Each month, hundreds of thousands of people read one of Plugged In’s movie reviews. If you’re here, you’re probably one of them.
Now, you may not have thought much about why we have the content categories we do. Perhaps, like many of our readers, you’re curious to know about how severe the content is in a movie your kids are clamoring to see. Or maybe you’ve heard the critical buzz on the latest Oscar-caliber drama, but you’re wondering if that R-rating means it’ll be too much. And so, you might check out our review, peruse the relevant content and make a go/no-go decision based on that.
But if you’ve ever taken a gander at the content sections in our reviews and thought, I wonder why they do it that way?, then this blog—and the series to follow in the days ahead—is for you. We’re going to unpack a bit of our thinking on why and how we categorize certain content the way that we do. We’ll be digging into each section philosophically, sharing what we’re trying to unpack in each one of them.
Today, we’re going to get things underway with our first content section in our movie reviews: Positive Elements.
Ok, I can almost hear you: Isn’t this self-explanatory? Well, in a way, yes. Positive Elements is the section where we put things that are, uh, positive. Here is where you’ll find out (in as broad, non-spoiler-y terms as possible) the big-picture redemptive themes in a movie. They might have to do with heroism or sacrifice, placing someone else’s need first or even something as simple as growing up.
Here are two things you may not have thought about with this section, though, that you might find kinda interesting.
First, with Christian films especially, sometimes it can be hard to parse the difference between Positive Elements and Spiritual Elements, since they two are often intertwined. So if you’ve ever looked at a review of a Christian movie that seemed to be pretty light on Positive Elements, it’s likely because we’re dealing with the spiritual themes that have positive content in the next section (Spiritual Elements).
The positive things we identify may have to do with specific, praiseworthy actions or words from the characters themselves. In the recent action movie The 355 (a spy thriller about five women who team up to stop save the world from a deadly stolen hard drive), our reviewer Emily Clark writes, “Each of these women is willing to put her own life on the line to save others and to save the world. “
But positive elements may also include praiseworthy themes or worldview elements that the filmmakers are obviously trying to emphasize. For instance, for The 355, Emily notes, “It doesn’t take an espionage expert to identify The 355’s not-so-subtle message about female empowerment (albeit of a very violent variety, as we’ll see). As viewers, we’re invited to see men’s chauvinism and sexism as repulsive.”
And then there’s our desire to give a film credit for what it gets right … even if it’s otherwise really problematic. In fact, this is a situation that prompts plenty of letters from our readers. “I can’t believe you found anything good to say in that!” is usually the gist of such letters.
For example, the 2004 movie Saw is among the most vile we’ve ever seen in a number of ways. And yet, there’s a morality tale buried in this horror flick that deserves to be identified. Plugged In reviewers Marcus Yoars and Steven Isaac wrote, “In a (very) twisted sort of way, the movie highlights living gratefully. The mentally deranged villain is obsessed with teaching people to appreciate life, to the point that he places them in life-or-death situations that, should they survive, will teach them to be thankful for their next breath.”
We may not like a film much at all. But we always strive to be fair in the way that we describe its content, its worldview and its messages—including good messages buried in bad movies. Because even a film as foul as Saw might still have a few nuggets of truth worth pointing out. And part of our job is to make sure those nuggets of gold get the credit they deserve.
Next up in our Plugged In Talks Content series: Spiritual Elements.
4 Responses
-That’s why I love the American Pie movies. They may be filled with R-rated content but they also clearly show in their own way the differences between being in love with someone and just lusting after them for all the wrong reasons. Other movies like Good Luck Chuck and Zach and Miri Make a Porno essentially do the same thing, shows you the difference between love and lust in the midst of their adult content.
Now of course there are always movies like the 40 year old virgin, knocked up, and the hangover that have no redemptive content to be found, but sadly you don’t always realize that ahead of time before you actually sit there and watch it.
That’s also why some horror films turn me off in a big way, whereas others have morality and morals to be found in them. It’s a chore that’s for sure since for every Friday the 13th or Halloween out there there’s a Saw, Scary Movie, or IT part 2 to spoil the party.
-I have to disagree with your inclusion of 40 Year Old Virgin as something with no redemptive content.
Yes, the movie is LOADED with crass humor and mockery of a man who is still a virgin at age 40, but when the opportunity to have sex presents itself, he realizes that it feels wrong and prefers to establish a relationship first. And during that period of time he: mentors his girlfriend’s children – even going to group counseling sessions to support the daughter, shows the girlfriend respect by preferring to establish relationship over instant gratification, actually earns respect from his co-workers for the choice he’s made.
Definitely a movie to be discussed with your teen/young adult, but I found the story to be unexpectedly refreshing and sweet in the end.
-Interesting take on it. It’s important to be fair to all movies, even when the final verdict might be to watch something else.
-Very well stated.