Untitled Affirm Holiday Musical Film
This live-action Christmas musical adventure for the entire family, weaves classic Christmas melodies with humor, faith and new pop songs in a retelling of the greatest story ever told, the story of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus.
- Released: 2023-11-10
- Runtime: 98 minutes
- Genre: Family, Fantasy, Music
- Stars: Antonio Banderas, Milo Manheim, Fiona Palomo, Antonio Cantos, Stephanie Gil, Joel Smallbone, Juan José Marco, Rizwan Manji, Geno Segers, Omid Djalili
- Director: Adam Anders
Comments
- activatewheneveryoneelsedies - 17 February 2024
A Hoot and a Holler
I didn't know what to expect with this film-but it has Milo Manheim in it and I loved him the Zombies trilogy...but I did not expect THIS.
It's a musical, using contemporary styles-a little cliche in that regard, but still well scored...and the music started sounding more and more familiar, and it turns out the movie was made by the same guys who made Rock of Ages, which I liked.
So, okay, I'll keep going with this, I'm intrigued so far-and well, it's a prequel about the events leading up to Joseph and Mary getting married, unlike the billion other christmas movies that focus on the twenty-four hours that Mary was in labor.
And I really enjoyed it. There was a lot of humor, everyone had fun with their parts-the movie did not take itself seriously-but it wasn't a parody like Life of Brian, it was just a fun musical centered around the relationships between the characters: between Joseph and Mary, between Herod and Antipater, between the Three Wise Men who had this bromance thing going on, and all the joys and disappointments relationships go through-and in Antipater's case, the disillusionment he has with this father, played delightfully by Antonio Banderas.
And then there was that angel who kept whacking his head into door jambs because he couldn't remember to walk on the ground instead of floating in the air... - dmadau-859-532006 - 26 December 2023
WOW nothing less than brilliant
I did not have high expectations for this movie. The trailers did not represent it well. I feared a cheesy low budget movie. But after watching it, I was blown away. Beautifully executed, and very moving. This is on par with Broadway level musicals. BTW, the guys who did this movie worked on the TV series Glee.
The music is amazing, the words and lyrics resonate perfectly with the storyline. This movie adds a different viewpoint on a storyline that has been told over the centuries. Although some artistic liberties have been taken in the script , the overall meaning and message of the redemptive story, is there .
At times it is funny at times it is serious and thought-provoking. For example... Mary's song where she asks, "I need you more than ever...how can I carry your son when I need you to carry me" and "Help me have the faith you have in me.... How can I be mother to a savior when I need saving " to Herod's son Antipater questioning ". Am I just like you ...what kind of king is in my blood? What kind of man have I become When it"s in my Blood". Can someone change which echos the cries of mankind from the beginning. And Fun songs like "Mary, Mary Mary it's good for you" when Mary question her engagement to Joseph and the Three Wise Guys song in Herods court. To touching songs like "Can we become we" when Mary and Joseph question their betrothal.
Antonio Banderas was excellent in his role as a crazy Herod. Love his song "It's stinking good to be king". The vocal performances were spot on and the casting of Mary and Joseph was perfect. This in my book will become a classic Christmas movie. Perfect for the family. Tells the story of how difficult it must have been for a young unmarried pregnant girl to live during those times. It also address the issue of how God's ways are not always what we expect and not necessarily a path of comfort as Mary and Joseph soon realize.
A masterpiece!
