This Week’s Movie Ratings

(CU) Completely Unacceptable

- Film contains levels of Sex, Violence, Profane Language and/or other objectionable content that are gratuitous to the degree that the film has absolutely no redeeming value either as a work of social commentary or as an entertaining diversion.

Examples: Fatal Attraction, Basic Instinct, Eyes Wide Shut, Eddie Murphy: Raw

(RU) Rather Unacceptable

- Film contains levels of Sex, Violence, Profane Language and/or other objectionable content that are extreme. As such only through extreme rationalization could someone consider the film fit for consumption. The only reason to see it would be as a study of the current state of Western culture.

Examples: American Beauty

(SA) Somewhat Acceptable

- Aspects of objectionable Sex, Violence and Profane Language and/or other questionable content exist, but either a) Not in a gratuitous manner, b) Not in great frequency or c) With specific redeeming intent. But be very careful.

Examples: Malcolm X, American History X, The Matrix

(RA) Rather Acceptable

- Overall, the film is suitable for general consumption with some concerns over thematic issues or minor objectionable content. But be on the lookout for more subtle Western themes that are of concern to Muslims such as romance and dating.

Examples: Shrek, Atlantis

(CA) Completely Acceptable

- Film content is either tame or fully socially redeeming in nature.

Examples: Jinnah, The Battle of Algiers, Bambi

Frailty (SA-Adult)

summary:Fans of psychological thrillers with twist, surprise endings are all abuzz about Frailty. Even horror/suspense writer Stephen King has had positive things to say about the film. Whether it will rise to the level of The Sixth Sense or Seven remains to be seen however. Frailty deals with that clichéd suspense/thriller topic of serial killing. In the course of its investigation of a serial killer who calls himself “Gods Hands”, the FBI encounters Fenton Meeks (Matthew McConaughey), who claims to know the identity of the killer – none other than his own brother. Through a series of flashbacks, Meeks tells the story of his troubled childhood in which his father awoke one day claiming to have been visited by an angel who told him to hunt out demons that walk the earth in human form. Meek’s father and brother then set about the task of demon extermination with “extreme prejudice” resulting in the spree of murders the FBI comes to investigate. However as the film moves forward, the truth of the murders is revealed to be more convoluted and complex than anyone had expected.

This film does contain scenes of violence and a limited amount of foul language that take it well out of the realm of being a children’s film. Because of the violence, more discerning Muslims may want to avoid this one. However it does make certain veiled commentary about religion that some may want to explore – namely that religion has the power to incite acts of outrage. In the post 9/11 climate, this is a message not lost on Americans, and this particular film seems to drive that message home.

The Sweetest Thing (CU-Adult)

Summary: The Sweetest Thing continues the non-stop cavalcade of mindless, vapid Hollywood romantic comedies that seem to never fail at misleading the public about male/female relationships and exploiting the women who star in them. Cameron Diaz, Tinsel Town’s most recent “It Girl”, plays a woman who has (yes, you guessed it) given up on love. It is a recycled theme of failed interpersonal affairs that no one ever seems to connect to its true source – lack of obedience to God’s will. After all, it only makes sense that if humans train themselves for marriage by delving into a never-ending string of casual sexual encounters, that they are bound to get what they trained for.

Anyhow, Diaz and her other female compatriots stalk some guy cross-country and, along the way, find revelations about love, which are basically the same old regurgitated misconceptions of romantic love that have prevailed in Western society for over a century.

This film has strong sexual content, inappropriate adult themes and situations and foul language. AVOID AT ALL COSTS.

Changing Lanes (RA-Adult)

Summary: Films about revenge seem to tickle the fancy of the American public. Maybe it’s Hollywood showing its Shakespearean roots; but a good tale of retribution always seems to get audiences going. Unfortunately, most of these stories center upon trading one evil for another, a practice that is just about as un-Islamic as it gets. Changing Lanes has some such elements in it.

When Ben Afleck and Samuel L. Jackson crash their cars into one another, things turn nasty. Instead of handling the situation as a simple automobile accident, Afleck decides to get snotty with Jackson and eventually leaves the scene of the accident having insulted and wronged Jackson with his words and actions. What Afleck doesn’t realize is that in the midst of his rage, he left an important file at the scene of the accident. Jackson finds the file and proceeds to make Afleck’s life difficult by bribing him for its return.

One might call Changing Lanes a morality tale of sorts. On that basis, some might want to see it. There really is no sex or violence in the film, so one can’t object on those grounds. It does explore issues of corporate ethics and personal responsibility, and thus does tackle some very serious societal issues. But as always, Muslims should be on guard.