Cinematical

I did go see this film and enjoyed it very much. My take on the low turnout is poor marketing. I didn't know anything about this movie coming out until seeing something about it on this web site last week.

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i didn't know it came out this weekend and movies are extraordinarily expensive events since we need to find a baby sitter if we go.

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I know the story extremely well. Each year the church my grandparents attended retells the story with children acting out various parts in the play. Having portrayed every major character (except Mary) over the years, I don't think I need to be reminded how the story goes.

Though I also know the story told in The Passion, prior to the movie's release I had never experienced anythign visual to go with the words.

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I didn't see it. But the majority of reviewers say that it's too earnest and gives you exactly the movie you expect. It doesn't challenge or question.

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Despite my numerous philosophical differences with Gibson's The Passion, I saw it in the theaters because important issues were at stake. It is a dangerous, and moreover, interesting film. It is, at turns, repugnant and a startlingly powerful piece of art. The Nativity Story, by contrast, appears to be a paint-by-numbers, 700 Club-approved, made-for-TV kind of dramatization. It's too safe to be of interest to non-Christians, and too familiar to the devout.

Plus, modern, right-wing Evangelicals care for nothing but the crucifixion and resurrection, which is telling.

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I think it lacks the sensationalism or sadomasochistic element that brought in such a cross-section of filmgoers for the Passion. It's not that the crucifixion story was any less familiar or that babysitters were easier to find.

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The Passion was a violent, hateful, and even racist movie. The Nativity is completely the opposit. From seeing how these two movies was recieved states allot about America. No surprise here really, we can show a women beaten, raped or ripped apart by zombies on TV, but heaven have no furry when Janet Jacksons nipple is accidently exposed.

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Ahhh... But there *is* controversy! The 16 year old star of the movie that plays Mary is now pregnant in real life! Stirred up quite a bit at the old Vatican, let me tell you!

Of course, from what I could tell, Nativity's marketing did not follow in The Passion's footsteps and take a grass-roots approach, heavily promoting and screening it across the country for churches and encouraging a great deal of word of mouth.

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There are more basic reasons as to why The Passion was a must see and The Nativity a must NOT see for many Christians. We aren't stupid, and we know when something is true to history and when it is a fairy tale. We aren't going to waste our time on a fairy tale when they try to dupe us into believing it is a factual representation of what occurred. The Nativity is filled with inaccuracies like St. Anne chastising her for becoming pregnant, showing the labor pains of a natural child birth --which for both St. Elizabeth and Mary was not the case. Totally worthless film that will soon be forgotten, while The Passion will live til the end of time as a true classic.

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Also, the idea that Mary and Joseph went on to have other children is a completely Protestant invention, and one who knows the Scriptures and the ancient languages, as well as the traditional teachings, understands that Mary was a virgin before and after the birth of Jesus. That the Vatican hasn't criticized this movie is another proof of the fact that the post-Vatican II Church heirarchy is filled with heretics, all the way to the TOP.

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Hi,
I saw this film with my six daughters, ages 19-37. We were celebrating my 35 year old's birthday. I found it very well done. It made me feel more like it was Christmastime. My guess would be that the general person isn't that interested in a story they know, and has been done over and over each year. For the same reason we go to Christmas or "holiday" parties, go Christmas shopping with a friend and have lunch, go see a special display of Christmas light, we should see something like this movie. It's our tradition and if we don't keep it up, it will just fade away. I think it would be appropriate to say:" If you don't feel close to God, guess who moved" thanks for giving me the opportunity to share
laurie

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Well, I just saw the movie with my family and though I agree with Tom about several inaccuracies especially that of Mary's pain in childbirth, I really dislike his obvious SSPX leanings and it is my opinion that anyone who is out there criticizing Vatican II and B-16 should not be pointing fingers at one of the few decent movies available these days.

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