Just reading the reviews for The Nativity Story (starring Keisha Castle-Hughes, pictured) makes me feel guilty. Which is saying something, considering I’m sitting here thinking that I have no real interest in watching a Jesus movie unless he’s old enough to ogle. But back to the reviews… "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned," writes The South Florida Sun-Sentinel‘s Phoebe Flowers. "It has been three weeks since I saw The Nativity Story, and I still think it is so far from divine as to in fact be abominably bad."
While this seems to be the consensus (Las Vegas Weekly‘s Josh Bell calls it "an effective pitch for Christianity as the dullest religion ever," while Slant Magazine’s Ed Gonzalez refers to it as "the most boring story ever told"), a few critics are singing director Catherine Hardwicke’s praises. The Hollywood Reporter‘s Kirk Honeycutt testifies: "Hollywood is in a born-again mode with its rediscovery that Biblical epics can bring manna at the boxoffice. In New Line Cinema’s The Nativity Story we have the first smart, artistically and spiritually satisfying film to emerge from this trend. The familiar story… unfolds in a scrupulously accurate historical adventure story that depicts the world of Jesus’ birth with an exciting you-are-there verisimilitude."
His use of "exciting you-are-there verisimilitude" strikes me as somewhat odd, but nothing is quite as deliciously offbeat as Village Voice critic Scott Foundas’ take: "Hardwicke, who began her career as a production designer, has a wonderful eye for detail — possibly too wonderful, for there are so many shots of Nazareth villagers making artisanal cheeses that the movie may become uncomfortable for the lactose intolerant." Good to know.
Wow, the critics really crucified this flick (sorry; it was just too easy).
Christians will like this movie.
Everyone else, shut up and stay away. Go see Saw III again or something.
Did anyone really expect this movie to be good? It WILL make a ton of money, just like Passion of the Christ (an equally poor film). Why? Not becuase they are good films but because there is a huge audience for Christian-themed movies. I personally am hoping that more bible based movies will be released. My wish list includes: Paul’s first letter to the Romans, The Book of Numbers, The Gospel according to Peter, and The Book of Revelations. In all seriousness though, isn’t one of the fundemental tenents of Christianity that one should not worship false idols? Seems to me that forking out $9 to see a movie that someonne is making millions off of is the modern definition of worshiping a false idol.
I’m surprised EW hasn’t mentioned the fact that poor Keisha Castle-Hughes got pregnant! It’s a terribly ironic and sad situation.
Ugh…I can’t STAND these people that are complaining about the bad reviews. It’s getting bad reviews from film critics because it’s BORING!!! Even the previews look boring. If you want to hear reviews based on its religious merits, go talk about it at a church group. But, if you want to find out whether it’s a good movie or not, come here and find out that critics are completely BORED by the thing.
So, I’m one Christian that WON’T be seeing this one. I like religious movies, but this looks like a Religion Channel made-for-TV snorefest. Watch the claymation “Little Drummer Boy” instead.
Dre couldn’t be more off in his assessment. A huge audience for Christian-themed movies? Was this the same audience that steered away from “The Gospel of John” (starring Henry Ian Cusick as Jesus… before getting cast as Desmond on _Lost_). Was this the same audience that steered away from the St. Therese movie earlier this year? Or “One Night With the King”, the Esther-movie with movie appearances by movie titans Peter O’Toole and Omar Sharif? Was this the same series that will not watch another “Left Behind” movie unless it is released direct-to-video, if that?
Oh yeah, there is no “Gospel according to Peter”–unless you want to include a Gnostic Gospel, which means that the Christian establishment of its day had already proven it was a false document. But if you want to re-rent _Stigmata_, and then read the Gnostic Gospels for yourself (and find out how anti-woman it really was), go ahead.
The word of mouth is going to make or break this one. I predict it will hit a little less than $100 million, as it has the entire genre to itself right now.
NCgal… What Keisha Castle-Hughes does in her private life is her own business. People make mistakes. But I’m happy she’s keeping the child. She’s already proven to be a better parent than some other celebrities out there (I’m talking to you, Britney!)
Give yourself the gift of a meaningful Christmas.
I went to see this last night, opening night. As a recently baptized Christian, I will tell you that this was a most welcomed, meaningful and revolutionary movie for me. It centers around the mother of Our Lord, Jesus Christ.
A superbly crafted and thoughtfully directed movie, it deserves a high rating. It is an unprecedented tribute to a woman who has been relegated to backdrop scenes. Finally, Mary gets to have a movie about her spiritual journey. In my own life, Mary was in the far distant background, giving her fleeting thought if I came across a Nativity scene at Christmas or if I heard the Beatles song, “Let It Be”:
“When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom, let it be. And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me, speaking words of wisdom, let it be.”
It was made for a certain niche — the ~200 million or so Americans who consider themselves Christians. Two years ago, I was not in this niche, being “spiritual, but not religious.” Long story, short, it was Mary who pointed me to her Son, lead me on my own spiritual journey and caused a revolution in my heart, mind and soul.
Those who take the time to learn about her and her role do not, as I was mislead to believe, worship her. They simply respect and venerate her. Leading folks to her Son, as I learned, is her job. In this movie, her character is doing exactly that again for me and viewers who are called to see it.
Ever since she lead me home, Christmas has taken on such meaning as I never imagined. This year, I’ve started the season — called the Advent season — with a faith-based movie that allowed me to slide right into it in a beautiful, gentle and do I dare say, beatific way.
This movie experience is an exquisite gift for the heart and soul. Moreover, it is a feast for the eyes. I went past the inanimate objects of Nativity displays to a visually rich and “fleshed” out Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, shepherds, Magi and stable animals. The director of the movie, Catherine Hardwick, referred to a line in the script: “…the greatest of kings born in the most humble of places.”
“Power,” she says, “is not a physical power. It’s not riches, it’s not money, it’s not control of governments and nations. It’s a deeper power, spirituality.”
At the end of the movie, the audience burst out in spontaneous applause. For each of us, Christmas is not at all about holiday parties, frenzied shopping and the trappings and physical accouterments. Now, THAT’S revolutionary.
When this comes out in DVD, it will be a part of our yearly Christmas tradition, reminding us what it is all about.
“Merry Christ-mas!” I hope you will make it meaningfully merrier by giving yourself this movie experience of the life of Mary.
Haven’t seen the movie… but my goodness, “old enough to ogle”?? Jesus? Come on, that’s not OK, and that’s not why he’d ever be played by Justin Timberlake or something. You are a sick, really disturbed human being, Ms. Bierly.
Excuse me, in the comment below I meant to say, that’s why He wouldn’t be played by someone like JT. He’s not meant to be ogled. Your freakish statement got me flustered and I made an error.
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