MOVIES: The Nativity Story

[CathCentrist]

The movie sounded promising but the 16 year old actress playing Mary is pregnant by her 19 year old boyfriend and I cannot make the leap. Everything to do with the Faith is in-your-face these days. Christians should wish her well but we should also be sick and tired of getting our noses rubbed in the dirt all the time. At the end of the day, this movie is an attempt to elicit an emotional response from Christians and separate them from their money.

I prefer the real-life Mary and I’ll take the money and give it to people who are suffering for real.

freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1746195/posts

Thats too bad. Have you stopped watching Passion due to Mels flaws? Everyone has them, too bad you’re hung on this one.

 

[aimee]

Thats too bad. Have you stopped watching Passion due to Mels flaws? Everyone has them, too bad you’re hung on this one.

Well Well…CathCentrist…you’re back I see…

 

[TrishaW]

Steven Greydanus did an excellent review on Catholic Answers live.

You can get the podcast here:
catholic.com/radio/about.asp
Then click on podcasts on left hand side
scroll down to Nativity Story - Steven Greydanus

 

[a_priori]

Thats too bad. Have you stopped watching Passion due to Mels flaws? Everyone has them, too bad you’re hung on this one.

Yeah, I guess this is one of my flaws. Hung up? Guilty.

 

[lotusblossom]

I’ve read a good amount of reviews and talked to others who have seen the movie. I hope to see it myself. Although it is not in line with Catholic teaching regarding Mary, I still want to support a movie that is not filled with the usual garbage. I’m glad I’m aware of these things now, so I’m not completely taken aback when I actually see it.

 

[childofmary1143]

lifesite.net/ldn/2006/dec/06120402.html

 

[CathCentrist]

Well Well…CathCentrist…you’re back I see…

How very observant of you

 

[fin]

i’ve seen the movie and i don’t get the part wherein before the betrothal scene, Mary enters her house and wipes her saliva on the wall with her hand?

what was that about?

 

[Eden]

I just received this e-mail which condemns the movie:

In Reparation for the Sins Committed against the Immaculate Heart of
Mary1,

We refute and condemn the movie “The Nativity”

Written by Daniel and Kathleen H.

December 03, 2006

On December 2, 2006, on the First Saturday of December, we went to the
local movie theater to watch the movie "The Nativity. Based on previous
reviews of this movie that we had heard, and the fact that the Vatican2
held a premier showing of this movie, we were expecting a movie that at
the very least held to Catholic beliefs. However, from the very
beginning of the movie we soon realized our high expectations had to be
thrown into the trash, for as the movie progressed, we became more and
more disappointed. The overall conclusion of this movie is that it is
not a catholic movie at all, but at best, a Protestant movie directed by
men who did not even follow the Biblical account of the birth of Christ.
At worst, it is a vile anti-Christian movie created by people who hate
Christ and His Church and whose main motive was to defame the name of
the Blessed Mother and warp the story of the Birth of Jesus.

As mentioned before this movie discredits our Catholic beliefs, beliefs
that are so essential to our Faith that if we do not believe in them,
the Church no longer considers us Catholic. What beliefs are these that
have been maligned? It is those beliefs which we hold sacred: the
Immaculate Conception3 and the Virgin Birth4.

In one of the very first scenes of the movie, Mary is shown with her
friends, sowing a field of what looks to be corn. These friends of Mary
give sideways glances and smiles to each other after looking at a group
of boys that are nearby. Then one of these girls runs to tackle one of
the boys and what ensues appears to be a pile up of youths in the
cornfield with Mary sort of participating in on the outer edges of this
entanglement. Then from the house emerges Mary’s mother looking stern
and upset. She calls to Mary and shakes her head “No.” The fact that
Mary looks to have been participating in some kind of impropriety and
had to be corrected by her mother is beyond belief but this is only one
occurrence of “sinning” on the part of Mary. For throughout the first
part of the movie, Mary is depicted as any normal 14 year old given to
sullen, sulky moods. This movie shows her to be unhappy with the future
marriage that is being arranged for her by her parents (which we know to
be historically incorrect). She walks out of her house in defiance when
her father tells her that she is now betrothed to Joseph. These scenes
call into question the dogma of the Immaculate Conception issued by Pope
Pius IX in 1854.

