The plot was good. But there were inaccuracies. I'm not talking about the need to combine events that were months apart to get all events crammed into one or two hours. Avoidable inacuracies. The women wore lipstick. The widow wore a lng black sheath dress. Joseph said they had checked all the inns in Bethlehem, but Bethlehem only had one in ("no room at THE inn"), the Wise Men followed the star all the way across the desert (actually, it reappeared to them after they left Jerusalem), the wise men decided on their own not to return to Herod (actually, they had seen a dream). Herod wore no beard, but ancient sculpture shows he had a long beard. Herod said the Magi said the Son of God had been born, but they said a king had been born. The soldiers went to Bethlehem right after M & J took Jesus to the 8th-day dedication ceremony. The rabbi was advised that how one feels is more important than the prophecies he had read. I said it seemed like a 1950s movie because they weren't as accurate then and viewers weren't as educated. Joseph, Mary and the Rabbi were played well.
6 Reviews
young Jesus
SnoopyStyle4 April 2021
Herod is the ruthless King who raises taxes for his extravagant vision. Joseph (Kevin Sorbo) and a pregnant Mary live a simple life and help those in need. They find no room in Jerusalem as they arrive for the census. Their friend Rabbi Elijah is taken with Rebekah who was left a widow after her husband was killed by Herod's tax collector.
The first half is an expanded version of the Nativity of Jesus. I'm not a biblical scholar. I'm not going to get into an argument over any biblical issues. As a movie, the production is a step below. More than anything, the directing is not helping. The second half is young Jesus and that's probably the more controversial. I don't know what to think about it other than it's not necessarily good narrative story telling. It's a series of young Jesus saying familiar biblical phrases and doing Jesus things. That's not a story but it's an interesting religious exercise. The best story comes from Rebekah's quest for revenge. It's better than Elijah's ethical conflict. Maybe if the movie concentrates on Rebekah. She has the biggest struggle and the largest possible character arc. This movie should be Rebekah and Jesus, not Joseph and Mary. Sorbo is doing weak Sorbo things and Mary is barely one dimensional.
The first half is an expanded version of the Nativity of Jesus. I'm not a biblical scholar. I'm not going to get into an argument over any biblical issues. As a movie, the production is a step below. More than anything, the directing is not helping. The second half is young Jesus and that's probably the more controversial. I don't know what to think about it other than it's not necessarily good narrative story telling. It's a series of young Jesus saying familiar biblical phrases and doing Jesus things. That's not a story but it's an interesting religious exercise. The best story comes from Rebekah's quest for revenge. It's better than Elijah's ethical conflict. Maybe if the movie concentrates on Rebekah. She has the biggest struggle and the largest possible character arc. This movie should be Rebekah and Jesus, not Joseph and Mary. Sorbo is doing weak Sorbo things and Mary is barely one dimensional.
Biblical Truth Displayed in Fictional Blasphemy
GeorgiaBoy900927 September 2016
Warning: Spoilers
This film presents itself as a telling of Mary and Joseph, the Earthly parents of Jesus. However, in reality it focuses on a fictional character named Rabbí Elijah, who battles with his pledge to watch over the two sons of a Jewish man killed by a Roman soldier and their mother, the later death of those two sons by a Roman soldier, and the final confronting of said soldier for revenge. All of this while also being a close friend of Mary and Joseph, being present during the birth of Jesus along with being given foreshadowing wisdom by Jesus however never once being mentioned in the Bible under any reference. The only Elijah referenced with Jesus is the Prophet Elijah who would descend from Heaven to announce the coming of Jesus which was prophesied by the Prophet Malachi. Furthermore it displays the death of Joseph and visions he received at his death of what was still to come, both of which are not fact being that Joseph is last mentioned during Jesus' time in the temple at age 12. In all this is a complete work of fiction falsely advertised in the intent to intrigue a desired market. It is lucky to receive the 2/10 I am rating it.
Entertaining to watch
phoenixinvictus26 June 2017
If you go into this movie expecting historical or biblical accuracy then, of course, you'll be disappointed. However, if you did what I did and watched a story in which the writers took creative license then you'll enjoy yourself. Kevin Sorbo gives a good performance.
It was good to finally see a Joseph who is a loving father, a counsellor and a guardian of his son. In the usual biblical stories, we see a Joseph who is somewhat "estranged" to Jesus as if calling himself His father was a blasphemy. In this version, Joseph is the lead character who makes a point to be Jesus's earthly protector and father.
We also follow the story of Elijah a rabbi and Rebekah who suffered from the consequences of King Herod's orders in the killing of all boys age two and younger in an attempt to kill Jesus. The message they try to project is the idea of compassion and forgiveness.
I enjoyed it and I don't usually watch religious movies.
It was good to finally see a Joseph who is a loving father, a counsellor and a guardian of his son. In the usual biblical stories, we see a Joseph who is somewhat "estranged" to Jesus as if calling himself His father was a blasphemy. In this version, Joseph is the lead character who makes a point to be Jesus's earthly protector and father.
We also follow the story of Elijah a rabbi and Rebekah who suffered from the consequences of King Herod's orders in the killing of all boys age two and younger in an attempt to kill Jesus. The message they try to project is the idea of compassion and forgiveness.
I enjoyed it and I don't usually watch religious movies.
Enjoy the film for the story it tells.
mikesutterlin14 February 2024
Braveheart has several historical inaccuracies, yet won the film won FIVE Oscars, including Best Picture. So, enjoy this movie, Joseph & Mary, for the story it does tell and you will be pleased. It's a quick watch and.actually has some good acting from Kevin Sorbo, who plays Joseph and Lara Jean Chorostecki and plays Mary.
The story is a biblical drama that is almost a two act play and follows Elijah, a devout Rabbi, almost as much as the story follows Joseph and Mary.
Anyone with any film or television experience, will tell you that actors wear makeup and lipstick, or else they will look as pale as a ghost, so some of these other reviews are just nonsense. Give the film a chance, it also has better reviews on other site, just lower on IMDB for some reason until others also give it the score it deserves based on the film itself.
The story is a biblical drama that is almost a two act play and follows Elijah, a devout Rabbi, almost as much as the story follows Joseph and Mary.
Anyone with any film or television experience, will tell you that actors wear makeup and lipstick, or else they will look as pale as a ghost, so some of these other reviews are just nonsense. Give the film a chance, it also has better reviews on other site, just lower on IMDB for some reason until others also give it the score it deserves based on the film itself.
If you want accuracy,read the Bible...
DonandLiG3 February 2019
However, you won't find much here. Most of the characters are a believably attired except 'Rebecca'. The actress must have rushed from a modern-day movie shoot to film this, with makeup and ruby-red lipstick. Unfortunately, she added nothing to the movie. sigh
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