The Nativity Story
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Movie Reviews of The Nativity Story
Movie Review: Well paced movie about Mary, Joseph & Christ--early days...
Summary: 5 Stars
Mary is a wonderful figure in the Bible who suffers and is the mother of Christ. She travels with him from childhood to adulthood--to say nothing of birth. She accedes to the Lord God and bears the child that is born by the Holy Spirit.
With these basic facts down, we learn of a love between Joseph and Mary, chaste and true. We find a kindness in Joseph, and there are miracles in the movie that are handled tastefully. These are registered with this viewer as meaningful and inspiring. Nothing cheap or trashy in this film.
The actress playing Mary does an excellent job throughout the movie portraying a woman of serenity, and a woman of humility. She is a quiet Mary, this Mary of the movie. A young Mary, too. This fits my perceptions of her, helping to make the movie more believable.
Mary accepts God. She says, "Let it be unto me..." and those words are enough. A statement born of, and honest to, the Bible. She shows mature obedience, for though a woman she is really the age of a girl. She shows a quietly deep faith.
Afterall, we have a movie of faith, evil, spiritual journey, and great story. Many threats come the couple's way, and their cruelty is chilling.
The settings are well done, and the garb of the characters convincing enough to set the scenes. We see how simply the people live, their poverty and need which they work to satisfy, and in their relationship with God find themselves satisfied with the cultural and religious parts of their devoted Hebrew practices. Joseph and Mary are good people, decent, and we learn special people whom angels visit to help them along their way in God's plan for mankind.
This movie is for all ages. I recommend it as a taste of Mary's life and an introduction to the birth of Christ--miraculous!
--Peter Menkin, Easter 2007 ...
Movie Review: The joyful mysteries of salvation
Summary: 5 Stars
In this film from 2006, we have the opportunity to meditate upon the mysteries of salvation. We are grateful to the director, Catherine Hardwicke, for giving us a beautiful film which shows us the Holy Family in its vulnerable humanity -- menaced by the civil authorities of the day, subject to the gossiping malice of their fellow townsfolk, awed by the great mystery that has involved them and embraced them.
I had read a review of this film, before seeing it, which faulted the portrayal of Our Lady as "pouty, sullen, and frowning." Ms Castle-Hughes gives us a very human Blessed Virgin Mary, but a Mary in which there are glimpses of the boldness appropriate to the Queen of Heaven, as Catholics would denominate her -- "incomparably more glorious than the seraphim" but incontrovertibly, one of us, in all things except sin. Oscar Isaac, who portrays St Joseph, is quite convincing in his role as protector of Our Lady and her Divine Son.
I was led to expect (from the review that I had read) a deficit of reverence before the sacred mysteries of salvation. This is, I am relieved to report, not the case. "The Nativity Story" is indeed reverent before the grandeur of the great events of Christian history -- although we do find Alexander Siddig's Angel Gabriel a bit "earthy" for an angel! -- and it is also unflinching in its depiction of what life was like for oppressed Jews in the occupied Holy Land.
The phrase with which I would sum up "The Nativity Story" is: Unstereotyped piety. It is earthy in a way that, for this viewer, serves to accentuate the holiness of the participants in this history. The makers of the film have afforded us an opportunity to meditate upon these joyful and solemn mysteries; and, for that, we are most grateful. Recommended.
Movie Review: What Christmas is all about!
Summary: 5 Stars
Well what I can say about this movie, nothing except it was wonderful and the way it was documented was exceptional. Although I must admit I do on occasions enjoy some of the other movies that are less focused on the true meaning of Christmas. However this particular Nativity Story I would defiantely watch again it displays the true meaning of Christmas. I think all families should watch this movie together maybe it would put everyone, including the children back into perspective of the true meaning of Christmas. In todays society most children believe Christmas is all about Santa Claus, shopping, gifts, wrapping and not to mention food. I have felt for a long time that Christmas is to commercialized, even when people do not have the money they add to their debt. I think this movie did a pretty good job demonstrating the need for everyone, not just families to join together. Ofcourse everybody has seen all sorts of Christmas movies and to me they all seem to follow the same commercialized storyline. I would have to admit I myself thought it would closely resemble most movies today but I was wrong on this one which I have been before. I am actually glad I was wrong because it brought me back to the real reasons we celebrate the Christmas holiday. I was really touched by this movie it displayed the struggles that Mary and Joseph went through. I still have a hard time, as do others Im sure, understanding Marys pregnancy. Although this movie was serious there were some areas it was funny such as the three wise men and their humor. However, Im not 100% sure but I do not believe there were three wise men were known in the Bible but what their three gifts were.
Movie Review: 5 Stars for Jesus
Summary: 5 Stars
We all know the traditional story of how Jesus was born from a virgin in a stable when there was no room at the inn. We all know how Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem on a Donkey so they could pay their taxes and be counted for Cesar's census. Anytime a Biblical story is put on the big screen a Christian always wonders, "how true to God's word is this movie going to be?" This was not the case with Catherine Hardwicke's Nativity Story.
This movie really gave you a different look at the entire situation surrounding Jesus' birth and what a miracle it truly was. The Bible really doesn't give you much from Joseph and this movie really pulled him out and brought his emotions and feelings to the forefront. It really played on the families' emotions and what they thought about the pregnancy. It showed a more realistic side to the Christmas story. It showed that Jesus was born from human people who do get angry and upset, something you really don't think about when you see nativity scenes or Christmas cards with Joseph leading a donkey carrying Mary who is nine months pregnant.
You read and read the story over and over throughout the years and there are parts that you really don't ever think about or really consider until you see them come alive before your eyes on the big screen. It was truly amazing to see the story of how Jesus' birth and life unfolded and made me feel a lot better to know that there was a little bit of drama surrounding His birth as well. It makes us all feel a little more normal, I am sure. This movie was very true and Biblicaly accurate and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to know the real Christmas story.
Movie Review: Precious! Thank you, Ms. Hardwicke
Summary: 5 Stars
Oh, it's the most beautiful movie. Before I knew it, I've seen it 3 times, and I can't wait for the DVD to come out. It is my new favorite movie of all time!
I love the portrayal of these very real, godly people, having to deal with the amazing fact that age-old prophecy is coming true--in their time, for real, but not quite as they imagined it would happen. The story is told with such sensitivity, such striking clarity, I pray every person that feels left out of the things of God would have a chance to see for him- or herself the great love with which God sent His Son "for all mankind."
Joseph is played gloriously. I came away wondering about the ancestry of this man who was chosen by God to raise His Son. Since I have been reading Ezra and Nehemiah, I thought I'd compare the names in Matthew 1 of people that returned from the captivity with the names listed in those 2 books, and lo and behold, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel is shown there to be a man of great character and leadership qualities... Searching for more, I found this amazing surprise in Haggai 2:21-23:
"'Tell Zerubbabel, governor of Judah that I will shake the heavens and the earth. I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms... On that day,' declares the LORD Almighty, 'I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,' declares the LORD, 'and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,' declares the LORD."
I just literally feel like bursting with joy about this movie. I wish I can share it with the whole world. Thank you to everyone involved in making it: you have truly given me a precious gift.