Movies/Scenes
Representing Vengeance
- Changing
Lanes (2002)
- Changing Lanes contains themes of revenge, the evil inside each of us, the need for forgiveness & conversion. It tells the tale of 2 ordinary men (Ben Affleck, a Wall Street lawyer & Samuel L. Jackson, a recovering alcoholic struggling to keep his family together) who enter a vortex of retaliation because of a car accident between the 2 of them. It is an exceptionally complex & interesting portrayal of how any of us might be tempted into extreme measures. Conversion only takes place when each of the men sees the other as a person, moving from extreme self-centeredness into the reality of the other. The movie is replete with symbolism (Christian & other..light & dark, lots of rain & water) and has William Hurt as S. Jackson's AA sponsor as the voice of his conscience. He tells Gibson (Jackson's character) that he has violated the human covenant & later, tells him that chaos (not alcohol) is his drug of choice. (Deborah G. Seles)
- Stir of Echoes (1999)
- Samantha haunts Tom and Jake until her death is avenged.
- The Confession (1999)
- Fertig kills those who didn't care - who contributed to the death of his son - in order to force them to care.
- Double Jeopardy (1999)
- Libby's revenge on her husband is portrayed as justice.
- Amistad (1997)
- When he is freed, Cinque attacks those who have enslaved him on the ship.
- A Time to Kill (1996)
- Jake Tyler Brigance: And until we can see each other as equals, justice is never going to be even-handed. It will remain nothing more than a reflection of our own prejudices.
- Tombstone
(1993)
- When I lecture on Old Testament Theology, and on the
hardening of Pharaoh's heart, I use the scene from
TOMBSTONE when Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell) asks Doc
Holliday (Val Kilmer) "What makes a man like Ringo do the things he
does?" Holliday answers "A man like Ringo has got a great empty hole
running right through the middle of him...he can
never kill enough, or steal enough, or inflict
enough pain to ever fill it." Wyatt asks "What does he want?"
Doc answers "Revenge." To Wyatt's question "For what?" Doc answers
"...bein' born." A
powerful picture of the interaction of choices and
inheritance in the making of an evil person.
(Lawson Stone--Professor of Old Testament, Asbury Theological Seminary)
- When I lecture on Old Testament Theology, and on the
hardening of Pharaoh's heart, I use the scene from
TOMBSTONE when Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell) asks Doc
Holliday (Val Kilmer) "What makes a man like Ringo do the things he
does?" Holliday answers "A man like Ringo has got a great empty hole
running right through the middle of him...he can
never kill enough, or steal enough, or inflict
enough pain to ever fill it." Wyatt asks "What does he want?"
Doc answers "Revenge." To Wyatt's question "For what?" Doc answers
"...bein' born." A
powerful picture of the interaction of choices and
inheritance in the making of an evil person.
- Cape Fear (1991)
- I suppose there are many ways to look at what Cape Fear represents, but I think it is a chilling reminder of the danger of humans taking atonement into their own hands or strictly interpreting atonement from a juridical point of view--as if in a courtroom. DeNiro's twisted character in the movie (can't remember his name now) has studied the Bible and tattooed his chest with Scripture quotes about justice. He becomes increasingly deranged as he tries to enact his form of atoning, becoming an unforgiving and vengeful judge. It is interesting that the crisis is resolved in a storm at sea, in what might be loosely seen as baptismal imagery. (submitted by Marcia Wakeland)
- Taxi Driver (1976)
- Travis Bickel brings vengeance as "justice" in order to "free" Iris (and those she represents) from the prison he perceives.
- The Godfather (1972)
- Vito Corleone: You talk about vengeance. Is vengeance going to bring your son back to you? Or my boy to me?
