- Status
C
CathCentrist
Guest
Its like people think its an abomination to portray Mary as going thru life with a raised eyebrow, frown, giggle, aggravated look on her face or ever being tempted. Jesus was tempted that means so was Mary. Jesus lost his cool, granted in righteous anger, that means no less than Mary must have at some point. Jesus had his doubt in the garden, etc, that means Mary must have as well… To think other gives non Catholics very good arguments of Mary worship.
P
puzzleannie
Guest
what the writers of this script had to go on was the biblical accounts in Luke’s gospel, which are very slim material for a script writer, and to a certain extent Christian tradition. They are not Catholic so it makes no sense that they would resort to information from private visions like Fatima, which are in any case, private revelation, and not binding on Catholics, let along other Christians.
There are many justifiable criticisms of the movie possible on artistic and other grounds, but it is not far to claim “historical accuracy” as one of them. Nothing in the movie contradicted the Bible. Nothing in the movie called into question Catholic dogma. the actual physical manner of Christ’s birth has been the topic of theological speculation, but it is not dogma that Mary experienced no pain, it is dogma that her virginity remained intact. The specifics are not part of dogma, just the fact of her perpetual virginity.
There are many justifiable criticisms of the movie possible on artistic and other grounds, but it is not far to claim “historical accuracy” as one of them. Nothing in the movie contradicted the Bible. Nothing in the movie called into question Catholic dogma. the actual physical manner of Christ’s birth has been the topic of theological speculation, but it is not dogma that Mary experienced no pain, it is dogma that her virginity remained intact. The specifics are not part of dogma, just the fact of her perpetual virginity.
C
CatholicSam
Guest
Didn’t the wise men get a warning from God in a dream telling them to go home by a different route? At least that’s what my Bible says (in Matthew’s gospel). In the movie they just sort of discussed it amongst themselves and drew their own conclusion. Just one little example, and no, it wasn’t anything earth-shattering, but definitely a contradiction in my opinion. And something a teeny bit more research could have accurately portrayed 
S
st_ignatius110
Guest
THIS is what I am STILL trying to figure out!!! Everyone seems to have a different opinion. Some have told me it is official Church teaching that Mary experienced no pain…others have said the info is so overwhelming that I have to believe it…I am just confused.
T
tkdnick
Guest
There was nothing in that scene to suggest that they might not have received a vision that just wasn’t shown on camera. Maybe that was a scene that was cut in editing to make the movie a bit shorter.
F
fin
Guest
i want to correct some of the ‘complaints’ of Daniel (?) and Kathy H.
Joseph wasn’t the one who lifted Mary from the wagon, it was another person. he noticed she was pregnant when she was already standing
the three kings did not arrive the same time as the shepherds. shepherds came first.
Joseph wasn’t the one who lifted Mary from the wagon, it was another person. he noticed she was pregnant when she was already standing
the three kings did not arrive the same time as the shepherds. shepherds came first.
T
tkdnick
Guest
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think the movie was perfect. There were some things I wasn’t too thrilled with. But I think it’s ridiculous to wholesale reject the movie just because things don’t seem to fit perfectly with Catholic teaching. It was a good, Christian movie. No one ever espoused it as being a Catholic movie, so why should we expect it to fit perfectly with Catholic teaching? And I don’t think it’s beneficial to anyone to nitpick every single little aspect of every single little scene.
J
juno24
Guest
B
Bob67
Guest
I saw it last night & thought it was good, but really lacked something. (C+)
I just read the review by Daniel and Kathleen H. & do agree with most of it!
It is nice to have a movie out in theaters about Jesus, Mary, & Joseph but,
I think they would have been better off to show the 1st couple hours of the
‘Jesus of Nazareth’ movie!!! (A+)
The Nativity Was A Great Protestant Movie but, A Poor Catholic One!
**Jesus of Nazareth Is Still The Best Ever! **
I just read the review by Daniel and Kathleen H. & do agree with most of it!
It is nice to have a movie out in theaters about Jesus, Mary, & Joseph but,
I think they would have been better off to show the 1st couple hours of the
‘Jesus of Nazareth’ movie!!! (A+)
The Nativity Was A Great Protestant Movie but, A Poor Catholic One!
**Jesus of Nazareth Is Still The Best Ever! **
J
JamieMc
Guest
Man—in my humble opinion some of you have some issues. I took my family to see this movie and was very pleased with it. It was wonderful and brought a tear to my eye.
No–it did not show Mary dressed in Sun with a crown of twelve stars and standing on the moon but it did show her as obidieant, serving, virtous, loving and trustworthy. Although it did show her riding a donkey!! And giving birth in a stable!! Sharing company with the likes of shepherds and then placing her new born child in a manger!!! What type of mother is that!!!
Seriously, I think some of you cross the line from honoring Mary to worshiping her. If she would have been portrayed the way some of you would have wanted the whole focus would have been on her (which it seems you have allowed it to be anyway) and not on the greatest birth in the history of man, that of our Lord and Savior.
Don’t go into this movie looking for some theological issue to debate. Take your family to it and enjoy for wholesome entertainment, enjoy it as a Christmas pagent that your child may be in (of course maybe you would pick that apart too “Mary was wearing a coat and tennis shoes!!! OH the blasphimy!!”)
I’m sorry–I tend to be sarcastic, but if we don’t go to the movies and enjoy these type of movies do you think that Hollywood would think, “Oh the catholics don’t like the was we portrayed Mary!” Or do you think they’ll think, “See–we knew these Christian movies don’t see. Lets stop making them and make more movies filled with sex and violence. We know they sell.” Satan must be happy at your “protest”
No–it did not show Mary dressed in Sun with a crown of twelve stars and standing on the moon but it did show her as obidieant, serving, virtous, loving and trustworthy. Although it did show her riding a donkey!! And giving birth in a stable!! Sharing company with the likes of shepherds and then placing her new born child in a manger!!! What type of mother is that!!!
