Movie Review – “The Nativity Story”

Well, to conclude our Christmas celebration today, we enjoyed a family viewing of “The Nativity Story.”  I hadn’t heard much press on this one other than the few trailers that made it into prime time, but I definitely wanted to support this movie regardless of what the critics thought of it.

My reaction?  A big “thumbs up.”  Two of ’em in fact.  I thought the cinematography was well done, the musical score was excellent (gonna have to get me a copy of the soundtrack), and the screenplay was realistic yet factual.  I loved the fact that Joseph and Mary were portrayed as the middle-eastern individuals they were – no lily-white, European, clean madonnas in this movie.  They were rugged, working-class, hardy individuals who lived a hard life in a hard time.  The social and political unrest of the day made life even more difficult. 

Theologically, I felt the movie was as sound as Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ.”  Sure, there will be some who will find things to nit-pick over, but the story was most definitely biblically based and scripturally sound.  The only omission I truly missed and wished had been included was the heavenly host serenading the shepherds.  We saw the messenger angel, but the account in Luke – “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly hosts, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill towards man.’ – was completely overlooked.  I wanted to be overwhelmed with that moment.  I wanted to hear how this musical director interpreted that, and what THIS particular “Gloria” would sound like.  I wanted to be awestruck like the shepherds, totally amazed and humbled. 

I also thought it interesting that the writer chose to show that the wise men decided on their own to return to Persia a different way, rather than having it revealed to them in a dream.  With the care and attention given to the other angelic messages, I thought it strange that this one wasn’t addressed in a similar fashion.

The birth of Jesus was an amazing moment in the film.  For perhaps the first time in my life, I was struck with the reality of what God did for us – for me – by sacrificing His place in eternity to embrace the limitations of being human.  And not just that, but the total helplessness and complete dependence of being a baby.  The God of the universe – the all-sufficient, all-powerful, all-knowing creator of life – CHOSE to become a baby, the most lowly form of human existence.  And why?  For me.  For you.  For all of us.  Because of His love.  His ultimate, perfect, never-ending love.

I think by most accounts, “The Nativity Story” got it right.  The magic, the miracle of Christmas is not in the gift-giving or parties or even the church services.  It’s in reflecting on the greatest of paradoxes of that night in Bethlehem.  And with that in mind, I leave you with the words of one of my favorite Christmas songs – Michael W. Smith’s “Anthem For Christmas” (taken from John 1):

In the space of the beginning was the living Word of Light

When this Word was clearly spoken All that came to be was right

All creation had a language Words to say what must be said

All day long the heavens whispered Signing words in scarlet red

Still some failed to understand it So God spoke His final word

On a silent night in Judah’s hills a baby’s cry was heard

“Glory!” sang the angel chorus, “Glory!” echoed back the night

Love has come to walk among us, Christ the Lord is born this night

All creation sing His praises Earth and heaven praise His name

All who live come join the chorus Find the words His love proclaim

Find the words

His love proclaim