Today’s Prayer Focus
MOVIE REVIEW

Coriolanus

MPA Rating: R-Rating (MPA) for some bloody violence.

Reviewed by: Dan Willis
CONTRIBUTOR

Moral Rating: Extremely Offensive
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience: Adults
Genre: Thriller Drama Adaptation
Length: 2 hr. 2 min.
Year of Release: 2011
USA Release: December 2, 2011 (limited—NYC/LA)
January 20, 2012 (9 theaters)
DVD: May 29, 2012
Copyright, The Weinstein Companyclick photos to ENLARGE Copyright, The Weinstein Company Copyright, The Weinstein Company Copyright, The Weinstein Company Copyright, The Weinstein Company Copyright, The Weinstein Company Copyright, The Weinstein Company Copyright, The Weinstein Company Copyright, The Weinstein Company Copyright, The Weinstein Company
Relevant Issues
Copyright, The Weinstein Company

contemporary version of William Shakespeare play

Coriolanus, the Shakespeare play

Roman leader, Caius Marcius Coriolanus

overly ambitious mother

anger and hatred

REVENGE, love replaces hatred—former Israeli soldier and an ex-PLO fighter prove peace is possible-but only with Jesus Christ

sin and the Bible

the fall of man to sin and depravity

God’s Story: From Creation to Eternity (on-line, illustrated story and streaming video)

FILM VIOLENCE—How does viewing violence in movies affect families? Answer

Featuring Ralph FiennesCaius Martius Coriolanus
Jessica ChastainVirgilia
Gerard ButlerTullus Aufidius
Brian CoxMenenius
James Nesbitt … Tribune Sicinius
Vanessa RedgraveVolumnia
See all »
Director Ralph Fiennes
Producer Hermetof Pictures
Magna Films
Icon Entertainment International
See all »
Distributor

“Nature teaches beasts to know their friends.”

A story based in ancient Rome surrounding the tale of mighty General. When corruption in the matters of state turn the once mighty General into public enemy #1, Coriolanus is rejected by all those around him and cast out by his beloved Rome. Coriolanus, consumed by anger and a drive for revenge, decides the only course of action to take is to side with his hated enemy and lead an army against Rome.

The morality issues here are long and wide ranging. The violence is extreme, the dialog is inappropriate and vulgar, at several points. Sexuality is present, and a pagan undertone and motif that revenge is only human are all a part of the central theme.

The only point of merit for any Christian watching this film is to see what a society looks like when it is without God. Anger, hatred and violence rule and consume both sides of the conflict, and everyone’s personal desires outweigh the needs of their brothers.

The film is well shot, with a superb cast. However, the film’s violence, tone, theme and language all make it for only those who can stomach them. With so little to be gained in the way of a message, unless you are doing a study on total depravity, feel free to give this one a pass.

Violence: Extreme / Profanity: Minor / Sex/Nudity: Moderate

REVENGE: love can replace hatred, but only with Jesus Christ—read the true story of a former Israeli soldier and an ex-PLO fighter

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.


Viewer CommentsSend your comments
Positive
Positive—“Coriolanus” is stunning, it’s the Shakespearian tragedy in modern setting. I liked it, but not so sure about recommending, entirely in classic English, like, “My gracious silence, hail! Wouldst thou have laugh’d had I come coffin’d home, that weep’st to see me triumph? Ay, my dear, Such eyes the widows in Corioli wear, And mothers that lack sons.” Great actors, great story, but something is lacking…
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 4
Cyril Thomas, age 32 (United Kingdom)
Negative
Negative—I was extremely disappointed in this movie. Plot was ok, but the violence took away from it. Yes great actors in it, but who they were playing was not ok! I didn’t even watch the whole movie because it was so offensive. They were talking about “other gods” and few moral values to none in the part that I saw. My husband was watching this, and he wasn’t that offended, maybe it depends on your point of view. As a mother of three, at the very least I would put the babies to bed for this one.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Very Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 4
Sarah, age 25 (USA)

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