- Content: “The Real Meaning Behind Christmas”
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What You Need To Know:
KEVIN COSTNER PRESENTS: THE FIRST CHRISTMAS shares the wonderful story of the birth of Jesus Christ. It seeks to portray everything in an accurate light and clearly presents the Gospel. The special is filmed in a unique way and will hold viewers’ attention, especially those who enjoy historical facts. It has a strong Christian, biblical worldview that offers enlightening insights into what the birth of Jesus would have been like at the time and within the culture surrounding it. Kevin Costner does a fantastic job narrating and guiding the special. However, THE FIRST CHRISTMAS has multiple instances of strong violence. So, MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for older children.
Content:
Very strong Christian, biblical worldview about remembering the true meaning of Christmas and focusing on historical events that unfolded in Bethlehem, Christian morals are seen consistently throughout the movie and at a different parts throughout, the movie interviews Protestant and Catholic clergy and Christian theologians;
The word “asses” are used in an inappropriate context;
A father stabs his son multiple times, it’s shown just off screen, but we still see facial expression and hear it clearly, the boy is then seen dead in a pool of blood, a destroyed village is shown with dead and bloodied bodies strewn about, bloody and beaten men are shown hanging from crosses, a maiden gives birth, a woman commits suicide and jumps off a roof, and her broken and bloody body is shown on the street below, a man stabs himself violently in the stomach with a knife, and Jesus is shown gruesomely hanging on a cross, with a close-up shot of his side being pierced with a spear is shown;
No sex;
Upper male nudity is seen at multiple points;
A village is seen making wine;
No smoking or drugs; and
A king tells lies, and his family deceives him.
More Detail:
The TV special features three elements: the plot, narration and interviews with Christian clergy and theologians who offer enlightening insights into what the birth of Jesus would have been like at the time and in the culture surrounding it. Throughout the movie, it switches between these elements, mixing acting, narration, and interviews, resulting in a very educational yet stop-and-go style. Kevin Costner does a fantastic job narrating and guiding the film, and the movie accomplishes what it sets out to do: offer an accurate, clear representation of the birth of Jesus Christ.
The story opens with Mary and Joseph’s engagement. Their love story plays out before the sudden twist that Mary is with child, however, not by Joseph, nor any other man. During this time, the Roman government conducts a mandatory census, and Joseph and Mary must travel to Bethlehem to register. They are struggling as Mary is nearing birth, and they are still processing the shock of the baby that’s within Mary. While in Bethlehem, it comes time to give birth, and Mary must bring into the world not just a baby boy, but someone so much greater, so much more than anyone could comprehend, the incarnation of the Son of God.
KEVIN COSTNER PRESENTS: THE FIRST CHRISTMAS is clearly rooted in faith-based values and a Christian worldview that focuses on the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who was carried and born by a virgin and who lived a perfect and sinless life. That is what Christmas is truly about: the celebration of our Lord coming to a broken and sinful earth as a humble baby so that he could eventually take our sins upon Himself and offer salvation to mankind.
The movie is free of objectionable content. However, it does contain multiple scenes of strong violence, including a father stabbing and killing his son, men hanging on crosses, and a sword being jabbed into someone’s side at a very close angle. So, MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for older children, young teenagers and sensitive adults.
