{"id":1253,"date":"2006-12-01T11:37:00","date_gmt":"2006-12-01T11:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/orthodixie\/2006\/12\/review-the-nativity-story.html"},"modified":"2006-12-01T11:37:00","modified_gmt":"2006-12-01T11:37:00","slug":"review-the-nativity-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/orthodixie\/2006\/12\/review-the-nativity-story.html","title":{"rendered":"REVIEW: The Nativity Story"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Can Anything Good Come Out of Hollywood?
<\/strong><\/span>
\"\"<\/a>Since the movie\u2019s out today, I\u2019m re-posting this script review. Scroll down to the bottom for a link to Frederica Mathewes-Green\u2019s movie review.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

I<\/span>t\u2019s Hollywood not Tradition; and, after all, it\u2019s just a movie. But having had the opportunity to read the script for New Line Cinema\u2019s The Nativity Story<\/a>, I can honestly say: It\u2019s pretty good. Really! I enjoyed it.<\/p>\n

Earlier reports of the movie could lead one to believe that Hollywood was tinkering with the glorious story of the birth of Christ. For example, the Hollywood Reporter stated that The Nativity Story<\/em><\/strong> was \u201cto be told with a strong female perspective\u201d (March 17, 2006). One reviewer, who mentions a Catholic upbringing, praises the script as \u201ca reverent recounting of the biblical story that also added an insightful socio-political dimension to the world Mary would have been brought up in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Given these reports, I expected something entirely different from the Gospel accounts of the birth of the Saviour. Yet, Christianity Today<\/strong><\/em> claimed it was faithful to the Gospels, and then I received the public relations blurb:<\/p>\n

The Nativity Story is based on the greatest story ever told. But as familiar as audiences may be with the story, they have never seen it on the big screen. This is the first time in over 50 years that a biblical story has been released by a major motion picture studio. The filmmakers \u2026 are Christian and New Line Cinema sincerely wants to make a film that is historically and biblically accurate. To that end, numerous Catholic and Protestant experts and scholars have read the script and are acting as consultants on this film.
<\/em>
Having read the script, I\u2019m apt to say: If you are looking for holiday entertainment that\u2019s family friendly with a virtuous message, you won\u2019t be disappointed. If you are hoping to see unadulterated Eastern Orthodox Tradition on the silver screen, something essentially catechetical, you\u2019ll have to wait a little longer.<\/p>\n

Other than a few timeline discrepancies, the main thing that jumps out at an Orthodox Christian is the age of St Joseph the Betrothed. In New Line Cinema\u2019s The Nativity Story<\/strong><\/em>, he\u2019s portrayed as a handsome young 20-something<\/a>. But, think about it: How else would Hollywood portray the intended beaux of the beautiful young maiden from Galilee?<\/p>\n

We all know St Joseph was old, right? He was a widower with children, a man of means, by the time he became the guardian of our Lord. This is the tradition of the Church.<\/p>\n

Yet, the fact that the movie includes characters portraying the parents of the Theotokos, Joachim and Anna, shows that the writers were not ignorant to Church Tradition. However, look at any icon and you\u2019ll see: Joachim and Anna are old<\/a>. They are portrayed differently on the big screen; the script lists Joachim as 45, Anna as 34. The Bible doesn\u2019t specify their age, nor name Mary\u2019s parents. So, what\u2019s the big deal?<\/p>\n

Well, the same source within Tradition that provides the names of the Virgin Mary\u2019s parents also mentions the advanced age and station of Joseph, the story of Mary\u2019s birth, mention of Joseph being a widower with children, Jesus\u2019 being born in a cave, the entry of Mary into the Temple, the murder of the Righteous Zacharias in the Temple gates \u2014 and more. This is all found within the same ancient document that attests to the perpetual virginity of Mary: The Protoevangelium of James<\/em><\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

This is important with regard to this movie because the filmmakers have selected information from this ancient source that was helpful in making a Hollywood film. They have also disregarded that which would betray bias toward any particular \u201cChristmas tradition\u201d \u2014 even more so what we Orthodox call Tradition.<\/p>\n

Yet, it is obvious by movie\u2019s end that there\u2019s hope that this movie will have mass appeal. Making a movie that only made sense to Orthodox Christians would not serve Hollywood\u2019s purpose nor, most likely, would it get produced.<\/p>\n

Again, it\u2019s Hollywood not Tradition; and, after all, it\u2019s just a movie. But, even if in small ways (such as naming the Virgin\u2019s parents) the masses are being introduced to portions of the ancient Church Tradition, that\u2019s a good thing.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s good and paramount for Christians, Orthodox or not, at least as far as this movie is concerned, is that Jesus is proclaimed as the Saviour. It\u2019s not every day that the masses hear such good news \u2014 especially coming out of Hollywood.<\/p>\n

The Nativity Story<\/strong> opens in theatres December 1st.<\/em><\/p>\n

Frederica\u2019s take on the flick \u2026 HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Can Anything Good Come Out of Hollywood?Since the movie\u2019s out today, I\u2019m re-posting this script review. Scroll down to the bottom for a link to Frederica Mathewes-Green\u2019s movie review. It\u2019s Hollywood not Tradition; and, after all, it\u2019s just a movie. But having had the opportunity to read the script for New Line Cinema\u2019s The Nativity […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1691,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1253","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nREVIEW: The Nativity Story<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Can Anything Good Come Out of Hollywood?Since the movie's out today, I'm re-posting this script review. 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