Nativity Movie

[selenite0]

Last Thursday we made a family trip to see The Nativity Story. I'd heard of it but it was OSC's review which made us want to see it. Taking Jamie didn't work out that well, he was rambunctious and I missed part of the movie taking him out to run around a bit. celticdragonfly wound up taking him out again and then bouncing him on her lap for the end part. Maggie was fine except for having to be shushed constantly. But she wasn't loud, except for "Look! A baby!" which I don't think ruined the moment for anyone there.

The movie is a good portrayal of the period. It avoided one of the classic Hollywood errors and had all the parts played by people who looked like they were Levantine. The only blonde I saw was a Roman legionary, which is perfectly plausible. Many scenes were set in the middle of daily life--stomping grapes, pitting olives, sowing grain--so it felt like you were watching real people, not a stage show.

I especially liked the portrayal of the three Magi. The "star" they followed was a planetary conjunction, which matches some of the theories I've read. The presenting of the gifts also included the symbolism of them. I was watching for that since celticdragonfly recently told me about it: gold for the king, frankincense for the priest, and myrrh for the sacrifice. The magi announced the purpose if each gift, with the third one being very uncomfortable at speaking of the sacrifice to the parents of the child. Joseph's expression slid from "whoa, food money" to "sacrifice? wtf?" as well--Joseph got most of the good bits.

A good start to the season. Watching it may become one of our family traditions. Though I think I'd rather watch it at home than in a theatre.

Comments

[dolmena.livejournal.com]

The purpose of each gift? I wonder where they got that from?

[selenite.livejournal.com]

It's a traditional interpretation, though there's others:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Wise_Men#Gifts_of_the_magi

[(Anonymous)]

Thanks. That's interesting. The only interpretations I knew for them was that they were expensive gifts appropriate to royalty and perhaps religious personages as well, and that incidentally the resins have medicial uses that might come in handy after childbirth.

Interesting

[carbonelle.livejournal.com]

I read Entertainment Weekly for my reference work (it spares me having to pay attention to most of the Khreppe That Is Pop Culture) and the comparison to that review and OSCs is... well, as the subject line says... Interesting.

I keep forgetting who I'm reading.

I shall have to go and see this one.

Back again, and hoping to catch up.

Re: Interesting

[selenite.livejournal.com]

Welcome back! I think anybody working at EW is probably not part of the target audience for Nativity Story.