" Good Violence in the Movies" by Scott Shiffer

I recently saw "The Pianist" for the first time.  It was deeply moving, the performances were astounding, and the violence was heart wrenching.  That movie is what sparked the interest to write this article.  

In high school I read a book called "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad.  I read it again in college.  The most outspoken theme of the book seemed to be man's inhumanity against man.  The book was later turned into a film titled "Apocalypse Now."  The movie shows this theme in the setting of the Vietnam War and in quite a lot of detail.  Ever since reading the words of Joseph Conrad, that theme has been in my head.  But then, how could it not be there?  All one must do to observe man's inhumanity is simply turn on the nightly news.

A couple of years ago Alice Cooper released a CD titled "Dragontown."  Dragontown was a synonym for Hell and each song dealt with reasons why Fallen Humanity belongs in that place of torment.  One song in particular was called "Somewhere in the Jungle."  This song makes a profound statement in reference to the African Genocide that began in the early 1990s and is still going on today.  It says "animals show their teeth then run away in disbelief."  The imagery of this song brings to mind a lion (maybe one like the great human killer portrayed in the film "The Ghost in the Darkness" [1996]), that humans should be afraid of, but when the creature sees what humans are doing to one another, it simply turns away deciding not to harm a single person upon seeing what humans are doing to one another.  Even the lions do not act so wickedly against their own kind.  In fact animals who do eat there young often times act with more compassion than humans do.

So what does all of this have to do with good violence?  Sometimes the truth is shocking, sometimes seeing evil pushing humanity closer to the good and closer to God.  When this is the intention of the creator of violent artwork, it may actually serve as a soul making theodicy if you will.  It may cause someone to become a better person, and even draw them to the Lord.  This is not always the case and this article is not an attempt to justify watching senseless violence for pleasures sake.  Anytime that violence is glorified in such a way that it makes killing someone look like a sport to be enjoyed (especially when the audience is supposed to root for the killer), then there is something twisted in the movie.

At other times, however, violence portrays things that cut us to the quick.  Things that cause us to ask how humans could ever act that way towards one another.  As long as people act inhumanly towards one another, there will be the need to show them what they are doing so as to motivate them to stop.

Examples of this include in recent time: The Diary of Anne Frank, Hotel Rwanda, Saving Private Ryan, The Passion, The Pianist, and Tears of the Sun, to name a few.

What I intend to do now is simply provide you with a key to knowing when violence is good and when it is not good.  This list comes from my own observations and ideas, but I hope it will help you as you decide which movies to see this Spring that could potentially have good or bad violence in them.  One final not that I would like to make before you read the list is that just because violence can be good, it does not mean that it is for everybody.  Some people do not desire to see any violence and some may be too emotionally sensitive to even stomach good violence.  No one should be made to watch something he or she is uncomfortable with, and no one should be condemned for not wanting to see something that he or she does not desire to see.  (For example: If someone does not feel like he or she could stomach the violence in "The Passion" by Mel Gibson, then that person should not feel condemned for refusing to see a portrayal the crucifixion, that is the individuals prerogative).

Now to the list.  Part one contains criteria by which violence may be considered good.  Part two contains criteria by which violence may be seen as evil.

Part 1: Good Violence
1. Violence that is true to history. (ex. holocaust)
2. Violence that adds something to the plot. (ex. someone's death brings about a significant character change in the lead role)
3. Violence that is educational in nature. (ex. World War II story)
4. Violence that is the result of virtue. (ex. someone acts violently in order to save someone else and bring about a greater good)
5. Violence that clearly portrays the act for what it is. (This violence does not glorify the act and may even cause you to condemn it more strongly.)

Part 2: Evil Violence
1. Violence that adds nothing of significance to the plot.
2. Violence that is unnecessarily grotesque and offensive. (A bit subjective I know)
3. Violence that glorifies evil and encourages rebellion against justice, wisdom, etc. (ex. encourages teenagers to join gangs and kill teachers)
4. Violence that causes the Holy Spirit to convict you of its vile nature.
5. Violence that is clearly demonic in nature. (ex. glorifies the devil)

I hope this has been helpful to you.  If you have any questions or comments, please let me know.