Movies/Scenes
Representing Crucifixion
- John Q (2002)
- This movie depicts the plight of a father (Denzel Washington) willing to lay down his life for his son and therefore should be cross-referenced under Abraham and Issac and Cross and Resurrection in the sense of the suffering of God through the evil of Jesus death. As a social commentary, it pricks our conscience about a society with medical services for those who can afford them and death for those who cannot. As redemptive drama, it also shows the metanoia or reversal of thinking in several characters who broker the power of the HMO medical system but in the end ultimately side with the powerlessness of John Q. and his son. (Dr. Barry A. Woodbridge, Orangethorpe Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Fullerton, CA)
- A Knight's
Tale (2001)
- William Thatcher is imprisoned for impersonating a knight. His enemy, Count Adhema, comes into his cells, taunts him, strikes him repeatedly. William offers no response. The scene ends with William kneeling on the floor, head bowed, with his arms outstretched, tied to a crosspiece. The shadows of the bars in the window high above create the illusion of stripes across his back. As purely visual imagery, this is the best crucifixion clip I've ever seen. (FUMC, Natchitoches, LA)
- Pearl Harbor
(2001)
- Danny and Rafe crash in China and are captured by Chinese soldiers. Daany, who is dying from wounds received in the crash, is tied up to a water buffalo's yoke - and thus assumes a crucifixion posture. His death a few minutes later comes after he gives Rafe the responsibility of being father to his unborn child - like John & Mary? (Margie Beck)
- Gladiator (2000)
- When Commodus is taunting Maximus, while Maximus is tied up in a crucifixtion -like pose. Then Commodus stabbs Maximus in the side, very symbolic of Matthews passion narrative. (Steve Ash, Memphis TN)
- End of Days
(1999)
- The movie (starring Arnold Schwarzenegger) has an apocalyptic theme that centers around the idea of Satan (Gabriel Byrne) attempting to take full control of the world. Near the end, after a countless barrage of gunfights and explosions, Arnold and the woman he is projecting enter a church, knowing that Satan is hot on their trail. The scene turns very powerful as Arnold, holding a huge gun in his arms, looks around the church and sees various images and statues. He throws his gun on the floor, closes his eyes, and opens his arms (crucifixion?) and prays, "Please help me." Without giving too much away, Satan is defeated -- not by violence -- but by "a more excellent way." (Rev. Duane Partin)
- The Green Mile
(1999)
- John Coffey's death - an innocent healer who prays for and forgives those who execute him
- The Haunting (1999)
- Nell's death. (See review at Hollywood Jesus.)
- Bicentennial Man (1999)
- Andrew (Robin Williams) is an android who develops the sensitivity, creativity and emotions of a human. Over a period of more than 150 years, he persues his dream of being recognized as human. His appeals are denied because, since he cannot die, he lacks the essential mortality of humanity. Finally, Andrew arranges for his body to deteriorate. He would rather die as a man than live forever as a machine. Andrew enbraces the "cross" of mortality, giving up his life in order to gain it. (FUMC, Natchitoches, LA)
- Wild Wild West (1999)
- Jim West's "death" in a crucifixion position. (see review at Hollywood Jesus)
- The Truman Show (1998)
- Truman on boat, knocked out in shape of cross (See review at Hollywood Jesus.)
- The Mask of Zorro (1998)
- See review at Hollywood Jesus
- Dark City (1998)
- John Murdoch's "death" on a time cross. (see review at Hollywood Jesus)
- Beloved (1998)
- see review at Hollywood Jesus
- Face Off (1997)
- see review at Hollywood Jesus
- The Fifth Element (1997)
- see review at Hollywood Jesus
- The Game (1997)
- see review at Hollywood Jesus
- Breaking the Waves
(1996)
- "The director of Breaking the Waves, Lars Von Trier, intentionally created a Christ figure in Bess. In a culture in which a shameful death - as in a 1st century crucifixion - has little meaning, he found a way to portray an innocent, intentionally enduring suffering and death, in order to save the one she loves." (Anita Milne, Leechburg, PA)
- Hamlet (1996)
- Hamlet is carried out as if he's been crucified by everyone's intrigue (M Henderson, Center Sandwich NH)
- Spitfire Grill (1996)
- see review at Hollywood Jesus
- Dead Man
Walking (1995)
- Poncelet is in shape of a cross when he dies, representing his ultimate redemption, and his attempt at a redemptive death.
- Braveheart (1995)
- Powder (1995)
- Toward the end of the film Powder is despised and rejected by his peers. He is stripped and "crucified." There are even little moments like the cross around the neck of one of his prosecutors being lifted up. (see review at Hollywood Jesus)
- Natural Born Killers
(1994)
- Wayne Gale is killed in a crucifix (or Buddhist monk's!) position. He is the representation of the media which caters to the public fascination of violence, which must be sacrificed before the cycle of violence can end.
- The Stand (1994)
- Drug addicts in the realm of the evil figures are crucified.
- The Game Show Crucifixion of the martyrs. (DVD pt 4, ch 17)
- Terminator 2: Judgment Day
(1991)
- In the closing scene, the Terminator (who in the previous film was the arch-enemy - links to Lucifer!), is lowered into a vat of molten metal, because this is the only way to destroy his otherwise indestructible micro-chip and the power of destruction that it contains. The destruction must be accomplished by his friends, as he is unable to "self-destruct" - powerful connotations for considering the Judas story. The knowledge of what it means to be human and to feel grief is also highlighted. The final image of his destruction is a hand (God to man? Crucifixion?) reaching up (also links back to the last image in the first film, where the hand which kept coming alive represented the power of evil.) The whole film has strong themes of salvation and the cost of salvation - for instance, is it justifiable to destroy a family in order to save the world? (David Hogg)
- Jesus of Montreal
(1989)
- The character Daniel is the director of a small, experimental production company dramatizing the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. But the controversial script he writes upsets the church which originally sponsored the show. One night police officers attempt to close the production. The audience protests. And in the scuffle that ensues, the cross on which Daniel is mounted (in dramatic imitation of the real crucifixion) falls over. The weight of the cross crushes Daniel, mortally wounding him. Later, Daniel dies in an over-crowded, under-staffed hospital. His donated body-parts help others to continue living. These donations act as a resurrection. (Robert Widdowson)
- RoboCop (1987)
- See review at Hollywood Jesus.
- Platoon
(1986)
- Elias was a Christ figure in the film. It seems to me that the scene even had him fall in the pieta stance (minus Mary). (Valerie Humphreys, Independence MO)
- Amadeus (1984)
- Salieri intentionally destroys the incarnation of God.
- Life of Brian (1979)
- As Brian is equipped with a cross and moved along the Via Dolorosa, he cannot get anyone to understand that he is not Jesus. In addition, he has been pardoned by the Roman governor, but the messenger sent to his jailers cannot deliver the news because he has a speech defect. On the cross, a committee makes a perfunctory attempt at rescuing him and then calls it a day. The scene evokes complete abandonment, and is eerily faithful to the isolation and abandonment of Jesus on his parallel cross. (Used for a judicatory staff that was experiencing extreme stress during restructuring.) (Matt McCaffrey)
- Cool
Hand Luke (1967)
- In the final scene, Dragline is reminiscing/preaching about Luke and the torn photograph of Luke with the two prostitutes is superimposed on the shot. As the camera pulls away further into the sky, the crossroad becomes a cross and Luke of course is imposed on it. I think this is even more interesting image of crucifixion than the scene following the egg eating episode. (Dean Cramer)
- Luke lies in shape of cross after eating the 50 eggs.
