The Nativity Story

I borrowed The Nativity Story this week. I've been meaning to see it for a while, and quite enjoyed it. I felt that it stayed true to the Biblical story and did a good job of showing the look and culture of the time. A few extra bits were added to the story (which makes sense when trying to put a few passages of the Bible into a 1 1/2 hour movie), but I never felt that they had deviated from the truth. (Except that they added to Gabriel's message to Mary, to add a 'Hail Mary' to it, which was unnecessary)

I was happy that Mary was played by someone who was still a teenager, though Keisha Castle-Hughes' fake Aramaic accent drove me slightly nuts. There is also too many long mournful looks among the actors. I would have liked to have seen a little more joy, at least around the birth.

I'd recommend it if you want to see a visual representation of the Christmas story, though it's not for young children (Herod's killing of the babies is dealt with tastefully but is still there) (though I found it in the 'family' section of the movie store).

What I found weird personally was that while I was watching it, I didn't really associate it with the story I have read often from the Bible. It felt hard to think of it as a historical story. Is it because I'm desensitised to the screen, and so use to seeing made up stories that I naturally assume that movies are all fiction? Is it because I'm cautious of any thing based on the Bible because I think it's better to actually read the Bible rather than an adaption?

I wouldn't recommend it if you want to know about the birth of our saviour, simply because you can not go past the words inspired by the One who was there.