Not Approved

Risen

Follows the epic biblical story of the Resurrection, as told through the eyes of a non-believer. Clavius, a powerful Roman military tribune, and his aide Lucius, are tasked with solving the mystery of what happened to Jesus in the weeks following the crucifixion, in order to disprove the rumors of a risen Messiah and prevent an uprising in Jerusalem.
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Negative Rating
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SexLanguageViolenceDrugsNudityOther
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Positive Rating
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FaithIntegrity

Dove Review

“Risen” captures the powerful influence of Christ and his followers on a Roman military tribune and is symbolic of the life-changing salvation experience converting the Gentile as well as the Jew. Joseph Fiennes is outstanding as Clavius, the Roman tribune, who is battle weary and weary of life, period. He carries out Pilate’s whims (played by Peter Firth) and has little patience with the Jewish Sanhedrin. Clavius is given the task of finding the hiding disciples, and he does locate Bartholomew, played humorously and charmingly by Joe Manjón. When Clavius demands that Bartholomew spills his knowledge as to the whereabouts of the other disciples, Bartholomew replies, “They are…everywhere!” and he laughs with delight.

The film contains a few head-scratching moments: Barabbas, who was released when Christ was condemned, is speared in the head and killed before Christ even dies on the cross. But, for the most part, the film does a good job in showing that Clavius just can’t explain away some things about Christ, his followers, and that empty tomb.

We are awarding it our “Faith-Based” Seal with a Caution for Violence. Its message is powerful, and Fiennes does a good job in keeping us engaged. The viewer can always tell by a simple expression on his face that he has questions going on in his mind about this Christ, questions the other Romans cannot explain. What he learns about this humble carpenter will literally change his life.

Dove Rating Details

0
Faith

None

0
Integrity

Several bloody battle and crucifixion scenes, including sword fights, spearing, rocks thrown at people; arrows hitting people, and people shown dead on the battlefield; man stabbed in head; man on cross with spear graphically thrust in his side; the sound of men's legs being broken; corpses with holes and blood; discolored corpses; blood on men's faces and other parts of their bodies; man's leg is slashed with a sword and blood is visible; blood on man's arm; slashing sounds; blood on loin cloths and on burial cloth; holes in man's hand and side; stitches on dead man's face, and a coin is placed in his mouth; a man is struck with a stick.

1
Sex

Innuendos about a woman who is portrayed as having been a prostitute.

1
Language

H (as a biblical place)-1; Fanatics-1

4
Violence

Several bloody battle and crucifixion scenes, including sword fights, spearing, rocks thrown at people; arrows hitting people, and people shown dead on the battlefield; man stabbed in head; man on cross with spear graphically thrust in his side; the sound of men's legs being broken; corpses with holes and blood; discolored corpses; blood on men's faces and other parts of their bodies; man's leg is slashed with a sword and blood is visible; blood on man's arm; slashing sounds; blood on loin cloths and on burial cloth; holes in man's hand and side; stitches on dead man's face, and a coin is placed in his mouth; a man is struck with a stick.

1
Drugs

The drinking of wine in several scenes.

2
Nudity

Shirtless men and men in loin cloths; men bathe in pool.

2
Other

A Roman prays to a small god; the mention of other gods; tension between characters; man spits a few times.

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