26 out of 30 people found the following review helpful:

excellent

A Customer from southampton, 28th March, 2007

This film obviously had some big effect on the first persons review to make them so angry!i actually thought this film was really well made-and as for there not really being anything new in the story-the story cant really change from the truth that it is?I think this film is suitable for both children and adults...a very intellectual and sensitive film!!!!!

Read all highest rated reviews

10 out of 10 people found the following review helpful:

Not To Be Missed!

A Customer from Powys, Wales,, 30th April, 2007

This film is a revelation - in all senses of the word! The casting is excellent - from the pure integrity of Mary and Joseph to the cunning malevolence of King Herod. Tthe photography is spellbinding and the message is totally convincing. The prophetic background is well-handled, never heavy but clearly observed. The story unfolds in an intelligent and heartfelt way. The apparent simplicity of the filming belies its depth and profundity .... remaining in the mind, and heart, of the viewer long after it has been seen. I have never been more impressed with a presentation of The Nativity Story!

Read all highest rated reviews

6 out of 6 people found the following review helpful:

brilliant!!

A Customer from hampshire, england, 17th May, 2007

A great film which is well researched. Sticks fairly well to the biblical account although the 3 kings didn't come to the stable!! but it makes a good ending! well worth a look recomend to anyone - good for the family

Read all highest rated reviews

5 out of 5 people found the following review helpful:

scary scenes for younger children

A Customer from Lightwater, Surrey, 26th September, 2007

The film focuses on why the Jews were desperate for a Messiah who would save them from their oppressors - the Roman soldiers are callous and cruel and Herod is insane in his fear of a rival. Parents should be aware this is not a cosy Christmas film for young children. Watch it first - the familiar story is set in a grittier context than is usually told.

Read all highest rated reviews

Nativity Story

A Customer from London, 27th April, 2009

An interesting take on Jesus, nothing new to the story.

Read all recent reviews

2 out of 2 people found the following review helpful:

A Christmas Turkey

A Customer from Strabane, 23rd December, 2008

It is perhaps surprising that it wasn't until 2006 that a major Hollywood adaptation of the Nativity was made. Unfortunately the result was not worth the wait. Made to capture the religious audience that made The Passion of the Christ such a success, The Nativity Story is if anything too reverential to the Gospel accounts, with the cast awkwardly reciting whole chunks of the King James Bible word for word. Keisha Castle Hughes does little but look winsome as Mary, while even Ciaran Hinds as Herod can too little with the restrictive screenplay. The film does best when it (by necessity) elaborates and fleshes out the story of the three wise men, who provide the nearest thing to comic relief in an overly earnest and rather dull film. The production values and locations are impressive, but what Catherine Hardwicke spreads over 100 minutes was done better in Frankie Goes to Hollywood's video for The Power of Love in less than 5.

Read all recent reviews

Great Nativity Story

A Customer from ST ALBANS, 30th November, 2008

This is an excellent film. It is faithful to the Gospel account of the events leading up to the birth of Christ. Beautifully portrayed. Where the Gospel account doesn't provide a lot of details (e.g. in how Mary and Joseph's relationship developed), it pads out the story and it is easy to accept that events could have unfolded in such a way. It would be churlish to be critical - certain assumptions need to be made (e.g. the difficult journey on foot from Nazareth to Bethlehem). The film also has some humour, particularly in the telling of how the wise men came to follow the star. Herod is played well, and his ruthlessness is clear. This is a definite recommend, especially if you need a reminder of why Christmas is such an important time of year.

Read all recent reviews

1 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Pious Fiction For The Uncritically Minded

A Customer from Bath, 18th November, 2008

This movie was obviously aimed solely at those persons already convinced of the 'Biblical Truth' of the New Testament accounts in 'Matthew' and 'Luke.' In point of fact both of these birth narratives of Jesus are contradictory and mutually discrepant in their respective chronologies. The attempts by the film makers at creating a veneer of 'historical' verisimilitude were ludicrous and totally unconvincing. One scene even depicted a woman giving religious instruction to a mixed group of village children. What, in first century Galilee? I rather think not! The Romans were of course all predictable stock character villains and I was puzzled as to why Herod the Great was costumed and made up to look somewhat like the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar, rather than the Hellenistic/Roman client ruler that he actually was. Keisha Castle-Hughes was superb in “Whale Rider.” Her casting as “Mary” in this nonsensical, overblown, farrago was a complete and utter waste of her talents.

Read all recent reviews