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 | | Why does Plugged In review R-rated movies? Shouldn't the rating alone say everything any parent, youth leader or teen needs to know?
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 | | According to our poll of Plugged In Online readers,
70 percent watch R-rated movies. Additionally, since R films (such as the American Pie, Scream and Matrix trilogies) are increasingly
targeting teens, our analysis arms parents with two things. First, they have a
clearer understanding of what Hollywood is aiming at their kids—and what their
children’s less discerning peers are probably consuming. The other advantage to
having a content breakdown of R movies is the ability to articulate why a particular
film fails to meet the family standard. Beyond observing a “label,” this reinforces moral
boundaries in adolescents. A California mom described this benefit in a recent
letter. She wrote, “Last weekend my son, age 16, saw a very disgusting film at
a friend’s home. Only after that did I find your Web site. This created a very
meaningful two-hour discussion with him on values and media choices. However,
the next weekend he asked to go see another R-rated film. We said "no."
My son then asked, “How about if I check it out on that Web site Mom likes?” My
husband, smiling, said, “Sure!” A few minutes later my son emerged from the office
and said, “You guys wouldn’t want me to see it.”
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| | Why don’t you post your film reviews a few days (or a week) in advance of movies' premieres?
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| | Because of our location in Colorado Springs (a city not even in the Top-150 U.S. markets) we don't get a chance to see every film before it arrives in theaters on Friday mornings. But even when we do have opportunity to screen a movie earlier, a professional code of ethics (called an "embargo") requires that we wait until the day of or the evening before its release to post our review.
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| | Could you put together a recommended movie list? Or assign ratings (1-5 or A-F) to each film so that it's easier to find the good ones, and weed out the bad?
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| | As we traverse the highways of pop culture and teach the rules of the road to our kids, it’s easy to think of discernment only in terms of the yellow road signs—warnings of things to beware. But that’s just one side of it. Media discernment isn’t limited to identifying danger zones or adhering to a list of “thou shalt nots.” And that’s why we don’t apply a system of numbers, stars, letters or symbols to our reviews. Conversely, true media discernment isn’t defined by the much friendlier—but equally constricting—tabulations of “thou shalts.” If followed carelessly, such a black-and-white list could cause some people to stumble in their journey to maturity in the area of discernment. Put simply, Plugged In never actively (or tacitly) endorses movies, albums, TV shows or any other kind of entertainment. Our reviews are provided as a service to families to assist them as they set standards for acceptable entertainment in their homes.
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| | You always criticize music for mentioning sex, and movies for showing it. But God created sex for us to enjoy. So why are you so derogatory, even when the scenario involves married people?
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| | God did create sex. It’s not immoral. It’s not dirty. Because it was His idea, we can be assured it is “very good” (Gen. 1:31). Our Heavenly Father is not embarrassed by the subject. Rather, He tackles sexuality from Genesis to Revelation, offering safeguards and protective boundaries while highlighting the exhilaration and intimacy it offers. For proof, just read Song of Solomon or Proverbs 5:18-19. The point here is not, “Is sex nasty?” but rather, “Should entertainment glamorize it?” Sex should never be a spectator sport, and entertainment makes it exactly that. As for the married issue, if wedded bliss is the sole criteria for justifying the creation of sexual entertainment, doesn’t this open the floodgates for songs verbalizing all manner of explicit erotica provided the featured couple wears wedding bands? Or for movies featuring married stars (or married characters, for that matter) to portray sexual acts with impunity? Marriage makes sex innocent and clean for the couple having sex, not for everyone watching them or listening to their tale.
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| | Where should I look for help and advice for my family when it comes to keeping us all safe online?
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| | Focus on the Family's "Family Safety" page is a good place to start.
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| | Do you review "low-profile" entertainment (things like art films, old movies, non-Top-40 music and low-rated cable TV shows)?
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| | Because of time and staff limitations, we concentrate on reviewing entertainment that impacts the majority of our readers. In selecting which movies, artists and shows to review, we pay attention to sales charts and viewership rankings, but we also carefully evaluate how each is affecting youth culture and families.
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| | I’m a very strong Christian totally against the lyrics and profanity used in most gangsta rap songs. But I love the music. Your reviews don’t mention that there are many times “raw” and “clean” versions of albums. Is there a big difference?
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| | The so-called purifying process used on “clean” CDs is usually nothing more than the bleeping (or overdubbing) of some—and we mean some—of the most egregious obscenities, as well as words like “murder,” “drive-by,” “bullets” and extreme references to drug use. Although record companies claim to have come clean, they simply aren’t trustworthy. It’s a half-hearted attempt to circumvent the policies of stores, including Wal-Mart, that refuse to sell stickered discs. Frankly, if censors did their job to the satisfaction of concerned families, the pared-down alternatives to most CDs with parental advisories would be about half their original length. And all that bleeping would sound like someone tapping out Morse Code. Even then, listeners could easily fill in the blanks. A teen named Alicia wrote us, “Some of my friends have gotten the edited version of Eminem and they think it’s okay. But it’s not like you don’t know what’s being cut out.”
