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

Relevant Issues

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 Fiennes … Caius Martius Coriolanus Jessica Chastain … Virgilia Gerard Butler … Tullus Aufidius Brian Cox … Menenius James Nesbitt … Tribune Sicinius Vanessa Redgrave … Volumnia See all » Lubna Azabal … First Citizen—Tamora Ashraf Barhom … Second Citizen—Cassius Dragan Micanovic … Titus Lartius Nikki Amuka-Bird … TV Pundit Slavko Stimac … Volsce Lieutenant Kieron Jecchinis … TV War Correspondent John Kani … General Cominius David Yelland … TV Pundit Mona Hammond … Jamaican Woman Slobodan Ninkovic … War Vet Svetislav Goncic … 4th Senator Paul Jesson … Tribune Brutus Radoslav Milenkovic … Volsce Politician Dusan Janicijevic … Old Man in Corioles Zoran Cica … Citizen Andreja Maricic … 3rd Senator Marko Stojanovic … Citizen Elizabeta Djorevska … Maid Jon Snow … TV Anchorman Tamara Krcunovic … Citizen Ivan Djordjevic … Young Roman Soldier Danijela Vranjes … Citizen Harry Fenn … Young Martius Slobodan Pavelkic … Young Man in Market Olivera Viktorovic … Citizen Dragoljub Vojnov … Shopkeeper Zoran Miljkovic … Citizen Bora Nenic … Cleaner in Corridor Radomir Nikolic … 1st Volsce Soldier Mirko Pantelic … Camp Barber Milan Perovic … Citizen Nicolas Isia … Citizen Miodrag Milovanov … 2nd Senator Dragan Durkovic … 1st Senator Zoran Pajic … 2nd Volsce Soldier Uros Zdjelar … Young Senator Nenad Ristic … Citizen Zu Yu Hua … Citizen Milos Dabic … Citizen Marija Mogbolu … Citizen
Director	Ralph Fiennes
Producer	Hermetof Pictures Magna Films Icon Entertainment International See all » Lipsync Productions BBC Films Kalkronkie Atlantic Swiss Productions Artemis Films Magnolia Mae Films Synchronistic Pictures Lonely Dragon Carolyn Marks Blackwood … executive producer Ralph Fiennes … producer Christopher Figg … executive producer Lisa Jordan … senior post producer Christine Langan … executive producer John Logan … producer Marko Miskovic … executive producer Zivojin Petrovic … associate producer Gabrielle Tana … producer Julia Taylor-Stanley … producer Colin Vaines … producer Kevan Van Thompson … co-producer Andjelija Vlaisavljevic … line producer Robert Whitehouse … executive producer
Distributor	The Weinstein Company

“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.

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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