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CORIOLANUS

"Manipulating the Populace"

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What You Need To Know:

CORIOLANUS is a brilliant modern-day rendition of a little known Shakespearean play. It’s directed by Ralph (“Rafe”) Fiennes (“Fine”), who stars as the title character. Set in the present day, it’s a story about a general in Rome who protects the city from an invading force led by General Aufidius. A friend gets General Coriolanus involved in politics, but two conniving senators set him up so that the mob banishes him from the city. Coriolanus teams up with Aufidius to conquer Rome, but his mother, wife, and son plead with him to spare the city. Coriolanus relents, but tragedy results.

The acting in CORIOLANUS is absolutely fantastic. Shakespearean language is delivered as if it was everyday speech. The direction is incredible. This is another BRAVEHEART. CORIOLANUS is a very moral movie about doing the right thing, valor, loyalty to your mother, respecting your family, and even faithfulness. It exposes the politics of envy and the problems inherent in democracy, which is dictatorship by the many. America’s Founding Fathers created a limited, mixed government, with liberty and justice for all. MOVIEGUIDE® commends CORIOLANUS, but be extremely careful about the bloody war violence in it.

Content:

(BBB, CC, PaPa, L, VVV, AA, D, M) Very strong moral worldview with some redemptive elements of a man who will sacrifice his life for doing the right thing, some Christian elements with a cross visible, some prayers, a tattoo of the Virgin Mary with Baby Jesus and some pagan elements with discussions of prayers to gods; two obscenities; very strong violence includes vicious and cruel battle scenes, point blank shootings, hand to have vicious combat, spurting blood, body parts, killed civilians, and gaping wounds; hugging and kissing of wife; alcohol to get drunk; smoking; and, treachery, political infighting, opportunism, dishonesty but all rebuked.

More Detail:

CORIOLANUS is a modern-day rendition of a little known Shakespearean play. Ralph [“Rafe] Fiennes does an incredibly brilliant job of bringing the play to life as if it were set today. Like JULIUS CAESAR, the play shows the fickleness of the public, the deceit of politicians, and the strength of character of a man of courage and valor. The story could be a current story of Occupy Wall Street or the uprisings in North Africa. The Shakespearean language becomes natural after a brief adjustment as the audience gets caught up in the movie.

The story opens in Rome with the fickle patricians rioting for food, although they look well fed. Into the heart of the riot steps General Caius Martius, later known as Coriolanus. Martius is tough as nails. He not only quiets the crowd but turns them back, except for one agitator. He’s sent to fight the invading barbarians, the Volscians led by General Aufidius, whose symbol is the cross.

In an incredibly intense battle, General Martius becomes the tip of the spear, charges into the heart of the enemy’s headquarters in Corioles, and comes face to face with Aufidius. Undeterred by being one against many, Martius challenges Aufidius to hand-to-hand combat. They are evenly matched in barbarism, cruelty, and purpose. Only a bomb going off separates them and saves their lives.

Having defeated Aufidius at Corioles, Martius is now known as Coriolanus. He returns to the Roman Senate as a victor and is asked to serve as one of the three Consuls ruling Rome by his friend, Menenius. Two opportunistic senators, however, spread the rumor that he’s proud, which is why he will not give a proper political address to the people. Actually, he’s just a general, not a politician. He is used to action, not speeches. He’s given everything to serve Rome, and just wants to continue to serve, but his mother is very ambitious and pushes him to become Consul.

The wicked senators turn the mob, who first vote for him, then vote to kill him. The senators have him banished from Rome, because they want to remove any obstacles to their quest for power.

Coriolanus finds and joins Aufidius. Menenius tells the Senate they’ve made a tactical, critical error, leaving themselves defenseless, but they’ve become fat and spoiled and don’t understand the enemy. With Coriolanus at the head of his army, Aufidius marches on Rome. Coriolanus’ mother, wife, and son beg him to make peace. This results in tragedy, however, a tragedy so similar to current events that it speaks to the politics of envy raging around the world today.

The acting in CORIOLANUS is absolutely fantastic. Shakespearean language is delivered as if it was everyday speech. The direction is incredible. Like BRAVEHEART, you never lose track of where the focus should be in the movie.

This is a very moral movie about doing the right thing, valor, loyalty to your mother, respecting your family, and even faithfulness. That said, it is extremely violent, but it’s not the porno violence of KILL BILL. It’s the violence of battle, which is absolutely bone-chilling. There’s no sexual hanky-panky in CORIOLANUS. There’s only two obscene terms, and they are minor, Shakespearean terms. There is alcohol use to get drunk, but it’s not commended. There’s suicide, but that’s the way of a pagan world.

In the final analysis, CORIOLANUS is a great movie, but please be extremely cautious about the violence. Its wonderful moral principles may help you understand the fickleness of the mob. America’s Founding Fathers understood that democracy is mobocracy, or dictatorship by the many, and no better than tyranny. The evil totalitarian communists and leftists of Russia called their system a democracy. What the forefathers designed was a system of limited, mixed government with checks and balances. After the Constitution was written in 1787, Ben Franklin was asked, “What have you given us?” “A republic, sir,” he replied, “if you can keep it.”

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.