Seriously, I think some of you cross the line from honoring Mary to worshiping her. If she would have been portrayed the way some of you would have wanted the whole focus would have been on her (which it seems you have allowed it to be anyway) and not on the greatest birth in the history of man, that of our Lord and Savior.
Don’t go into this movie looking for some theological issue to debate. Take your family to it and enjoy for wholesome entertainment, enjoy it as a Christmas pagent that your child may be in (of course maybe you would pick that apart too “Mary was wearing a coat and tennis shoes!!! OH the blasphimy!!”)
I’m sorry–I tend to be sarcastic, but if we don’t go to the movies and enjoy these type of movies do you think that Hollywood would think, “Oh the catholics don’t like the was we portrayed Mary!” Or do you think they’ll think, “See–we knew these Christian movies don’t see. Lets stop making them and make more movies filled with sex and violence. We know they sell.” Satan must be happy at your “protest”
V
Vivemus
Guest
I agree, I wonder how they think Mary should have been portrayed?
J
jediliz
Guest
I’m going to see the movie again, maybe on the solemnity of Our Lady of Guadaloupe.
There are many things that could have and should have been done better - like the Annunication, the birth, and that weird scene with that woman in the market that touched her hand (I don’t think Mary smiled like she was agreeing with the palm thing, she was just trying to be polite).
And how does Joseph’s joy over Jesus after he’s born eliminate the virgin birth? He acts like any father would (and he was jesus’ foster father after all - and said he would raise the child as his own).
There are many things that could have and should have been done better - like the Annunication, the birth, and that weird scene with that woman in the market that touched her hand (I don’t think Mary smiled like she was agreeing with the palm thing, she was just trying to be polite).
And how does Joseph’s joy over Jesus after he’s born eliminate the virgin birth? He acts like any father would (and he was jesus’ foster father after all - and said he would raise the child as his own).
D
Dorothy
Guest
My sentiments exactly! I saw it and enjoyed it, focusing on the parts that made it seem to me as a lovely, inspiring, three-dimensional Christmas card.
T
Tom317
Guest
I disagree. Satan loves it when we are lukewarm, and God vomits us out when we are lukewarm. When we refuse to hold to the full truth, then we are lukewarm.
L
latin_rite
Guest
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 Conception and the Virgin Birth.
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. 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.
To be contibued
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. 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.
To be contibued
L
latin_rite
Guest
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. 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. 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. These are the views of Fr. Angelo Mary Geiger of the Franciscans of the Immaculate in the United States. I think this movie is as accurate as the show “Jesus Christ SuperStar” by Llyod Weber. Even worse than the Da Vinci Code. at least even one knew the lies in that movie.
L
LilyM
Guest
Latin rite, calm down - some of your criticisms have a grain of truth to them, but as if Mary was never a normal girl playing with her friends as normal girls did! There is nothing sinful in her associating with people who noticed boys, or indeed with noticing them herself!
And you think no-one ever had doubts about Mary’s propriety, false as they were? Scripture itself tells us differently. It tells us that she was found to be pregnant by someone not her betrothed, and that Joseph was ready to divorce her because of it.
And what on earth is wrong with portraying Jesus as being born of woman in the normal fashion? It’s not like it’s required Catholic belief, or even a particularly commonly agreed fact, that Mary physically felt no pain or gave birth in anything other than the normal fashion.
As Isaiah prophesied, there was indeed nothing outwardly or physically different about Jesus. And Paul says he was like us in all ways except sin - including shedding blood both at his circumcision and in his agony and passion. Why would blood not be shed at his birth as well then? Is his birth not a facet of the same redeeming act as his passion? Were not both equally important in our salvation?
There is nothing at all of denial of Christ’s divinity in a belief that he was also fully human - including the method of his birth, though not his conception.
And to say that Mary and Joseph did not believe - are they not shown as having angels appear to them to tell them that the child is the Son of God? Did not shepherds and kings visit the child to pay him homage, and are they not portrayed as doing so in this movie? What is there in this to indicate that Mary and Joseph didn’t believe? How could they not after such happenings?
And you think no-one ever had doubts about Mary’s propriety, false as they were? Scripture itself tells us differently. It tells us that she was found to be pregnant by someone not her betrothed, and that Joseph was ready to divorce her because of it.
And what on earth is wrong with portraying Jesus as being born of woman in the normal fashion? It’s not like it’s required Catholic belief, or even a particularly commonly agreed fact, that Mary physically felt no pain or gave birth in anything other than the normal fashion.
As Isaiah prophesied, there was indeed nothing outwardly or physically different about Jesus. And Paul says he was like us in all ways except sin - including shedding blood both at his circumcision and in his agony and passion. Why would blood not be shed at his birth as well then? Is his birth not a facet of the same redeeming act as his passion? Were not both equally important in our salvation?
There is nothing at all of denial of Christ’s divinity in a belief that he was also fully human - including the method of his birth, though not his conception.
And to say that Mary and Joseph did not believe - are they not shown as having angels appear to them to tell them that the child is the Son of God? Did not shepherds and kings visit the child to pay him homage, and are they not portrayed as doing so in this movie? What is there in this to indicate that Mary and Joseph didn’t believe? How could they not after such happenings?
C
cygnusdei
Guest
Are you confusing virgin birth with perpetual virginity?
- Status