OPINION:
As the temperatures drop outside, the new movies in theaters are just heating up.
This week, Washington Times’ Higher Ground partner, Plugged In, has reviews of a biblical epic set to music, “Journey to Bethlehem,” and a new Marvel movie bringing back old character favorites and introducing new heroines, “The Marvels.”
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Journey to Bethlehem – In Theaters
What’s the reason for the season? Jesus, of course. Every priest, pastor and faithful Christian will tell you that. And, of course, the focus should be on the Son of God, right? In the Bible, everyone wants to see the Christ child—even those who mean Him harm. In Nativity displays, all eyes are on the manger. Think a newborn baby snags the spotlight during family reunions? Imagine a newborn who’ll save the universe.
But in stories about the Nativity, our focus is pulled elsewhere, and understandably so. Because Jesus doesn’t have a lot of lines in this stage of His life, our attention is drawn to those parents. We wonder what they must’ve thought about that stable-based miracle. And maybe we wonder what their lives were like, before and after.
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In Nativity scenes and classic paintings, Mary and Joseph look so serene, so peaceful. And yet, given the chaos and danger around them, they were likely anything but.
During Easter, we witness Jesus’ divinity—the soul-saving power of His sacrifice and resurrection. But during Christmas, we’re given an opportunity to think about His humanity—because we meet His human parents.
“Journey to Bethlehem” is one of the most unusual Nativity stories you’ll see. Mary sings about arranged marriages. Roman soldiers dance. Herod (played by Antonio Banderas) glowers and leers, and, let’s be honest, hams it up, too. “Journey to Bethlehem” is the Nativity story crossed with “High School Musical.” And for some, this fanciful telling will be just too fanciful to embrace. Anyone who thinks “The Chosen” went too far in its extra-biblical imaginings … well, just wait ‘til you see a Broadway-style dance number in an ancient Judean marketplace.
But for me, it works, and I’ll tell you why.
As it opens the first chapter on what the movie itself calls “the greatest story ever told,” “Journey to Bethlehem” allows its camera to linger on two youngsters who had big dreams of their own. Mary, a lover of Scripture, wanted to be a teacher. Joseph wistfully wishes he could invent stuff. The two are thrown together and given not a single say in the matter. Their reactions aren’t that far removed from what ours might be: anger, confusion, exasperation, even a little bit of heartbreak. Mary moans about this drastic turn in her life. “Is this what I’m chosen for?” She sings. “I thought I was meant for more.”
And, of course, she was. God had far bigger plans for her than she could possibly have imagined.
As I said at the outset, the Nativity has always been a love story—the love of a Creator for His creation. But “Journey to Bethlehem” reminds us that there’s another love in play: the love of a man for a woman, of (eventually) a woman for a man. And then there’s the love they both have for their very special, very human, very divine Son.
We can never fully understand God’s love for us—its depth and breadth and staggering power. But the love found in a family? Yeah, we can grasp that. And through the Nativity’s very human avatars—even those that sing and dance—we get just a hint of God’s love for us.
Read the rest of the review here. Watch the trailer here.
The Marvels – In Theaters
Like any Marvel film, you have to take “The Marvels” with a grain of salt.
On the one hand, you have inspiring messages of heroism, self-sacrifice, and friendship. There are some positive female role models. And in my own humble opinion, we also get one of the funniest scenes that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has ever produced.
However, there’s also a lot of violence. Perhaps not as much as some other Marvel flicks, but still probably one battle too many—especially when you consider that people are dying in these fights.
We also have some language to watch out for. And since we are talking about superheroes, of course, there are the cosmic forces behind their powers that come into play. Some of this is scientific, some of it is supernatural, all of it is a bit mysterious.
It’s not entirely unnavigable for families willing to discuss these topics. But viewers will still need to be cautious about what they’re consuming as they make a decision about this latest MCU fare.
Having said that, however, the lessons shared by the movie’s three main heroines are often surprisingly earnest and sweet, making “The Marvels” one of the nicer MCU movies recently.
Read the rest of the review here. Watch the trailer here.
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Plugged In is a Focus on the Family publication designed to shine a light on the world of popular entertainment while giving families the essential tools they need to understand, navigate, and impact the culture in which they live. Through our reviews, articles and discussions, we hope to spark intellectual thought, spiritual growth and a desire to follow the command of Colossians 2:8: “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”
Reviews written by Paul Asay and Emily Tsaio.
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