The Nativity Story
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Movie Reviews of The Nativity Story
Movie Review: WELL DONE, INTELLIGENT CHRISTIAN FILM
Summary: 5 Stars
Almost everything I heard about this film was wrong. I went expecting mediocrity, and what I got was what I would consider to be one of the finest examples of an intelligent Christian film yet. This is the first movie about the Bible that I am aware of that actually gives the story a Middle Eastern setting. Everything else ever done either caters to Catholicism, making it far too Western in look and feel; or is woefully void of any knowledge of Eastern culture whatsoever. This film makes the viewer feel he really is in the land where these events took place, and that these really are the people that made them happen.
Catherine Hardwicke (direction), Mike Rich (screenplay) and company have done their homework well. Almost every scene is an authentic and powerful picture (kudos to the art department): from Zechariah's revelation in the Holy of Holies, to the Persian wise men in their observatory, to the plotting of the two Herods in their palace, to continual confrontations with the Roman soldiers in the streets, to Mary and Joseph passing through Jerusalem on their way to Bethlehem, to examples of the humble pastoral existence of the Nazarene peasants. Every scene seems like that must have been the way it looked.
One of my few complaints is with the cinematography. I don't know the name of the technique, but it is a high-contrast, blue-black effect that I assume is supposed to make the film seem more documentary. In Gladiator, it helped create a dark, ominous mood for the Roman sections. Except for the scenes in Jerusalem, no such mood was required in this film. By sucking all the warm colors out of a scene, it turned potentially beautiful shots into something cold and photo journalistic. I found it hard to look at, and thought it took away from the overall beauty of the film.
Rich's screenplay is excellent, not only for it's faithfulness to the Biblical text, but for the intelligent way he filled in the gaps with meaningful dialogue that revealed the thoughts and feelings of the characters. I had never thought about how it would have appeared for Mary to return from Elizabeth's, pregnant - either for her or Joseph. There was great shame to both of them, and this was handled well in the script. I like the way Mary and Joseph talk about what it will be like to raise such a child, and how scared they are. I also like the way the writer and director showed Joseph's character by having him buy back the donkey for Mary's father; how he went without food on their journey so he'd have enough for Mary and the donkey; how he protected Mary from pickpockets in Jerusalem; and how he saved her life in the river. Those are the types of details that flesh out a character and make him seem real.
The acting is no less powerful than the visuals and script. My favorite actor was Oscar Isaac (Guerrilla) as Joseph - although everyone was superb, including Keisha Castle-Hughes (Whale Rider) as Mary and Shohreh Aghdashloo (House of Sand and Fog) as Elizabeth. It's the little things that make a performance memorable. I especially liked the fortune-teller in the Jerusalem marketplace that stopped and spoke with Mary and Joseph, and the shepherd on the hill that they stopped and spoke with. I thought Herod was sufficiently menacing. I could feel the evil in the Jerusalem Temple area, and the hypocrisy in the priests as they sacrificed the bull. There was almost no one that wasn't 100% believable to me.
This is very intelligent filmmaking - not brilliant, but intelligent; and, except for the lack of color in the cinematography as I noted, a very enjoyable film. But it is also a powerful story, and does not drag as some have said. It is a bit on the dark side - as is life - and therefore I would not recommend it for the little kiddies. But for older kids (perhaps ten and up) and adults, it will be a memorable experience, and hopefully a tradition for many years to come.
Waitsel Smith
Movie Review: Thanks be to God for HIS indescribable gift, Jesus Christ!
Summary: 5 Stars
Thanks be to God for HIS indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15
It is because of His wonderful indescribable gift that we have LIFE today!
This is my view of the Nativity Story! Scriptures are so real and true. And I must say THANK YOU to God for sending HIS ONE AND ONLY BEGOTTEN SON upon this HOLY NIGHT! If it were not for Jesus being born and being the perfect sacrifice, I would not be the woman I am today. I absolutely LOVED this movie! The struggle that Joesph & Mary faced was very difficult in those days and we don't look upon them and think of what they went through. However, this movie will bring it to your attention to stop and think of what struggles they faced and the life they lived to lead to this miraculous birth! It broke my heart at the end when the wise men visited the manger and presented the gifts. The gifts were exactly what God wanted them to be. However, when the last wise man presented the myrrh and said it was for the perfect sacrifice, I just stopped to think about how the Son of God was purposedly born for the sacrifice of all mankind's sins! Wow! We are so very fortunate and we are so careless to even take notice and do as He wants us to do for our lives that He created us for!
Two things that I would like to point out about this movie. First, was the breed of donkey that Mary was riding to Jerusalem, if you look at the mane of the donkey to the tail you will notice a very long black marking and then on both the right and left of the donkey's front legs are to black markings which make a cross. The second is that the movie added in where the wise men met Joesph & Mary at the manger on the night of the birth of Christ. However, if you read scripture the wise men are not visiting the child until he, Jesus, is 2 yeaers of age.
