CHRISTMAS MOVIE REVIEWS
MyRelgiousQuestionsViews.YoaSite.com, Index: “Christmas Movie Reviews”
I love most Christmas movies religious, cartoony, secular and even the liberal ones (a little). Of course the ones that depict a cross, a giant star, a manger (feeding trough) Christmas carols, and grumpy people who turn into joyful helpful people are my favorites.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL, BY CHARLES DICKENS, United American Video, Feature-Length Animated Classic, 75 min, Color, UAV Entertainment.
A CHRISTMAS VISITOR, Starring: William Devane, Meredith Baxter, Dean McDermott, Reagan Pasternak, etc., Hallmark Entertainment, Cypress Point Prod.; www.EchoBridgeHE.com.
Review by John, 9/19/10
This is a sad story that ends in healing, happiness and revival of life. I watched it two times even though it made me cry (3 X’s, 12/20/10). I think the acting is so good that that’s what makes me cry. It has a few miracles that can only happen during Christmas time, because that’s when God put on humanity, took on our suffering, & experienced our fear of death (and died to take our sins & eternal death to replace it with hope of eternal happiness in a second blissful life). Jesus the Anointed One of God who changed the whole world, but this visitor will only change one small family’s world for the better. This movie is not about Jesus, but his name is mentioned in a tasteful joke. It’s all about a family that won’t go to church anymore or celebrate Christmas. They’re like a Scrooge family, except it isn’t greed for money, but greed for grief, a suffering that is greedily held on to, too long, which is excluding friends, happiness & God. They are separated from today’s joys & community. A tragedy has affected this family & now they won’t celebrate Christmas or go to church with their only daughter. A visitor comes to town and powerfully affects this family, a family that is loved and missed by their community. Who is this visitor: an imposter, a criminal, a trickster, a ghost, an angel or Jesus? This movie has its strange moments, but it worked for me. It also has good advice for people going through suffering, mourning and fear.
A WALT DISNEY CHRISTMAS, VHS, 46 min.
[Birth of Jesus, Mysteries of the Bible, with Jerry Aurbach]
CHRISTMAS PART 1 & PART 2, TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL TV SERIES
IT’S CHRISTMASTIME AGAIN, CHARLIE BROWN, The first Peanuts animated Christmas video in 27 years, VHS, A Lee Mendelson-Bill Melendez Production in association with Charles Schulz’ Creative Ass. & United Media. © 1958, 1965 United Feature Syndicate, Inc.
HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS, DR. SEUSS’, Narrated by Boris Karloff, MGM/UA, Home Video, VHS, 26 min., Produced by Chuck Jones & Theodor (Dr. Seuss) Geisel, 1966
JESUS OF NAZERETH, by Frank Zefferelli
LOVELY, STILL, (something mysterious, new, unexpected and lovely is happening to Robert Malone), DVD, 92 minutes plus Bonus Material, PG (Parental Guidance Suggested…for thematic material, mild language & brief smoking). Monterey Video www.montereymedia.com, © Overture Street Films, LLC, 2010. Actors: Martin Landau, Ellen Burstyn, Adam Scott & Elizabeth Banks. Directed by Nik Fackler. Review by John, 12/21/10
This is not a typical children’s movie or a Christian movie because it seems, at first to have the erroneous belief that human love is all you need. It also seems to show two old people falling in love & winding up in bed together without being married. Most Christians unfortunately follow the philosophy of Hollywood over the Bible when it comes to sex, but do we have to watch it in a movies & hundreds of times a month on television programming? Should we brain wash ourselves out of the Bible & churches? The romance is nice, realistic & becomes fun to watch. The woman is naturally expert at relationships & dating, but the man is awkward & doesn’t have a clue as to what women want. That’s the way it seems to be with most men, except for those that exploit & abuse women. So far, so good, but in the last third of the movie ugly reality comes crashing in. Some disturbing behaviors erupt then our whole understanding of their relationship is turned upside down. We are stunned & saddened. Then we see the true story & a true love that is stronger because of adversity. Today we see divorce & broken relationships over minor irritations, but this is a powerful love. This is not for young children, they should be somewhat mature & with parents that can explain harsh realities of life & the nobility of agape or unconditional love.
MIRACLES OF THE HOLY LAND, TV SPECIAL.
MIRACLE MAKER, Claymation, animation of the story of Jesus. Amazing work, great characters and voices.
MIRACLES OF THE HOLY LAND, TV special.
NOEL,
Movie Review & Sermon "The Liberal Gospel" by Angry John, 9/7/10
This is a
Christmas film without Christ, but not without love. There is a nut case, a glass
angel, reincarnation, some kook that pays someone to hurt
him and loneliness. Is this a mockery of the best holiday of the year or should I
say, the saddest and most depressing time
for the liberals in the, mostly Christ-less world of Hollywood (except for blasphemous use of His & God's name)? Aside
from my criticism what is the hope and gospel of this liberal movie? Well, the young
must connect with the old and insane and lie to make them feel better. I can't disagree with helping the insane, sick & elderly, Christians are called to do that. The
lonely & depressed, but still very attractive white woman (Susan Sarandon) visits her mother everyday in the hospital, despite having to work. She makes a chance acquaintance with
young beautiful Spanish woman on the verge of marriage and a breakup at the same time to help save her and she saves the young lady. This is salvation through "pluralism"
& from strangers of different cultures, but not through Christ, your own family or his church people. Well, maybe we Christians aren't doing enough to show the love of Christ to the world. The dying mother doesn’t talk. Why? Is it because
her daughter doesn’t love or visit her? No, quite the opposite, the old mother "communicates" in another way that she wants her daughter to get a man and go on with her life. She
doesn’t want to be visited, loved and cared for by her daughter at the end of
her life. Where do liberals get these
crazy ideas from? Not from the God of Abraham or common sense, but selfishness of the caretaker, unselfishness or the dying person & the rugged American spirit of individualism gone wrong. I still liked the movie, because I love everyone, even liberals & any movie that tries to encourage us lonely humans beings to reach out to others in love. A true Christmas movie begins with unhappiness caused by ignorance, loneliness or tragedy, but then there is an insight, a touch, a miracle, love, a conversion which leads to a changed life, courage, laughing & sharing with people. Life that reaches out to heal, to comfort & to assist transforms even the saddest person's mind & heart, hopefully it will last a life time. Hopefully we will continue to extend ourselves after the Christmas season is over.
NOEL, MIRACLES ARE CLOSER THAN YOU THINK, PG, DVD, 102 min., Director Chazz Palminteri, Screen Media Films, with Penelope Cruz, Susan Sarandon, Paul Walker & Alan Arkin, www.screenmediafilms.net.
STAR OVER BETHLEHEM, BIBLICAL HOME VIDEO, VHS, 30 MIN.
THE GRINGE, with Jim Carey
VIRGIN MARY, MYSTERIOUS WAYS TV SHOW