 

[Eden]

(cont’d)

It also was implied in the betrothal scene that Mary and Joseph planned
on a large family as Mary’s parents indicated that they were to live as
husband and wife in every way for one year except for that one act that
would produce a family. Joseph began building the home for Mary and
their future children indicating Joseph was planning on having many
children. This is in line with the Protestant viewpoint that Mary and
Joseph had many children after Jesus and counters the Catholic Church as
it has always taught that both Mary and Joseph took vows of virginity
and mutually consented to live as virgins in the married state.

The scene of Annunciation was not anything that a catholic would
contemplate while saying the rosary. They depicted Mary reclining under
a tree in the middle of the day while others were around her working.
What is supposed to be the “Archangel Gabriel” is first shown as a hawk
and then as a man with an Afro-like hairstyle and white robe looking as
if he could be a son of Cheech or Chong. The “angel” had no mystical or
holy appearance and he is shown at quite a distance from Mary. The
portrayal makes you wonder if he’s truly Heaven sent.

The Visitation was portrayed as an excuse to run away from her
“intended”, Joseph. A way out all of it- as if the whole idea of the
coming of Our Lord and the idea of marriage was too much for her. The
Magnificat was left out of this scene; however it was partially narrated
at the end of the movie omitting the first half of this beautiful
prayer:

" My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my savior;
Because he has regarded the lowliness of his handmaid; for, behold,
henceforth all generations shall call me blessed; because he who is
mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name; And his mercy
is from generation to generation on those who fear him…"

You can be certain, upon looking at these omitted words, just why they
were omitted and the intentions of the creators of this vile
cinematography!

The birth of Saint John was very degrading. This scene is about two
minutes long, depicting Elizabeth holding her upper body up off a chair
by holding onto ropes, screaming from pain while two women are ready to
receive the child. She delivers, while Mary, with a horrified look on
her face, stands by watching. This scene is not suitable for children
to watch.

During Mary’s absence at Elizabeth’s, Saint Joseph was portrayed as
being upset that Mary left. Also were included, implications that
Joseph did not expect Mary to come back, as in one scene where he was
deep in thought pondering his future with Mary holding his carpenter
tools - then suddenly with a look of frustration and anger, he throws
his tools to the ground. Saintly behavior for sure!

 

[Eden]

(cont’d)

When Mary had returned to Nazareth, Joseph was excited to see her.
However, on lifting her from the wagon he discovered that she was heavy
with child and walked away upset. Mary tried to convince her parents
and Joseph that she was not pregnant due to another man but that “an
angel” appeared to her and told her she was going to have a baby. There
was no evidence of any of the three believing Mary. It was implied that
Joseph was ready to stone Mary until he had a vision through a dream
(with that “angel” again) that Mary was telling the truth.

The traveling of Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem was the best of all scenes
in the movie. But even during this trip there was an occurrence that
was disturbing. While Mary and Joseph were walking through a market of
a town, a palm reading woman offered Mary a small piece of cheese or
bread which Mary accepted but then this sorceress read Mary’s palm and
claimed she was going to have a son. Mary accepted this prophecy with a
smile and Joseph shook the woman’s hand, thanked her and then they
continued their journey. The implication was that Joseph and Mary had
no objection to fortunetellers.

The scene of the Nativity was extremely heretical. Besides this grave
evil, again we find it necessary to say that this movie should not be
viewed by children. Mary was shown to be in labor while she was in the
town of Bethlehem. Joseph rushed around carrying Mary in a frantic
state trying to find a room for her as she groaned and breathed heavily
as if she had taken Lamaze lessons. The worst of the worst occurs once
they arrive at the stable with Joseph kneeling ready to deliver the
baby. He partially lifts Mary’s dress putting his hands between her
legs ready to receive the child. Mary is laboring, her face sweating
and in extreme pain with all of the normal actions of a woman in a
delivery room and then she gives birth. Joseph raises Jesus in the air
showing the baby covered with blood and Joseph laughs for joy totally
discrediting belief in the Virgin Birth. There is no sign of worship or
adoration by either Mary or Joseph. Therefore this was not only a
Protestant view of the Nativity but also indirectly an act of disbelief
in the Divinity of Jesus. There was no indication that Mary and Joseph
believed Jesus to be God.