[Matthew Ch.2 Vs.16 NLT
(16 Herod was furious when he realized that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise men's report of the star's first appearance. 17 Herod's brutal action fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:
18 "A cry was heard in Ramah--
weeping and great mourning.
Rachel weeps for her children,
refusing to be comforted,
for they are dead."[f]
Matthew Ch.2 Vs.16 KJV
16Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying,
18In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. )]
This is always told in the stories of the Birth of Christ. But if you go directly from scripture the wise men did not visit until 2 years after the child, Jesus Christ, was born. The shephards were there on the night of the birth of Christ. Many think of them as very unimoprtant but GOd didn't, He sent forth a host of Angels to inform them of the birth of the messiah!
This is a movie that will be treasured year after year. However, we must acknowledge our children and others of the importance of scriptures, with the wise men arriving 2 years later.
I give this movie 5 stars because of the interpretation of the scriptures were dead on accept for the one part with the wise men and I have illustrated that point here with scriptures. It is a wonderful movie! As long as we hide the scriptures in our hearts we will always know the truth and be aware of the edits of scripture in any productions.
Movie Review: A Devotion
Summary: 5 Stars
What a beautiful movie. My wife and I went to see it last night and had a wonderful conversation afterwards about our favorite moments and areas that could have been improved upon. While the movie isn't perfect, all the little mistakes are easily forgiven. It does move along slowly, but there are moments of such austere simplicity it is worth it. We held hands a lot during this movie. It is a very intimate movie. Because the story of the film is so integral to who we are, seeing it portrayed was deeply moving. Not very many movies move one's soul, so I have to really commend this movie for having that effect on me.
Critics who are belittling this movie for being too slowly paced or not inventive enough just don't get it. This is our FAITH! It is something so very deeply personal to us, and it is a thing of beauty to see it so faithfully presented! It is great to have a movie to watch about our religion that wasn't made 2 or more decades ago and does not have cheesy special effects or hammy acting. Watching this film helps you to meditate on the mystery of the Incarnation, to enter more deeply and personally into the mystery. It is a devotion.
I imagine that people of other faiths could certainly appreciate the movie as well as gain insights into Christianity, but that they would leave theatres just thinking the movie was OK. And that is OK. I don't expect everyone to love this movie. There are a lot of Christians out here, so I'm thankful that Catherine Hardwicke and Mike Rich crafted a movie to uplift us.
I'd like to finish by sharing some reflections my wife and I shared last night about our favorite moments. If you haven't seen the film yet, you might wish to stop reading here.
The casting and the performances deserve to be singled out. I have fallen even more in love with Shoreh Aghdashloo. The moment her Elizabeth devoutly exclaims "Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb!" we knew the movie was in good hands. I loved her relationship with Mary as a caring, spiritual aunt. Oscar Isaac as Joseph was excellent- a strong masculine example of service and care, literally leading his family. I loved when he and Mary are discussing their fears of being parents. When we saw Keisha Castle-Hughes in Whale Rider, we hoped Hollywood would continue to find good roles for her. Her Mary is not flashy or bold, she is humble. What a daring choice for her to play Mary as she actually would have been-humble! Fantastic work. When she asked the shepherd, "What is your gift?" we both felt like she was asking us as well. We also appreciated that they captured what a risk it was for Mary to say, "Let it be done unto me according to your word."
The birth of John the Baptist was hilarious-I actually could not prevent myself for laughing out loud for a good 30 seconds. That baby is HUGE! He's bigger than my 7 month old son! No wonder Elizabeth was screaming so much! But the birth of Christ was very tender; my eyes started to tear up. We thought they did an excellent job of conveying that God became man. I loved when Joseph held his foster son up and you see his little bottom. God became man with a little bottom! It was a point of profound joyful realization for me. I know that sounds silly, but I'm saying it anyway.
If you're still reading, it really is a beautiful story, very well made. I think I have used the word beautiful 20 times. I highly encourage Christian families to try to support this movie and share with your children what this season is really all about. Let us pass the faith on to the next generation.
Movie Review: A Devotion
Summary: 5 Stars
What a beautiful movie. My wife and I went to see it last night and had a wonderful conversation afterwards about our favorite moments and areas that could have been improved upon. While the movie isn't perfect, all the little mistakes are easily forgiven. It does move along slowly, but there are moments of such austere simplicity it is worth it. We held hands a lot during this movie. It is a very intimate movie. Because the story of the film is so integral to who we are, seeing it portrayed was deeply moving. Not very many movies move one's soul, so I have to really commend this movie for having that effect on me.
Critics who are belittling this movie for being too slowly paced or not inventive enough just don't get it. This is our FAITH! It is something so very deeply personal to us, and it is a thing of beauty to see it so faithfully presented! It is great to have a movie to watch about our religion that wasn't made 2 or more decades ago and does not have cheesy special effects or hammy acting. Watching this film helps you to meditate on the mystery of the Incarnation, to enter more deeply and personally into the mystery. It is a devotion.