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| | In your reviews you always mention profanity as a negative element. Why?
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| | The Bible has much to say about “taming the tongue,” starting with James 3. But
let's start with the fact that obscene language is inherently symptomatic of a
bigger problem. It’s a heart issue (Matt. 12:33-37). God cares about what comes
out of our mouths because He created us in His image. He is holy and our love
for our Creator shines brightest when we honor Him with every aspect of our lives.
That includes our thoughts, actions, attitudes and speech. After explaining how
we are His “sons and daughters,” God tells us in 2 Corinthians 7:1 to purify ourselves
“from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of
reverence for God.” In other words we abstain from using obscenities and profanities
not just because it “contaminates,” but because it grieves God. Colossians 3:8
specifically addresses vulgar speech (“But now you must rid yourselves of all
such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language from your
lips”). Also, we grieve the Holy Spirit when we violate Ephesians 4:29 and 5:4
which plainly teach, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths“
and “Among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality or of any kind
of impurity.” The Apostle Paul proceeds to list a few things that qualify, including
“obscenity, foolish talk [and] coarse joking.” The application to entertainment
should be obvious. If we’re listening to music slapped with a parental advisory
sticker or watching movies that gush profanity, those words become part of our
mental vocabulary.
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| | Do you have any articles or know of good Scripture passages that can help hone my family's media discernment skills?
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 | | Steven Isaac
Online Editor
A background in printing and radio broadcasting began preparing Steven for his role editing and managing this Web site. He's served Plugged In magazine (now as a senior editor) and Plugged In Online readers for more than a decade.
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 | | Bob Smithouser
Print Editor
After 15 years of service, Bob (who has a background in marketing and teaching) edits Plugged In magazine, writes reviews for Plugged In Online and regularly contributes to Focus' teen magazines Breakaway, Brio and Brio & Beyond.
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 | | Adam R. Holz
Senior Associate Editor
Following a long stint as an associate editor at NavPress' Discipleship Journal and consulting editor for Current Thoughts and Trends, Adam now oversees our music research and reviews, and manages our Culture Clips feature.
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 | | Bob Hoose
Associate Editor
After 25 years of work touring, directing, writing and producing for Christian theater and radio (most recently for Adventures in Odyssey), Bob joined the Plugged In staff to spearhead our effort to focus more heavily on video games.
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 | | Paul Asay
Associate Editor
Paul has spent the bulk of his journalistic career working for newspapers, most recently as the religion writer at The Gazette in Colorado Springs. He brings with him a special interest in the unexpected ways faith and media intersect.
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 | | Meredith Whitmore
Associate Editor
Meredith has had two careers: one as a writer/editor for both Focus on the Family and The Navigators, and one as an English teacher trekking farflung corners of Europe, Africa and Asia. She now rejoins Focus, but with souvenirs—including new eyes with which to better view American culture.
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 | | Lindy (Beam) Keffer
Contributing Editor
Formerly an assistant editor here at Plugged In, Lindy transitioned to working with college students at the Focus on the Family Institute. But she stays involved with Plugged In Online by regularly contributing movie reviews.
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 | | Kevin C. Simpson
Graphic Designer
Cutting his design teeth at Scripture Press/Cook Communications, Kevin brings years of ministry and freelance experience to both the print and online publications of Plugged In. He also analyzes video games for our reviews.
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 | | Mauri Mays
Staff Assistant
Mauri's experience spans schools, churches and the Colorado National Guard. Beyond keeping the Plugged In team organized, she keeps an eye on the e-mails you write to us and assists with research.
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 | | Bob Waliszewski
Director
Fifteen years after he began his Plugged In tenure, Bob (a former youth pastor) is Focus on the Family's Director of Media and Culture. His weekly "Plugged In Movie Review" radio feature is heard
on hundreds of U.S. radio stations.
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Former Plugged In Reviewers,
Analysts and Editors
Marcus Yoars
Associate Editor
Jeremy Lees
Associate Editor
Tom Neven
Features Editor
Christopher Lyon
Contributing Editor
Jamie (Maxfield) Mobley
Assistant Editor
Rhonda Handlon
Assistant Editor
Loren Eaton
Associate Editor
Jonathan Bartha
Analyst
Cari Stone
Analyst
Jesse Florea
Matt Kaufman
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