Meanwhile, the Archangel Gabriel (yes, that same “angel”) appears to one
shepherd to inform him of the birth. There are no other angels that
appear as stated in St. Luke’s Gospel “And suddenly there was with the
angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying glory to
god and the highest on earth peace among men of good will.”

One by one, the shepherds seem to be leaving their sheep in a
“zombie-like trance” and seen walking NOT RUNNING toward the star as it
would seem natural to do considering they received this great news from
a heavenly vision of great beauty! There was no joy exhibited in this
scene by these shepherds. It only looked as if these guys were told to
walk to this cave and stare at something. When the shepherds arrive at
the stable Mary is seen reclining and holding the child; he is not lying
in the manger. None of the shepherds worship or adore the child and
they arrived simultaneously with the three Kings. Who neither appear to
be worshipping him. Then there is this GREAT pause in the movie as we
look on at this living Nativity Scene. Some kind of cold, blue lighting
is glaring on Baby Jesus that causes him to keep his eyes closed.
Surely they could have done better than this!

This was to be the culmination of the greatest act of love - God
becoming Man to die for us! And yet this movie could not convey even a
hint of this profound act of God.

 

[Eden]

(cont’d)

And so it is, with all of these facts exposed for your examination, we
refute and condemn this movie, “The Nativity.”

Since these cinematographers (who incidentally were the same ones that
produced “The Lord of the Rings Trilogy” and had well within their grasp
the ability and capability to make a work that would honor Our Lady and
Our Lord instead of dishonor them) offended and blasphemed in a
seemingly intentional way the Immaculate Heart of Mary in not just one
way but ALL FIVE ways that Our Lady had mentioned in her apparitions to
Sr Lucia of Fatima, we sincerely hope and pray that our small effort to
undo this travesty will help those of you who read this to know the
truth and join us in making reparation for this movie by following the
directives of the Queen of Heaven:

‘Look, my daughter, at my Heart, surrounded with thorns with which
ungrateful men pierce at every moment by their blasphemies and
ingratitude. You at least try to console me and say that I promise to
assist, at the hour of death, with the graces necessary for salvation,
all those who, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, shall
confess, receive Holy Communion, recite five decades of the Rosary, and
keep me company for fifteen minutes while meditating on the fifteen
mysteries of the Rosary, with the intention of making reparation to
me.’"5

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!

The Magnificat

My soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my
Saviour.

Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from
henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is his
name.

And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear
him.

He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the
conceit of their heart.

He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the
humble.

He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent
empty away.

He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy: As he
spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever.

 

[st_ignatius110]

I read the letter earlier today and I pretty much disagree with it.

 

[system]

i’ve seen the movie and i don’t get the part wherein before the betrothal scene, Mary enters her house and wipes her saliva on the wall with her hand?

what was that about?

No. hopefully no saliva is involved! .

I remember this from a Jewish girlfriend I had many years ago. On the doorway to their house, every (observant) Jewish family places this small symbol representing a scroll (a mezzuzah) about 16 inches from the top of the door. The tradition is to touch it and then kiss the fingers that you touched it with.

Since Mary’s house was an observant Jewsih household, she was just entering the home as any Jewish person would.

further details:

Every time you pass through a door with a mezuzah on it, you touch the mezuzah and then kiss the fingers that touched it, expressing love and respect for G-d and his mitzvot and reminding yourself of the mitzvot contained within them.