I imagine that people of other faiths could certainly appreciate the movie as well as gain insights into Christianity, but that they would leave theatres just thinking the movie was OK. And that is OK. I don't expect everyone to love this movie. There are a lot of Christians out here, so I'm thankful that Catherine Hardwicke and Mike Rich crafted a movie to uplift us.
I'd like to finish by sharing some reflections my wife and I shared last night about our favorite moments. If you haven't seen the film yet, you might wish to stop reading here.
The casting and the performances deserve to be singled out. I have fallen even more in love with Shoreh Aghdashloo. The moment her Elizabeth devoutly exclaims "Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb!" we knew the movie was in good hands. I loved her relationship with Mary as a caring, spiritual aunt. Oscar Isaac as Joseph was excellent- a strong masculine example of service and care, literally leading his family. I loved when he and Mary are discussing their fears of being parents. When we saw Keisha Castle-Hughes in Whale Rider, we hoped Hollywood would continue to find good roles for her. Her Mary is not flashy or bold, she is humble. What a daring choice for her to play Mary as she actually would have been-humble! Fantastic work. When she asked the shepherd, "What is your gift?" we both felt like she was asking us as well. We also appreciated that they captured what a risk it was for Mary to say, "Let it be done unto me according to your word."
The birth of John the Baptist was hilarious-I actually could not prevent myself for laughing out loud for a good 30 seconds. That baby is HUGE! He's bigger than my 7 month old son! No wonder Elizabeth was screaming so much! But the birth of Christ was very tender; my eyes started to tear up. We thought they did an excellent job of conveying that God became man. I loved when Joseph held his foster son up and you see his little bottom. God became man with a little bottom! It was a point of profound joyful realization for me. I know that sounds silly, but I'm saying it anyway.
If you're still reading, it really is a beautiful story, very well made. I think I have used the word beautiful 20 times. I highly encourage Christian families to try to support this movie and share with your children what this season is really all about. Let us pass the faith on to the next generation.
Movie Review: Overlooked Classic Film, Best Movie Ever About the Birth of Jesus!
Summary: 5 Stars
You can't go wrong with buying this DVD because you get BOTH the FULL screen AND the WIDESCREEN versions! Even though there are no other Bonus Features (no Director's Commentary, no Deleted Scenes, etc.), I think getting BOTH screen versions for the price of one DVD is an incredible Bonus Feature!
The movie is not perfect, it is a little slow at times, but can you name a better film about the birth of Jesus Christ? I can't even think of another DVD movie that is entirely about the birth of Jesus, though many might include it as part of Christ's overall life story.
The film is VERY accurate to the Bible, especially when compared to any other Bible films from standard, non-religious movie studios! Some Bible students might nitpick about certain Bible verses not being quoted verbatim, or incompletely, but I am just very pleased by how much the filmmakers got RIGHT compared to the Bible passages! They show village children learning Old Testament Nursery rhymes, and they do nothing major to contradict the Bible story, and the best thing is that there are NO subplots that distract from the Bible story, everything fills-in the story better.
Half of this movie is straight out of Scripture, and the rest is thoughtfully filled in, IN CHARACTER, with terrific costumes, sets and scenery! The filmmakers paid great attention to Bible research, too, concerning customs and daily living routines for all of the characters, too!
Joseph steals the show as Mary's humble suitor, yet he is also very resourceful and responsible. The film starts out with his unrequited love for Mary, especially after Mary's dad arranges their marriage without Mary's input, but Joseph eventually wins her over (and the audience, as well).
King Herod and his slimy Son are perfect, classic movie villains! It is very interesting the way the writers spread their influence throughout the film, for dramatic tension. Well done!
The Three Wise Men are pretty funny and provide some humor sprinkled throughout the movie.
Mary is perhaps the film's greatest weakness, as played by Keisha Castle-Hughes. She is too quiet, serious, and reserved throughout most of the film. I guess it is better than her playing Mary as too loud and irreverent, but she is in most of the scenes and is usually just solemnly observing everybody else.
The off camera media gossip about the irony of this teenage actress portraying Mary, while getting pregnant by her teenage boyfriend outside of marriage, before the film was released, seemed to get around the mainstream media more than any other normal mention of this movie, and may have contributed to the films lackluster box office revenue at the theaters among Christian moviegoers who didn't appreciate the connection. I think THE NATIVITY STORY will eventually become a holiday classic, though. Films like IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE were disappointing when first released, but eventually become classics later.
The official book, THE NATIVITY STORY -- A NOVEL by Angela Hunt and Mike Rich, is also recommended by me because it fills in tons more information about the customs and daily living routines of the characters! THE NATIVITY STORY -- THE GIFT BOOK is not so good, once you own the DVD, because there is not much text per page, and mostly just some photos shot on the set, but nothing that you don't already see while watching the film, it doesn't give you much more for the money.