The movie also provides plenty of material for great family discussions.  For instance, “who remembers what gold, frankincense, and myrrh stand for?”  Or, “I wonder why those people saw evidence of the supernatural all the time (angelic visits to Mary and Joseph, Zechariah hearing the audible voice of God and becoming deaf through unbelief, Elizabeth becoming pregnant in her old age, prophecies being foretold and fulfilled, constellations coming together to form a star of such magnificence that astrologers would drop everything to follow it, and of course Mary becoming pregnant through the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit).  Were these things just for biblical times or certain scattered purposes of God’s plan, or should we be seeing more of the supernatural in our lives?  Are these things still out there but just undetected because our brains are full of electronics and media?”

Since “The Passion of the Christ,” it appears that a door has been opened for biblically-based movies to be showcased in mainstream venues, and “The Nativity Story” is a perfect fit for the new wave of receptivity.  (Regrettably, however, not everyone is waiting with open arms.  A local Christian DJ told our audience that a certain Chicago Film Festival tried to disallow this film from showing, but several members of the community got together and pushed it through.)

“The Nativity Story” is a must-see for families this Christmas season.  But beware:  The other cinematic imitations in theaters will suddenly seem even more shallow than before!   

AUDIENCE:  Older children and adults

CAUTIONS:

• Drugs/Alcohol:  None.
• Language:  None.
• Sex:  None.
• Violence:  Sword fights, Herod’s army thundering into town on horses, kicking in doors, and grabbing babies out of mothers’ arms, etc.