It is proper to remove a mezuzah when you move, and in fact, it is usually recommended. If you leave it in place, the subsequent owner may treat it with disrespect, and this is a grave sin. I have seen many mezuzot in apartment complexes that have been painted over by subsequent owners, and it breaks my heart every time I see that sort of disrespect to an object of religious significance.

jewfaq.org/signs.htm

 

[jediliz]

Historically incorrect that Mary was unexcited about her betrothal? We honestly know very few details about their betrothal - think about it: if you were 14 or 15 years old and your parents decided to marry you off to a man several years your senior that you barely knew…would you be overly excited?

The Annunication wasn’t that bad - it could have been better. The Visitation was good - at least Elizabeth’s greeting to Mary was nearly in sync with the biblical recording.

I do have to admit the Angel in Joseph’s dream was a little bit of a turn off - the way he appeared. I think the way it was done in “Jesus of Nazareth” was better.

As for the birth, I partially agree about that. But I want to know where the umbilical cord was? I think that’s Miraculous in itself.

As for large family - this talk was BEFORE the annunciation. Before the Angel appeared to Mary.

I’m just happy to have a good REAL Reason for the CHRISTMAS Season Movie out there. Its a nice change from the “Santa” (even though I LOVED "Santa Clause 3) or “who can decorate the most before the big holiday” or whatever else types of movies.

I really wish the Holy Father had been able to view it. I’d want to see his full opinion - it would be interesting to see him say what flaws were in the movie.

 

[CathCentrist]

I think its sad that catholics will condemn this movie on matters of “it didnt happen” or gripe about liberties taken that in any way may portray Mary as nothing more than a stoic robot and non human, but fully expect non catholics and even other catholics to have no problem with Jesus being beaten and thrown over a bridge dangling by ropes in Passion simply because Ann Emmerich said so in a vision - or Mary of Agreda claims a vision of Marys birth.

 

[tkdnick]

The letter/blog/email written by Daniel and Kathleen H. is sad. They seem to have some kind of sterilized, unrealistic, movie-like idea of what Mary and Joseph’s lives were like and what the Nativity were like. I think they are caught up in this idealistic idea of what it was like without taking Mary and Joseph’s humanity into the equation. I will agree that there were things in the movie that could have been done better or could have given the movie a more Catholic bent, but overall I thought the movie was pretty good.

 

[AuntMartha]

I just saw the movie this afternoon and I loved it!

I was not busy dissecting it and counting non-Catholic happenings (as if saying, “a-Ha, gotcha!” instead of enjoying the movie); I just watched the story and enjoyed it. It helped me focus on Christmas itself, rather than all of the commercial trappings in the mall where the theater was. It helped me to think more deeply about the events that occurred during the birth of our Lord. If there were a few non-Catholic themes, well, I’ll get over it. I know what my Catholic faith is; it can survive a movie that may have Protestant elements in it.

 

[fin]

No. hopefully no saliva is involved! .

I remember this from a Jewish girlfriend I had many years ago. On the doorway to their house, every (observant) Jewish family places this small symbol representing a scroll (a mezzuzah) about 16 inches from the top of the door. The tradition is to touch it and then kiss the fingers that you touched it with.

Since Mary’s house was an observant Jewsih household, she was just entering the home as any Jewish person would.

further details:

jewfaq.org/signs.htm

max37, thanks for the info!
im glad to know about it. i wasn’t able to pay very much attention since that scene was very quick.

the movie could be better , but it was ok. i like the 3 kings, the part where Joseph gives his bread to the donkey and the scenes where they went through marketplaces.

 

[fin]

No. hopefully no saliva is involved! .

I remember this from a Jewish girlfriend I had many years ago. On the doorway to their house, every (observant) Jewish family places this small symbol representing a scroll (a mezzuzah) about 16 inches from the top of the door. The tradition is to touch it and then kiss the fingers that you touched it with.

Since Mary’s house was an observant Jewsih household, she was just entering the home as any Jewish person would.

further details:

jewfaq.org/signs.htm

Max, thanks 4 info!

movie cud be better, but it’s ok.
i like the 3 kings, scenes where Joseph gives the bread to the donkey, and when they went through the marketplaces.