The Star of Bethlehem
by Stephen Vidano
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Frederick A. LarsonDirector: Stephen Vidano
Brand: WELLSPRING/GENIUS
Composer: Julie Davison Larson
Editor: Allan Spiers
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 65 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-10-23
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Genius Entertainment
Movie Reviews of The Star of Bethlehem
Movie Review: The Star of Bethlehem
Summary: 5 Stars
Star of Bethlehem
The first time I had the opportunity to watch this movie during the Christmas season of 2007. I was thumbing through the stations late night / early morning when I came across it on the Trinity Broadcast Network. Had I not caught this movie by channel surfing, I probably would not have watched it. Knowing that just seeing the title of the movie, during the Christmas season in which it was, could have easily been assumed to be just another children's show, animated at best, telling the story of Jesus Christ and His unusual miraculous birth. Shows in which I had viewed many times over the years as being a children's pastor at my local church. I was truly pulled in greatly into his well put together documentary of the Star of Bethlehem, not just any star but the one true star that signified the birth of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.
The movie begins as the narrator of this documentary opens up. First with his credentials, the reason he made the documentary, what set him upon its path and his research credits. Produced by Steven McEveety of the Passion of the Christ, and narrated / presented by an (at the time), unknown attorney, Rick Larson. Not knowing much of Steven and his works left little judgments from me on this piece of work with a few exceptions such as visuals and sound quality, which fall into his area as producer.
As for Rick, I liked the fact that right up front he brought to light his credentials. None in astrology, of which he uses for his theorized basis of his presentation. Other than what he had learned in researching the star or stars as his theory unfolds. But an attorney none the less. Trained in the art of methodology, to assist in bringing in the facts and weighing all the evidence for its actual value.
Even though he had mentioned the fact that he was a Christian still had not affected my initial judgment of him, being a Christian myself had made me more of a skeptic. Primarily because the term Christian can cause a person to thing things like: honest, good morals, non-lying, non-cheating and over all just a good person. None of which you would you would assign to the personality and live style of an attorney.
He had started looking into this several years ago around Christmas time, while he and his daughter were setting up the outside traditional Christmas yard decorations. When they got to the star, it made him think: "what did it look like?" " Did it twinkle?" etc.. Not wanting to misrepresent himself or the reference of the star. So he researched it to get it right, thus beginning the thoughts behind his theory. Seemed kind of analytical, but then again I (we) have also been accused of the analytical parts of life too. As he went on with his presentation he backed it up with facts of evidence just an attorney would want to do to win his / her case. The better the evidence, the better chance of winning
He laid out his groundwork foundation of his theory from a scientific astrologist point of view using the Bible to sort the value of the evidence as with other literary evidence of the time, such as the writings of Josephus and others. Using a scientific approach to see how the Bible lined up with the science. Gleaning from the mathematical proofs of people such as Galio, Kepler and Newton as his guide, he went from there, searching the skies for the Star of Bethlehem, using today's technology to the advantage and ease of work as it was intended. During his presentation he first formed the basis of the facts of astronomical science in which that all stars are like a large clock encompassing the earth, that they with the knowledge of Kepler and the refinements made by Newton, you can know precisely where each star will be at a certain point in time, as can be seen from any location on earth. In knowing the science, not only can you look forward to their placement in time but you can also look back in time. In this he did for his theory. He searched the Bible for its evidence of the star's location, time and description, primarily from the book of Matthew. Finding nine proofs from the Bible, that must be met to be valid evidence of the star. Then, using historical literature and documentation from others, outside the Bible, as tools to validate the Biblical documentation of his evidence. Compiling them to decipher the evidence, for its times, location and descriptions, he laid out his theory.
What little music played throughout the presentation was composed by his wife and seemed to have a sound of royalty yet mysterious undertones. Her work fit in well with his presentation as He walked through evidence of his theory. With the use of PowerPoint slides and visuals of the computer animated program (A Starry Night) of the stars, placing them (the stars) in their place, according to the evidence gathered, at their precise locations in time according to the gathered evidence, he told his story. Continually building upon the evidence outlining his theory with more valid evidence.
Not being an astrologist it left a lot of questions for me as he leapt from one piece of evidence to another. The movie also has a website that also shows much of the same slides as were shown in the presentation, to include much of the written script outlining his theory. The real neat part was that he not only showed the star but also connected some other cool revealing things present in stars in the heavens during the period from Christ's miraculous conception to obviously His birth, but also what was happening in the sky at the time of His death as well. As Rick put it, it was a very awesome celestial dance in sky, in which God had created from the beginning of time. Knowing that from the moment God flung the stars into the sky, during His creation week that he would have to send a savior at a set point in time as well as know the set time of the saviors' death.
Concluding the movie with a powerful impacting statement of a question such as "My God, My God, what have you done?" The impact of the movie, as reality of the puzzled pieces were put in their place, left tears streaking down from the corners of my eyes, in a state of awe and wonder at Gods forethought and might, while disguising the history and future of His created universe in the stars, traveling throughout the heavens from the beginning of time as he created it. Recalling the final words of Jesus as he died upon the Cross, crying out to God, as Jesus looked into the heavens as well, "My god, My God, Why have your forsaken me?"
In comparing the movie with other earth and scientific type documentaries, such as global warming flick, done by former vice president nominee Al Gore. The science was at least truthful and not something that the evidence was designed around the theory to make it seem plausible. Besides in all honesty the global warming hoopla is a real hard sell. For example this winter in the South East, Midwest and the upper northern territories in the US, not to mention the Canadian country being even further north and always cold in the winter. Even our summers in reality are no warmer than they truly had been over the course of keeping records and over a average period of time.
It is not often a movie, especially a narrated one, can bring tears to my eyes. Not due to poor quality or quantity, but because it was allowed to come in and align thoughts in the back of your mind that were, until now, uncompleted thoughts of bewilderment. Giving complete meaning to what you didn't know.
Summary of The Star of Bethlehem
THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM FASCINATES. For millennia believers scoffers and the curious have wondered at the Biblical account of the Star. The Bible recounts unusual or even impossible astronomical events at Christ's birth. For many doubters the account of the Star is easily dismissed as myth. For many believers it's a mystery accepted on faith. But what happens if we combine current historical scholarship astronomical fact and an open mind? Judge for yourself...System Requirements:Run Time: 65 minutes Genre: DOCUMENTARIES/MISC. UPC: 796019806763 Manufacturer No: 80676Similar DVD Movies
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