The Nativity Story

The Nativity Story is the anti-Christmas movie of the season. That's not to say that it's against Christmas, but rather it's the complete opposite of what just about every other Christmas movie is. Whereas most holiday films are bright, colorful, frantic, hyper, shallow pieces of feel-good fluff that leave you feeling like you've eaten too much sugar, The Nativity Story is gentle, understated, deep and thought-provoking; it will prod you to really consider why you celebrate Christmas and whether or not you really understand what it (the holidays, life, our purpose) is truly about.

As with any movie that uses scripture as the inspiration for a story, there's bound to be a lot of skepticism from both sides about the quality of said movie. Well, those who hold the Bible to be dear and sacred, and who might have been concerned that the movie would not treat the source material with reverence can rest easy. The Nativity Story is very respectful of the Bible, with much of the dialogue coming straight from scripture. It helps bring to life familar passages with beautiful portrayals of events depicted in scripture. It literally fleshes out the story, and challenges one to think of those familar scriptures in a new light. As for those who think the Bible is a crusty collection of old wives tales and any movie based on its stories are bound to be cheesy and lame can also rest easy. The makers of The Nativity Story were smart enough to know that liberties have to be taken when translating a book to screen in order to make a good movie; and that's no different with the Bible. This is a well made movie that presents some intriguing insights as to what may have happened between the lines of what we're told in scripture.

That's not to say this movie isn't without its flaws. Unfortunately, some of the “Bible movie� stigma seeps into the dialogue where actors mistake reverent and holy sounding with stiff, emotionless and awkward sounding. In fact, one of the weakest links of the film is its portrayal of Mary. I say its "portrayal" because I don't think that the performance is necessarily the problem. Keshia Castle-Hughes is a talented actress, and I'm sure she did the best with what she was given to work with. While there are some shining moments where we get to see Mary as an actual, real human being, most of the time she's so reserved that she feels more like an unapproachable, stoic figure. I'm sure the filmmakers wanted to be careful not to step on anyone's toes in how they portrayed Mary, but they have erred too far on the side of caution and made Mary both uninteresting (hard to believe) and boring (which I think ismuch more offensive than being "too human").

However, despite these weak links, there's a lot in this movie that's excellent. Oscar Issac brings a life and depth to person of Joseph that makes him one of the highlights of the film. It's fascinating to watch this man struggle with the unimaginable; that he will be a surrogate father to God in the flesh. Little is written in the Bible about Joseph, but much of how he reacts and thinks and feels in this movie rings so true that it isn't hard to imagine that this is probably very close to what that man was like. The Wise Men are also a bright spot in the film, bringing some much needed levity and adding an outsiders perspective to one of the most amazing events in all of history. Indeed, the Wise Men are central to one of my favorite scenes; as they arrive where Jesus was born, we see them try to come to terms with the fact that they are in fact seeing God in the form of a small baby. The gamut of conflicting emotions that's silently portrayed on their faces perfectly reflects what we would probably all go through if we really stopped and considered the implications of God being in the flesh as a baby. It's a priceless scene that chokes me up every time.

In fact, I got choked up far more in this film than I ever did during The Passion of the Christ. That may be because I have a heart of stone, but I think it's more likely that while I could readily tell that my emotions were purposely being manipulated to reflect a certain mood in The Passion, The Nativity Story moves in such subtle, sublime ways that you may find yourself tearing up without really knowing why. This is where it succeeds and so many other Christmas films fail. Without having to brazenly blast its audience with some trivial message about the meaning of Christmas surrounded by lights, elves, and hyperactivity, The Nativity Story gently causes us to pause and reflect on the quiet side of Christmas. It takes a moment to softly point out that two thousand years ago, just as it often does today, the real purpose of Christmas was missed by all but a handful of sheppards, a few wise men, an unsure young father, and a frightened but faithful young woman. With constant noise of the latest high-tech, high-def gifts to buy, the great sales happening througout the holidays, the noisy competition at the box office to thrill and wow audiences, it can be extremely hard to focus on the fact the core of Christmas is a small, quiet moment that changed the world forever.

