MOVIES: The Nativity Story

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From what I have heard, the main problems are with Sts. Anne and Joachim–Mary’s parents–and how they are portrayed.
From the trailer, I can understand what you’re saying. Her mother is portrayed as well, being angry…thinking her daughter broke her betrothal vow…not understanding (I got this only from the trailer - I have to see the movie to actually understand everything.)

And I don’t make presumptions about the Pope - supposedly he was going to be unable to attend. I read an article that claimed this (and another article that said it was possible he would be there). Besides, he is preparing for his trip to Turkey. That’s probably why he wasn’t able to attend.
 
I heard an audio trailer of the movie and it convinced me to stay away from the movie.

When using Luke 1:28 to reflect the annunciation, the film uses the Protestant interpretation of: “highly favored;” rather then the Catholic interpretation of “Hail, full of Grace.” To some that might seem like a small and petty reason not see a film, yet there is a huge difference between Mary being highly favored by God, versus Mary being literally full of Grace, because if Mary was NOT full of Grace, then she probably sinned, and she was not quite the person the Church sees in Our Lady. So, that single point is enough for me to know this is a Protestant movei, and Protestants simply do not have a correct view of Mary.
I find it interesting that you are quick to make an assumption based on one audio clip. Especially since “highly favoured” is in the new American bible which is used by the Vatican web site. Also in the Jerusalem Bible, so at least on that score they are following scripture. And if they continue to do so as they say on the web site then it shouldn’t be a case of it been a catholic or protestant movie. Like others have said the problem would be if they start adding.

I don’t know if the film will be shown here in Ireland but I hope it will be as I would be very interested in seeing it. Also I think it might help people remember what Christmas is all about.
 
Umm… not trying to be rude, but I think Apocalypto is about the Aztecs, the Mayas didn’t do human sacrifices, the Aztecs and Toltecs did… and Mexico is not South nor Central America. It is part of NORTH AMERICA just as the US and Canada.
Well, no offense taken, my geography was off; but it’s still an area of history that doesn’t interest me.
 
Well, no offense taken, my geography was off; but it’s still an area of history that doesn’t interest me.
I’m sorry too, I didn’t mean to be offensive. But hey, history CAN be boring. I guess for me it’s a wonderful thing since I wanted to be an archeologist for the longest time in my life… but I studied Psychology… anywho, you watch what you want because of your interests not because others tell you to… good luck!
 
The actress who has played the virgin Mary in the movie is 16 years old and has announced to be pregnant by her 19 year old boyfriend, with whom she has a relationship for 3 years now :eek: . That’s why she wasn’t present at the première in the Vatican. She’s onbviously not living according to the teachings of the church herself. What a nice “Holy Mother” :rolleyes: !

Link in Dutch (from the news):
vrtnieuws.net/nieuwsnet_master/versie2/nieuws/details/061007Keisha/index.shtml

Link in English:
nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10404883
 
I find it interesting that you are quick to make an assumption based on one audio clip. Especially since “highly favoured” is in the new American bible which is used by the Vatican web site. Also in the Jerusalem Bible, so at least on that score they are following scripture. And if they continue to do so as they say on the web site then it shouldn’t be a case of it been a catholic or protestant movie. Like others have said the problem would be if they start adding.

I don’t know if the film will be shown here in Ireland but I hope it will be as I would be very interested in seeing it. Also I think it might help people remember what Christmas is all about.
From my studies it is clear that “highly favored” is an incorrect interpretation of that passage. Also, do not lean too heavily on so-called approved versions of the Bible because the NAB contains many errors that the Vatican knows about and yet it is still approved.
 
I just got back from a private screening of the movie. I thought it to be a well done and beautiful movie.

The only questionable thing I saw was the labor pains, but it is only speculation of whether or not she had no labor pains or less labor pain than other women (as Genesis says increase the pain not that there was no pain previously) but anyways I thought the birth scene was quite beautiful.

Nothing else in the movie would suggest that Mary was not Immaculate.

This movie may have been made by Protestants, I don’t know, but it seems to me a Catholic made it, there are some very Catholic things in the movie.

And I am a person who goes to the movies with a skeptic eye especially when it is about my faith.
 
So in other words I want to tell everybody to go and see the movie, I highly recommend it. It is an awesome way to begin Advent.

I loved the movie! It was up there with The Passion of the Christ.

Also at the end of the movie they included the Magnificat prayer in a very beautiful way!

I had tears of devotion in watching this movie and I must say that the movie was very reverently done.

By the way, I can’t wait to see The Apocalypto as well, but why not see both. I plan on seeing The Nativity again, just to show my financial support of solid movies.

There is so much profanity in our media and society, it is nice to see goodness and I love to support goodness.
 
You know—I bet you somewhere on some protestant forum there is a Nativity Movie thread and someone is saying they don’t want to see it because it is too “catholic”

Remember this movie is trying to capture not just the catholic audiance but also the protestant and secular audiance. It doesn’t look like there is anything in the movie that is scandalous. Something is wrong if you get caught up on some perceived wrong against Mary that you cannot see that the movie is pointing you towards Christ. Isnt’ that what Mary does? Point us towards Christ?
 
