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For Greater Glory
- Review Date: May 30, 2012
- R
- Genre: Drama
- 2012
Common Sense Media says
Epic tale about religious freedom gets very bloody.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that For Greater Glory, which sheds light on one of the bloodiest moments in Mexican history, doesn't shy away from depicting war-related carnage: Children and the elderly are beaten and shot point blank; countless others are seen with nooses tied around their necks and then hung from ceilings and telegraph lines, with their corpses shown motionless for many scenes. And that's just the beginning. That said, aside from some drinking, there's not much else of note, content-wise -- there's no sex, hardly any swearing, and plenty of acts of heroism. Bottom line? It's an inspiring story, but one that's sometimes hard to stomach.
What's the story?
Between 1926 and 1929, Mexican president Plutarco Calles (Rubén Blades) waged a war against Roman Catholic priests and bishops and their flock, shutting down their churches and sending soldiers to hunt, maim, and kill anyone who dared defy him. Tens of thousands of citizens -- including a young boy named Jose (Mauricio Kuri), who developed a strong faith thanks to a kind-hearted priest (Peter O'Toole) -- banded together to defend their religious freedom in what is now known as the Cristero War. It was a gory and heart-wrenching battle, leaving thousands of Mexicans dead, the countryside littered with their bodies. Leading the charge is a retired army general (Andy Garcia) who confronts his own questions about God as he fights to restore everyone's right to believe.
Is it any good?
Sweeping in its scope and epic in its storytelling, FOR GREATER GLORY makes no apologies for aiming high. It has an important tale to tell, and it will tell it with as much gravity as it can muster. And it's this earnestness that protects the drama from some of its weaknesses -- clunky dialogue, for starters -- and turns it into a shockingly affecting, thought-provoking watch. Bring tissues, because some of the characters, especially Jose, will break your heart.
But while it's understandable that the filmmakers wanted to make clear how brutal this moment in history was, there's an overdose of violence. It's almost enough to cause post-traumatic stress disorder. No one is spared, not the child at the heart of the story, and not viewers, either, who must suffer through one assault after another. Is all the carnage necessary? It's highly debatable. Had they edited some of it out, For Greater Glory would have been a leaner, meaner, and still affecting revelation.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about how the Mexicans defied the government to honor their faith, even when threatened with imprisonment or death. Why do you think they did that? Teens: Have you ever fought hard for something you believed in?
Talk about For Greater Glory's many brutally violent scenes. How does this kind of violence compare to what you might see in a horror movie? Which has greater impact?
Which characters would you consider role models? Why?
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Parent
June 4, 2012
AGE
Loved!!
It makes you appreciate you right to have faith and the freedom to be able to pray & believe in what you want when you want.
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Parent
June 2, 2012
AGE
Better than Avatar
I think this is the best film I have ever seen. It is as if a history book was brought into life. That period in history actually happened and the violence makes people see how bad things really were.
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Adult
June 5, 2012
AGE
The freedom to see For Greater Glory
Even my 10 y o granddaughter described it as breathtaking, sad, and tragic.
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Parent
June 2, 2012
AGE
Vivo Christo Rey!
This is an amazing story about the Cristero martyrs and the struggle against evil and tyranny with both violent and non-violent resistance. It's also a story about conversion of the cynical and the bravery of those who believe that this world is not what we live for.
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Adult
June 4, 2012
AGE
For Greater Glory 2012
The Cristero War (1926-29) also known as the La Cristiada, was an uprising and counter-revolution against the Mexican government. The rebellion was set off by the persecution of Catholics and a ban on their public religious practices. More specifically, the strict enforcement of the anti-clerical provisions by atheist and former President of Mexico Plutarco Elias Calles through the Mexican Constitution of 1917 along with the further expansion of anti-clerical laws exacerbated the conflicts The rebellion is particularly known for the women and children who assisted the rebels in smuggling guns and ammunition in secret and certain priests who were tortured and murdered in public, as later canonized by Pope John Paul II.
After a period of peaceful resistance by select citizens, a number of skirmishes took place in 1926 while the violent rebellions began on 2 January 1927,[6] with the rebels who called themselves Cristeros, invoking the name of Jesus Christ under the title of "Cristo Rey" or Christ the King. The rebellion eventually ended by diplomatic means brokered by the United States Ambassador to Mexico, Dwight Whitney Morrow, with the financial relief and assistance by the Knights of Columbus.
The rebellions attracted the attention of Pope Pius XI, who issued a series of papal encyclicals between 1925 and 1937. On 11 December 1925 the pontiff issued Quas Primas, instituting the Feast of Christ the King. On November 18, 1926, he issued Iniquis Afflictisque (On the Persecution of the Church in Mexico) denouncing the violent anti-clerical persecution in Mexico. Despite the government's promise to the Church, it continued the persecution of the Church and the people. In response, Pope Pius issued Acerba Animi on September, 29, 1932[7] [8]. As the persecution continued he issued Firmissimam Constantiam and expressed his opposition to the "impious and corruptive school" while granting papal support for Catholic Action in Mexico for the third consecutive time with the use of plenary indulgence on 28 March 193 Cristiada (also titled For Greater Glory) is a 2012 drama film and historic epic directed by Dean Wright and written by Michael Love, based on the true story of the Cristero War (1926-29), a rebellion which arose out of the Mexican government's persecution of Catholics in the 1920s.Although filmed in Mexico, it is in English.The film is the directorial debut for Wright, veteran visual effects supervisor on films including The Two Towers (2002) and The Return of the King (2003). Cristiada, 2011
Directed By: Dean Wright Starring: Eva Longoria Parker, Andy Garcia, Oscar Isaac, Nestor Carbonell, Catalina Sandino Moreno and Peter O’Toole Plot Synopsis: A chronicle of the Cristeros War (1926-1929),which was touched off by a rebellion against the Mexican government’s attempt to secularize the country. Filming Locations: Durango, Mexico
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Parent
June 3, 2012
AGE
A Wake-Up Call???
This movie shows us the reality of what can happen when a people are pushed over the brink of being mistreated by their goverment. The Cristeros War mirrors our own earlier American revolution and may be a portend to what may happen again in America, due the attacks on our Constitutional Republic by the current federal government administration.
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Parent
June 17, 2012
AGE
Impactfull
Great story with much violence. This was a war against good and evil, right and wrong. There was nothing pretty about it. Should movie makers make movies that are accurate or movies that "just make you feel good"? How boring and dishonest would that be....
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Parent
July 5, 2012
AGE
Great Movie about Religious Freedom!
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Teen, 13 years old
July 24, 2012
AGE
Great! Excellent movie for faithful teens and adults
This movie is excellent for any Catholic or Hispanic teen or adult. The movie shows how the Catholic Faith stood up to a president who was too harsh and misued the position of President. Even though the violence is extreme and cussing in Spanish is rare, this movie is great. Any Catholic and/or Hispanic child would love this movie.
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Teen, 17 years old
September 28, 2012
AGE
good idea, poor execution
this film is poorly scripted and shot. even a body count the size of the war itself doesn't seem to do much to hold interest. and that is really sad, because the movie had good potential.
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| Topics: | history |
| Studio: | Arc Entertainment |
| Director: | Dean Wright |
| Cast: | Andy Garcia, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Eva Longoria |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 143 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | June 1, 2012 |
| DVD release date: | September 11, 2012 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | war violence and some disturbing images |
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