Although The Nativity Story is obviously targeted towards Christians as it doesn’t give a lot of background on events and assumes that viewers are familiar with the story already, it’s a film that holds meaning for any who will view. During the Christmas season, that’s a rare gift indeed as so many people want more than anything to simply find meaning; for the holidays, and for their lives. The answer to that desire was provided in the form a baby, born in the lowest place imaginable, surrounded by unremarkable people, unnoticed by the world at large. This is what The Nativity Story and ultimately the Christmas story is truly all about; and if you're willing, it can also be what the story of your life is all about as well.

Casino Royale

Anything I say about this movie will just be add more noise to the tremendous hype it's already received, so all I will say is see the movie; it's the best Bond has been since the Sean Connery years. Casino Royale isn't just a great Bond film, it's just flat out a great action film; regardless of whether or not you're a James Bond fan. I used to watch Bond films and afterwards would wish I was Bond, but I haven't felt that way for a long time. Daniel Craig in Casino Royale surprisingly resurrected those feelings within me, and it was like welcoming an old friend back home.

Casino Royale takes us back to the beginning, much like other recent re-boots such as Batman Begins. We get to see how Bond became a double-oh, where he got his trademark tuxedo look, and why he's never really allowed himself to care for or trust anyone. It's this exploration of the roots of Bond, the discovery of what made him who he is that's so fascinating and so poignant. In fact, James Bond is really a representation of a lot of people in today's society. We've become a cynical and distrustful breed in today's world, especially when it comes to the church. Why? Because we feel we've been betrayed, because we've been let down and disappointed by people we thought we could trust, by people we thought we could love. So instead of loving, instead of trusting, instead of giving ourselves to anyone, we zealously guard our real selves as we create a façade for the rest of the world to see. It's a hard lesson to learn, even for James Bond, but the simple fact of the matter is no matter whom you trust and who you love; they will let you down, they will disappoint you, and although it may not be cruelly intentional, they will betray you. So what are we to do? Become cold narcissists like Bond; enjoying what pleasures we can as we try to get through life with a minimal amount of risk to the emotional damage that comes from loving and trusting? It's a bleak, and ultimately a hollow way to live. Even Bond acknowledges that. I do have some good news, however. There is Someone you can trust who will never betray you and never you let you down. He was the only perfect person to ever walk this earth, and He came to this planet just for you. Though you may roll you eyes when I say this, His name is Jesus Christ and He is truly the only person who is totally trustworthy and who will never betray your love. In fact, there is great freedom in this realization, because once we realize that we can have trust and love that won't even be betrayed, we're free to try and share that and experience that with others knowing that even if a person let's us down, we'll always have the love and trust of Jesus Christ instead of a hollow, empty life devoid of anything lasting and worthwhile.

Well, as I said, there's little I can say that will add to what's been written about Casino Royale, so let me just say that it has great action scenes, tightly written dialogue and superb direction. It does lag a bit in the middle, and I think some of the elements of the ending were mishandled. Were it structured differently, I think it would have had much more of an emotional punch than it does. Still, this film has one of the greatest endings of a James Bond film in a long time. I've been a Bond since I was about thirteen, so to say that Daniel Craig effortlessly matches any of the Sean Connery outings is rather difficult for me to admit to. Believe the hype; Bond is back, and he's back in fine form. I'm really looking forward to future outings of the world's most famous and awesome super-spy.

Deja vu

If you're looking for a trip, then Deja vu is the movie for you. It's rare to find a film that has such an intricately woven plot with precise pieces that all fit together, but this year we've been fortunate to have two of them. Like The Prestige, Deja vu takes you on a journey that when it concludes, everything finally makes sense and you want to watch it again to see all the stuff you might have missed the first time before you really knew what was going on. Be warned, though, this is not a sit-back-and-enjoy-your-popcorn kind of movie. To get the most out of it, you need to pay attention; an investment that may be more than most audiences are willing to go for.