From my studies it is clear that “highly favored” is an incorrect interpretation of that passage. Also, do not lean too heavily on so-called approved versions of the Bible because the NAB contains many errors that the Vatican knows about and yet it is still approved.
Just curious as to what studies and what bible do you use then. As for using so called approved versions, If I am studying a particular passage I always like to look up different translations to compare and contrast.
You know—I bet you somewhere on some protestant forum there is a Nativity Movie thread and someone is saying they don’t want to see it because it is too “catholic”

Remember this movie is trying to capture not just the catholic audiance but also the protestant and secular audiance. It doesn’t look like there is anything in the movie that is scandalous. Something is wrong if you get caught up on some perceived wrong against Mary that you cannot see that the movie is pointing you towards Christ. Isnt’ that what Mary does? Point us towards Christ?
I agree. Very well put.
 
Just curious as to what studies and what bible do you use then. As for using so called approved versions, If I am studying a particular passage I always like to look up different translations to compare and contrast.
I use the RSV-CE version, though the Church’s formal version is the Latin Vulgate, which also translates that passage as “full of Grace.”

I am glad to see that the movie has been made because it is very much better for movies like that to be made, then the alternatives that we usually get. However, I also think it is better that people worship at Protestant Churches then at no church at all, yet that does not mean I would worship at a Protestant Church.

My bottom line is I firmly hold, accept and believe that the Catholic faith is the fullness of what Christ gave and I simply see no reason to involve myself in non-Catholic treatments of accounts that were handed down by the Holy Spirit through the Lord’s Catholic Church. I also hold a great love for Our Lady and I simply have little patience with the very prevalent lack of respect that she receives in the modern Christian world, and I will not add to that by viewing that movie. Mary is our Mother and I will not watch her be dis’ed in any way.

Here is an interesting list of Bible versions that have translated Luke 1:28 correctly (which seems to reflect that “highly favored” is a fairly modern interpretation):

-Tyndale’s Version [1534] the verse says “Full of Grace”
-Cranmer’s Version [1539] the verse says “Full of Grace”
-Geneva [1599] says in the Margin Notes "might be rendered, 'full of favour and grace, "
-Authorized Version or KJV [1611] says in the Margin notes “Much Graced”
-Polyglott Bible [1838] says in the Margin notes “or Much Graced”
-Revised Version [1885] says in the Margin Notes: “Endowed with Grace”.
-American Standard Version [1901] says in the Margin Notes: “or Endowed with Grace”.
-Scofield Edition [1909, revised in 1914] says in the Margin Notes “or Endued with Grace”
-New Standard Reference Bible [1934] says in the Margin notes “Much Graced”
-The Holy Bible From The Ancient Eastern Manuscripts by Gorge M. Lamsa’s [1957] the verse says “peace be to you, O full of grace”
-The Amplified [1958] in the verse (In brackets) “endowed with grace” with a foot note that says “literal translation”
-A literal Translation by Jay P. Green [1985] the verse says “And entering, the angel said to her, Hail, one having received grace!..”
-The Interlinear Greek-English New Testament, by Jay P. Green [2nd edition 1985] the verse says "…Hail, one receiving grace!..

The above list came from: search.netscape.com/ns/boomframe.jsp?query=Luke+1%3A28+translations+Catholic&page=1&offset=0&result_url=redir%3Fsrc%3Dwebsearch%26requestId%3D892c7e88f4bdeb72%26clickedItemRank%3D2%26userQuery%3DLuke%2B1%253A28%2Btranslations%2BCatholic%26clickedItemURN%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.catholicapologetics.net%252Fgrace.htm%26invocationType%3D-%26fromPage%3DMyNS%26amp%3BampTest%3D1&remove_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicapologetics.net%2Fgrace.htm
 
You know—I bet you somewhere on some protestant forum there is a Nativity Movie thread and someone is saying they don’t want to see it because it is too “catholic”

Remember this movie is trying to capture not just the catholic audiance but also the protestant and secular audiance. It doesn’t look like there is anything in the movie that is scandalous. Something is wrong if you get caught up on some perceived wrong against Mary that you cannot see that the movie is pointing you towards Christ. Isnt’ that what Mary does? Point us towards Christ?
Perhap you are right about Protestants saying it is too Catholic, yet one of nthe major verses to prove Mary’s sinfree life was given a Protestant treatment, so I am not sure what they could complain about.

In general I would agree with you if it were not for the critical significance of Mary being sinless her entire life. By changing that one passage the movie instantly becomes Protestant in its viewpoint.

For Protestants and for non-Christians, the movie will likely be a wonderful event, yet for faithful Catholics the movie is coming from a Protestant point of view, so I am not sure whay it would be productive for any RC of strong and well formed faith. Mary was either sinfree or she was not.
 
Here are a couple of comments from one of the film’s producers:

*“We’ve taken the film around to every big Protestant leader we can think of,” said Wyck Godfrey, one of the producers. “We’ve gotten it to Rick [Warren], the [Pat] Robertson family, Focus on the Family, Mission America, Young Life, Campus Crusade.”

