News of the Nativity Story - Nov. 21st edition

The Nativity Story in the News: WorldNetDaily: "The new movie, "The Nativity Story," to open Dec. 1 in more than 3,000 theaters nationwide, will be a welcome reprieve from the usual holiday fare of action, violence, cornball comedy and even those films that revolve around "the holiday season." Christianity Today: "With the recent announcement of Fox's faith-based film division, and new stories about the Christian movie industry in both Newsweek and TIME, evangelical cinema is receiving more than its share of publicity—and no film is being talked about quite so much as The Nativity Story." United Press International: "A new movie about the birth of Jesus hits U.S. theaters next month backed by a large budget and a crash course in the Bible for the producers." We're starting to add more links to the sidebar. Many more changes in the works...

News of the Nativity Story - Nov. 20th edition

The Nativity Story in the News (both good and bad): South Florida Sun-Sentinel: "But mediocre or downright lousy movies don't always announce themselves so clearly. Anyone who reports the following news is bound to be accused of outright sacrilege, but The Nativity Story (Dec. 1) -- which tells the story of the miraculous birth of (to quote Ricky Bobby) the tiny infant Jesus -- is decidedly un-immaculate." Zenit news: "The world premiere of the film "The Nativity Story" is scheduled to take place Nov. 26 in the Vatican." Buffalo News: "The Nativity Story" - Mary (Keisha Castile-Hughes) and Joseph (Oscar Isaac) can't book a hotel on Christmas Eve." DI-VE.com: "The Nativity Story" makes its debut in local cinemas on December 6. It is expected to be a major attraction this coming Holiday Season." Philadelphia Inquirer: "Amid all the holiday junk food, this film's the real deal. Catherine Hardwicke's human-scaled biblical about Mary (Keisha Castle-Hughes) and Joseph (Oscar Isaac) cuts to the quick of ordinary Nazarenes who rise to their extraordinary destiny as the parents of Jesus." The Wichita Eagle: "Director Catherine Hardwicke ("Lords of Dogtown") takes a fresh dramatic approach to the period in the lives of Joseph (Oscar Isaac) and Mary (Keisha Castle-Hughes) as they struggle to get to Bethlehem in time for the birth of their child, Jesus." Associated Press: "The birth of Christ is told in dramatic fashion in "The Nativity Story," starring Keisha Castle-Hughes ("Whale Rider") as the Virgin Mary. "It is kind of a contrast to the usually funny holiday fare and the other more violent movies you get around the holidays. Maybe it'll be an antidote to that. It's not a cynical approach. It's really quite pure in a way," said "Nativity Story" director Catherine Hardwicke, whose credits include the acclaimed teen drama "thirteen." "It does eventually seem to take you to a spiritual place, a more sacred place by the end of the movie." We'll be updating this website drastically in the next few days to prepare for the rush of visitors expected before and during the release of the Nativity Story. So bookmark us and check back soon!

Video: Screenwriter Mike Rich on the set of the Nativity Story movie

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"Nativity Story Gets Groundbreaking Vatican Premiere" - Cinematical

Cinematical: Nativity Story Gets Groundbreaking Vatican Premiere The Nativity Story will become the first film ever to premiere at the Vatican, the film's distributor has announced. The film, which is due to be released December 1, will be shown on Sunday, November 26 at the Vatican's Pope Paul VI Hall to an audience of appproximately 7,000 invited guests, including director Catherine Hardwick, actors Shohreh Aghdashloo and Oscar Isaac, producers Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey, and screenwriter Mike Rich. The screening will benefit the construction of a school in Mughar, Israel, 40 miles from Nazareth. Rolf Mittweg, New Line President and COO of Worldwide Distribution and Marketing, said of the film, "We are very proud of The Nativity Story and extremely grateful that the Vatican has embraced the film in this way," says Mittweg. "We believe it is the perfect venue to present the film's universal message of hope and faith, a message we are sure will resonate around the world." [Read more here.]