Christmas with the Chosen: Holy Night

I loved the Chosen Christmas Special last year but this year there was little new. The intro by director Dallas Jenkins, the Bocelli performance, Season 4 trailer, monologue by Amanda Jenkins, and flash forward with Mary M and Mary (Jesus mother) was new, but almost everything else was a repeat from last years special including the musician performances (other than Bocelli). . Why was the monologue done by Amanda (directors wife)? Why not a recognizable and much loved cast member? I wasn't particularly wowed by viewing on the big theatre screen either. It would play just as nicely on home theatre TV's. Sorry but this performance just didn't do it for me.

Music is so uplifting . After losing my mom I needed to hear joy. This filled me. This gave me hope. I didn't expect anything more than to feel again for at least a while. And I did. This is spiritual. This is religious. And it is warming and wonderful. I feel sad for those who were expecting a traditional form of storytelling and felt the need to write mean things. I was told by so many this would sooth me and that's exactly what it did. The voices are just wonderful. If you need some calm this season - or any time- and you just need to feel connected to something bigger than you this will do it.

"A young mother labeled impure. A shepherd boy considered "unclean". A never-before-seen performance from Andrea Bocelli highlights seven music performances and two beautiful new monologues."

I don't get all the review-bombing here considering all the features were spelled out in the tag-line.

Overall, I really enjoyed the films and the musical performances. Even the speaking/monologues were great. I felt they provided great natural breaks to the film that added a different pacing that I really enjoyed.

The messenger has such a unique feel given that it is a short film from years before the show's release. If I didn't know Shepherd & Messengers were separate films, I never would have noticed given how perfectly the two are woven together here. I found it to be an amazing and accurate portrayal on the Christmas story without feeling like an under budget rendition of the virgin birth.

Never posted a review here before and this is more a response to another negative review. If you are expecting a two-hour movie this is not it. But if you want to view a meaningful, well-produced Christmas event, this works very well.

To those who have seen the previous Chosen Christmas specials, maybe this will disappoint because there is (mostly) material that has been shown before in one form or another, but apart from that, the music, the messages and the drama are all excellent and seemed Spirit-filled to me.

Since the choice of Amanda Jenkins as one of the speakers was criticized by another reviewer let me counter that by saying I thought she hit a home run. Her content and delivery was perfect.

In a sea of near endless garbage and darkness that flashes across movie screens, it is great to see something filled with so much goodness.

It was exactly what I expected based in the description and my wife and I enjoyed it immensely.

Be prepared for a modern church service with uplifting music, information about what's happening within the 'church' (Angel Studios), a sermon, mini-movie and closing music.

For those who didn't understand that going into the theater, it's unfortunate some of you left before the mini production of Joseph and Mary's trip to Bethlehem and search for a place to stay as well as the Shepherd's story.

If you have a chance, it is well worth your time, just understand what you are going to see and sit back and let it soak in.