Deja vu actually has a lot in common with Tony Scott's other film Enemy of the State, so much so that at times I felt like I had deja vu. You have the high tech gadgets and amazing satellite imagery with fancy zooms on computer screens and the like. However, this movie introduces some new, distinctively sci-fi elements that really sets it apart from Enemy. These sci-fi elements really stretch one's suspension of disbelief, but they're handled in such a way that make them seem somewhat plausible. Regardless of whether or not you understand all the techno-physics-quantum theory-geek-babble that's used to try and explain what's happening, if you can just accept the fact that these things exist as a interesting device to create a unique and twisting plot, you’ll understand enough to enjoy yourself; though if you've ever seen Back to the Future 2 or certain episodes of Star Trek, you'll have no trouble following where this film is going.

Deja vu is a story that's entirely dependent on its plot, so fortunately the plot is well written and interesting enough to carry the film. It starts with a terrorist act that is difficult to watch, especially considering the current events occurring in the real world, but the opening has enough of an impact to make your really care about what happens throughout the rest of the film. When you add in solid performances by Denzel Washington, Paula Patton, Val Kilmer and Jim Caviezel along with the usual deft touch of Tony Scott, you get a tight, intense techno action thriller. While most of the characters are really mere caricatures, they service the plot well enough that their shallowness isn't a distraction. They're just there to helps us figure out what's going on. It's the event that really matters in this film, and if you're looking for a trip then Deja vu is the movie for you.

The core question of this film is whether or not you can change something that's happened. Is there such a thing as destiny? Are events predetermined to unfold only in certain ways, or can our choices affect the outcome of those events? These are pretty heady questions for what many may take as a simple action flick, but Deja vu is much more than just a simple action flick. Yes there is action (including one of the most unique and mind bending chase scenes I've ever seen), but there's much more going on that just stuff blowing up. This is a discussion of our right to choose versus the perception that God is in control of everything and determines what happens to us. We hear all the time, especially in moments of tragedy and crisis, that God is in control; but if that's true, than our choices must be meaningless; which can make us (quite rightfully) feel distraught, angry and hopeless. But what if choices really mattered? What if we had the right to decide if we were going to fulfill a destiny or change it? And what if it was God who gave us that ability? How would that affect our lives and the choices we make? Well, let me just say that you don't need a lot of fancy monitors and high-tech gizmos, gadgets and computers to find the answers to those questions. In fact, all you need is an ancient book that still provides relevant answers. It’s called the Bible, and within its pages you'll find your destiny, but you'll also find that it's up to you to choose to fulfill that destiny.

Deja vu is signature Tony Scott, and regardless of whether or not that's something you like, I think that it's a film that's intriguing enough for just about anyone to enjoy. Granted, it asks a lot of its viewers; a huge amount of suspension of disbelief, a high demand to pay attention, and you need to overlook its lack of resolution of certain paradoxes or its lack of character background. Deja vu also fails to resolves some minor plot lines, but most of these details fall by the wayside as it sweeps us along for the ride. All in all, this is a mediocre movie that was turned into a pretty good movie because of the skill of the director, the solidness of the performances, and especially because of the strength of the story. If you're looking for a trip, then Déjà vu is the movie for you…that's funny…I feel liken I've said…nah.

The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause

Is it really that time of year again? The time of year when we shell out ten bucks a head to buy tickets to go see a Christmas movie that tells us that Christmas isn't all about money while studio executives anxiously wait to see how much money they make at the box office so they can determine if they should make another sequel to get us to pay more money to learn about the fact that Christmas isn't about money. It must be, because Tim Allen is back in the red suit for his third (and depending on the box office, final) outing as Santa in The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause.

