blockbuster. Unless you’re a total stranger to Focus on the Family, you know that we have grown increasingly concerned about the sex, violence, profanity and other dangerous and antisocial behaviors that are depicted and often glorified by the entertainment industry — not only through movies, but also music, TV and video games.

Current indications suggest that the summer of 2005 is shaping up to be another disturbing season of vulgarity and wickedness depicted in entertainment fare. For example, an R-rated film called Sin City was released this spring. It was awful. The movie entered the box office charts at #1 and made almost $30 million1 during its opening weekend. A review on MSNBC noted that "in addition to decapitations, the movie features cannibalism, castration, rivers of blood … death by sledgehammer (accompanied by thunderous sound effects) and a lineup of hookers’ heads that are displayed like hunters’ trophies."2 Another review noted the extensive nudity and simulated sex in the film, and described a storyline in which "one man shoots another man’s genitals off; and in a later confrontation between the two, after the genitals have been surgically restored, he rips off the new set with his bare hand."3 Lovely! Sin City’s cast of characters includes strippers, pedophiles, a band of street-fighting prostitutes and two cannibals. In keeping with the Hollywood tradition of portraying religious figures as utterly depraved, one of the cannibals also happens to be a Catholic Cardinal.

Having had a very successful run in theaters, now Sin City is about to be released on DVD. Thus, a vast new audience will be exposed to its depravity again and again in the comfort of their own homes. I wonder how many teens or even young children will be warped by the evil of this film? Unfortunately, Sin City is not the only wretched offering coming out of Hollywood at this time. We can hardly expect it to tone things down now that school is out.

In June, we have the French film High Tension, which has been rated R for "graphic bloody killings, terror, sexual content and language." That just about covers the spectrum, doesn’t it? The film has already been released in several European countries, where it drew extensive criticism for its graphic violence. July brings the sex-drenched comedy Wedding Crashers, featuring two womanizing bachelors who visit wedding receptions for the sole purpose of bedding the vulnerable single women in attendance. In August, a sequel to the grossly offensive 1999 comedy Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo will be released, titled, Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo. The movie’s promotional poster features the "hero" sitting in profile with the leaning tower of Pisa positioned strategically behind him to give the impression that he is displaying a gigantic depiction of male genitalia. I can confidently say that Deuce Bigalow will not be worthy of your time!

Still, it is quite possible that a few of the movies being released this summer will have some redeeming social value. However, please bear in mind that even those films that appear to be made and marketed with families in mind will likely contain content that is inappropriate. I urge you to use due diligence in researching any film before viewing it.

The same is true, of course, for other types of popular entertainment. It is clear that, as standards of decency have continued to erode, it has become increasingly difficult for parents to shield their children from the negative influences of TV, music, video games and other media. It is astonishing to consider just how far we have fallen in recent decades. In the 1960s, when the Rolling Stones appeared on the "Ed Sullivan Show," they were required to change the lyrics of their song "Let’s Spend the Night Together" to "let’s spend some time together" before the tune could be broadcast. Fast forward to 2005, when radio stations and MTV offer up sexually charged songs to teens that would make a sailor blush. Consider the #1 hit "Candy Shop" by rapper 50 Cent (a self-proclaimed thug and drug dealer who boasts of having been both stabbed and shot nine times), which topped the pop music charts for weeks earlier this year. The lyrics, which deal graphically with oral sex and other explicit behaviors, are too obscene to reprint here. But millions of preteens and teenagers have heard them on CD, on radio stations across the country and on MTV. To our shame, 50 Cent and his violent, sexually charged music and lifestyle represent the "mainstream" of music in America today.

Also "mainstream" are sexually explicit or violent TV shows such as ABC’s "Desperate Housewives" and CBS’s "CSI" (both of which consistently appear near the top of the ratings) and various "reality-based" programs such as MTV’s "The Real World" and "Taildaters." Meanwhile, many parents may not realize that video games represent the fastest-growing segment of the entertainment industry and that, as a recent TV report observed, "alarmingly, the most violent and sexually explicit games are always the hottest sellers."4 A classic example is the best-selling series of "Grand Theft Auto" titles, in which players can blast their way through urban environments, earning points for killing police officers and rival gang members alike, engaging in robbery and car-jackings and visiting prostitutes. Another game, JFK Reloaded, enables players to literally pull the trigger in the assassination of John F. Kennedy. The creator of the game recently told Bill O’Reilly: "We’re proud of the work that we’ve put in [to the game]. We’re proud of the detail that we’ve provided."5

Other disturbing titles include Postal 2, in which players can pour gasoline on a black police officer, set him on fire and urinate on him; Outlaw Golf 2, in which the golf "caddies" are represented by scantily clad women, men in sadomasochistic bondage gear and more; and The Punisher, in which a player can throw his enemy into a wood chipper, stuff him in a casket with a live grenade or hold his head under a drill press. Although these games carry a "Mature" rating that supposedly makes them off-limits to players under 17, it is clear that they can be easily obtained by those much younger. An Indiana TV station recently sent a 12-year-old boy into several stores to attempt to buy M-rated games, and discovered that he was able to do so, with no questions asked, in half of his attempts.6

Now, you may be saying to yourself, "my kids would never be seduced by that trash." But don’t be so sure. In the first place, studies clearly show that the listening and viewing habits of Christian teens are nearly identical to those of their secular peers. And, as we have already established, the offensive content I have just described represents everything that is mainstream and popular in entertainment. These movies, albums, TV shows and games are not simply the choices of the "fringe" kids who dye their hair green and dress in black. In truth, "everybody is doing it." Don’t underestimate the power of peer pressure in your own kids’ lives. Make every effort to teach them to exercise integrity and discernment in their entertainment choices. By instilling them with a biblical worldview, you will be helping your kids immensely by equipping them to filter out many of the negative influences of popular culture.