Godfrey, a Presbyterian, said the film tries to portray Mary as down-to-earth. “The bent we took was very Protestant, really, treating [Mary] as a human, someone going through something very difficult, with real emotions. We were not trying to create her as some iconic saint.” *

They were trying to create a Protestant view of Mary, it was intentional and it seems they likely succeeded.
 
Vivemus,

As a side point: I do think the Holy Spirit is very hard at work. The movie is not “Catholic,” yet it may very help make a bridge of understanding between Catholics and Protestants. It seems the Passion of the Christ gave Protestants a better view of Mary then they had before, and perhaps this movie will advance that cause a bit more–couple that with the growing Catholic population from immigrants into this country and it would seem the Holy Spirit is trying to bring a very real conversion to the United States and I find that very exciting.

So, while I am not attracted to the movie because it was made from a Protestant view, I am excited with the possibility that it might move Protestants to a more Mary-friendly attitude, though the downsie is that many weak Catholics might fall towards a Protestant view.
 
Here are a couple of comments from one of the film’s producers:

*“We’ve taken the film around to every big Protestant leader we can think of,” said Wyck Godfrey, one of the producers. “We’ve gotten it to Rick [Warren], the [Pat] Robertson family, Focus on the Family, Mission America, Young Life, Campus Crusade.” *

Godfrey, a Presbyterian, said the film tries to portray Mary as down-to-earth. "The bent we took was very Protestant, really, treating [Mary] as a human, someone going through something very difficult, with real emotions. We were not trying to create her as some iconic saint."

They were trying to create a Protestant view of Mary, it was intentional and it seems they likely succeeded.
The last time I checked Mary is a human, and she did go through something very difficult, and humans have real emotions. Perhaps Protestants don’t understand that is what a saint is a human being who has emotions but are still faithful to God and His Will.

Like I said before, there is nothing in this movie that should keep a Catholic from seeing it. For some reason I recall Gabriel’s greeting being the “Full of Grace” translation but perhaps that was just my ears hearing what they want to hear, but if it was “Highly Favoured One” it is not nearly enough, in my view, to keep one from seeing this beautiful movie.
 
The last time I checked Mary is a human, and she did go through something very difficult, and humans have real emotions. Perhaps Protestants don’t understand that is what a saint is a human being who has emotions but are still faithful to God and His Will.

Like I said before, there is nothing in this movie that should keep a Catholic from seeing it. For some reason I recall Gabriel’s greeting being the “Full of Grace” translation but perhaps that was just my ears hearing what they want to hear, but if it was “Highly Favoured One” it is not nearly enough, in my view, to keep one from seeing this beautiful movie.
To each their own choices. For me the movie seems to be clearly Protestant in viewpoint and being full of grace is far different then being highly favored. Protestants spend incredible energies arguing that Luke 1:28 does NOT say full of grace because they will not accept the truly holy place Mary holds in God’s plans for salvation. The use of “highly favored” gives strong evidence of the point of view the filmmakers took and the quotes I posted proves the movies Protestant bias.

For me, I will not partake of the false Protestant “communion” in their Churches, and I will not partake of a false Protestant view of Mary by viewing that Protestant film.

I seek truth, not distortions of the truth.
 
To all,

Each person must make their own choices and I think I have made my choice about this movie clear, along with my reasons for not seeing the movie. Yet, I am but one imperfect Catholic and am quite possibly quite wrong about the movie. Therefore, I pray that the movie will bring many more hearts towards the Sacred Heart of Jesus and that it also deepens awareness and love for Our Lady–as she truly is.

May everyone be blessed with a truly happy Advent season. 🙂
 
I have a hard time overcoming the fact that the movie appears to be an attempt to copy the Passion of the Christ in nearly every way except being in a foreign language. Even the title of the movie mimicks it’s font and color.

Furthermore, the Passion had enough historical documentation to satisfy an hour and half time contstraint. An account of the birth of Christ comprises a very small part of the Gospels. Had a Catholic produced this movie, drawing on the experiences of the mystics and Church tradition regarding Mary and Joseph, then I would not be so concerned. But, as a non-denominational Protestant is producing a movie about the birth of Christ with roughly an hour’s worth of “filler” with no scriptural backing and no reference to Church tradition over the past 2000 years is particularly worisome.

To me, it just seems like someone saw the success of the Passion and said: “Hey! Let’s do that exact same thing with the birth of Christ!”

But then again, I tend to be more cynical than is often warranted.
 
My BIL saw this movie.

His comments were:

Mary was portrayed as being flirtatious with other young men before her betrothal to Joseph.

She stated that she had to remain pure for the time of the betrothal - implying that afterwards she didn’t have to?

She argued with her parents about not wanting to marry Joseph - threw somewhat of a temper tantrum, storming out of the room…

She had hard pains in childbirth, and while nothing tells us that she didn’t, one usually assumes that she didn’t, being that such pains are a consequence of original sin and that Christ, Who came to save and heal would not inflict such pains upon His Mother.

He said it was beautifully done and if you have a good understanding of Mary to know that these things are problematic, then it’s not a problem to go to, but so many people (Catholics included) DON’T know about Mary and will be very much influenced by this media…
 
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