Now let me just say that I've never been a fan of this franchise. I enjoyed the first film when I first saw it, but like a joke that gets worn out, I enjoyed repeated viewings of it less and less; especially as it became further removed from the hey days of Home Improvement. The Santa Clause was never a Christmas classic in my mind, at least not on the level of A Christmas Story and the like. I never even bothered to see the second one, so there were a few surprises for me as I viewed Santa Clause 3. The first thing that struck me was the identity of Santa’s wife. I was astounded. Didn’t Santa know this woman is Juliet from Lost? She’s evil! She’s not to be trusted! How could Santa be married to her? It took me awhile to separate the two very different roles, and when I finally accepted Elizabeth Mitchell as Mrs. C, I was able to get on with the rest of the film. The other shock was how old Charlie was. I couldn’t believe it! It’s been twelve years since I first saw The Santa Clause and now Charlie is a surly teenager? That took some adjusting to as well. Once I finally settled in after these initial shocks, what I found was a movie that knew exactly what kind of film it was, and despite being the third outing, was still fun to watch.

Much of the fun, however, comes from the character of Jack Frost; gleefully and mischievously portrayed by Martin Short. Short was the sole reason I was curious to see this film, and he was well worth it. His portrayal of Jack Frost is the best part of the movie, and I sorely missed him when he wasn't on screen. He's such a delightful character, they could conceivably make a spin-off film all about him. Although Short is the stand-out in the cast, that isn't to say the rest don't do well. Tim Allen (who could probably do this role in his sleep by now, but thankfull still gives it his all), Judge Reinhold, Ann-Margret, Alan Arkin and the rest of the recognizable cast all look like their having a lot of fun. No one has any delusions about what sort of film this is. They're relaxed and just having a good time which adds some energy to what could have otherwise have been a tired entry in an unnecessary sequel. Still, if you go to see this film, make no mistake that Martin Short is the star.

One of the funniest parts of The Santa Clause 3 (and I’m sure it was entirely unintentional) was how it talked about what the meaning of Christmas is. After Jack Frost brings his evil scheme to take over Christmas to fruition, Scott Calvin tries to convince Jack that Christmas isn't about the toys, the stuff, the commercialism or the money. I found that to be hilarious considering this was the third film in a franchise that quite frankly never should have been a franchise. The fact that these three films have been using Christmas to bring in a big box office to assure more sequels seems to fly in the face of the Scott's heartfelt message to Jack. Even more tragic, however, was the fact that this film didn't offer any real clue as to what Christmas really is all about. It touched on family and love, but it was such a quick mention that I almost felt as though I was being told "Christmas isn't about money, it's about something else, probably family and togetherness and yadda yadda yadda this is the third time we've talked about this so you know the drill." If you want kids to know that Christmas isn't about crass commercialism, I think you need to be a bit more convincing than that. The sad thing is I think this really reflects the place we've reached in society. Christmas has become so incredibly hollow that people deep down know that there must be more to it than this, but have no idea what that may be. We simply can’t remember what the reason for the season is. I guess we need the great theologian Linus to return to the stage to remind us that "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord" and "that's what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown." There is more to Christmas, you can be sure of that. It's all about the greatest gift this world has ever known; a gift that has been given to you. We are a visited planet for Christmas marks the day that God came to live among us, and that is what makes Christmas the truly glorious holiday of love, peace, warmth and light that it really is.

The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause presents more of what audiences loved about the first films, and successfully introduces enough that's new to help it feel fun and energetic. This is a movie that knows who its audience is, knows what they want, and doesn't ever take itself too seriously. It's a fun family Christmas outing, but whether or not it's worth the king's ransom necessary to see it in the theatre is up to you. I would say wait for next year's DVD. The Santa Clause 3 is by no means any sort of Christmas classic, but perhaps more of a Christmas diversion. It's fun, it's entertaining, but it isn't really satisfying if one truly wants to experience what Christmas is all about.