In all fairness, it must also be said that there have been some encouraging signs in the entertainment industry, and particularly Hollywood, in recent years. Most notable is Mel Gibson’s 2004 film The Passion of the Christ. While the crucifixion scenes were extremely violent, the movie brought the message of the Gospel to audiences around the globe in a dramatic and moving fashion. The film was almost completely ignored by Hollywood during the Academy Awards, of course, but it was clearly a major hit with audiences everywhere, becoming one of the top-grossing films of the year. And later this year, Disney will release The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the first of several planned live-action adaptations of C.S. Lewis’ "The Chronicles of Narnia." (Incidentally, a wonderful Radio Theatre version of this classic is available from Focus on the Family and would make for great family entertainment this summer.) Although it remains to be seen how the Christian content in Lewis’s books will be handled in these big-budget, mainstream movies, early indications are that the films will remain true to the author’s original vision.

A few other recent films come to mind that have presented positive themes and images that run counter to typical Hollywood fare, including Luther, The Incredibles and Because of Winn-Dixie. I’m told that one of the new, relatively clean "cult" classics out there that’s especially popular with teenagers is a low-budget comedy entitled Napoleon Dynamite. To remind you just how impressionable children are, several catch-phrases from that movie have become common vernacular in almost every high school in America. Neither I, nor Focus on the Family, endorse any of these films, but I would encourage you, as a parent, to consider previewing them to determine if they might make acceptable family viewing for your household this summer. (Focus on the Family has published a book called Movie Nights, and this fall we will release Movie Nights for Teens — both of which contain reviews of numerous worthwhile films that parents might consider viewing with their children.)

It’s possible that — Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo notwithstanding — a few of the upcoming summer releases might serve as acceptable entertainment options for your family this summer. But how can you know for sure? I’m pleased to report that our Youth Culture staff here at Focus on the Family has done much of the leg work for you. We publish a monthly magazine for parents titled Plugged In that contains reviews of a number of current movies, albums, TV shows, video games and other releases. And for even more current and up-to-date information, you can log on to our accompanying Web site, www.pluggedinonline.com, for the latest movie reviews. The site is updated with current film reviews every Friday, when new movies typically make their debut. Our in-depth reviews offer insights into the positive elements of each film, as well as details about offensive content such as sexuality, violence, anti-Christian bias, profanity and so on. We have received a wealth of positive feedback from parents who have accessed the site and "gotten the scoop" on a particular film before allowing their children to see it. And, it’s always possible that you might find a review that will introduce you to a genuinely praiseworthy film that you and your family might otherwise have missed.

And you certainly don’t need to have kids at home to benefit from this excellent resource! Shirley and I made the mistake of not consulting www.pluggedinonline.com a few months ago, and paid the price. We rarely go to movies precisely because so many of them are filled with offensive content, but this past New Year’s Eve, we decided to go see The Aviator, which was advertised as a true story based on the life of Howard Hughes. The film carried a PG-13 rating, but it offended us deeply. The Names of God and Christ were dragged through the mud more times than we could count, and when it was all over, we felt guilty for having sat through it. Had we consulted www.pluggedinonline.com before heading to the theater, we would have found the following information under the "Crude or Profane Language" heading: "Like the steady turn of a propeller, The Aviator churns the air with profane and vulgar sound waves. A single f-word and about 10 s-words are spoken. God’s name is abused more than 50 times (many times in combination with "d—n") and there are almost two-dozen misuses of Jesus’ name. Milder profanities, including several sexually crude references, bring the overall tally to well over 100." That paragraph alone would have been sufficient to compel us to search elsewhere for our New Year’s Eve entertainment!

Speaking of which, before closing, I’d also like to make the simple observation that, offensive content or not, there are a number of healthier, more interactive options that you and your loved ones might consider exploring this summer. Why spend this exciting time in your house or in a darkened movie theater — even if the movie itself is morally acceptable — when you could be outdoors? Rather than plopping your kids down in front of the TV or computer and fostering "couch potato syndrome," why not encourage them to find a good book and go read under a shady tree? A family vacation, barbeque, picnic, camping excursion, hike, board game or trip to the swimming pool will prove much more mentally and emotionally stimulating for you and your kids than passively sitting in front of a flickering screen all summer.

Whatever you end up doing, I hope that, by the time the air turns cool and you prepare to send your children back to school, your family will have built some summer memories together that will last a lifetime. Those of us whose children are grown up can attest that the years in which the entire family lives under one roof will speed by in the blink of an eye. Make the most of them while you can! God’s blessings to you all.

A final word. Focus on the Family needs some extra financial help this summer. If you have met your obligations to your local church and can give us a hand, we would certainly appreciate your support. We will continue to use your contributions carefully and wisely in fulfilling the mission to which we are called.

Have a great summer season with your families.

Sincerely,

James C. Dobson, Ph.D.
Founder and Chairman

P.S. I’d like to make a special appeal here for the print version of Plugged In magazine. Although www.pluggedinonline.com, Focus on the Family’s most popular Web site, is updated more frequently with the latest movie reviews, the "hard copy" magazine contains additional articles, music reviews and commentary that not only complement the Web site, but also offer greater depth of analysis into the world of pop culture. In fact, while Focus on the Family continues to expand and improve each of its many Web sites, I think you’ll find that our numerous magazines — Plugged In included — are well worth your family’s time.

*(Note: Referrals to Web sites not produced by Focus on the Family are for informational purposes only and do not necessarily constitute an endorsement of the sites' content.)