Mary

My family and I were really looking forward to this movie.

Too bad it was awful. It came across almost kind of like Vikings or with game of thrones type characters. Do get me wrong, I loved Vikings. The angel Gabriel was creepier than the devil.

While I know they needed to take some "artistic freedom" with some of the unknown parts of the story, this film completely ignores things that are known. I'm not claiming to be a Bible scholar, but come on folks.

Mary was thought to be about 3 when she went into the temple, not 10-12 as in the movie. Her parents are believed to have died while she was in the temple, when she was about 8-9 years old. This is according to the Apostle James' writings.

The whole story around the entire town knowing Mary was pregnant was ridiculous to say the least. It actually contradicts what the Bible does say.

I could go on, but the film isn't worth my time.

CONS: For Bible-study Christians this movie is going to disappoint. This is "Hollywood's" version of the story of Mary. I no longer practice any religion but I was raised Roman Catholic and did not see any similarities to what I was taught in Catechism. But alas, I realize the Catholic church's teachings may also be inaccurate. Also, the dialogue is rudimentary at best and storyline is rather choppy and rushed.

PROS: Great cinematography; visually stunning. It's other redeeming quality is Sir Anthony Hopkins as King Harod and other fine actor. A good thing, because only good actors could pull off the slow, awful dialogue and awkward moments in this film.

Overall, the film is entertaining albeit overly-dramatic and corny at times. If you're willing to just view it as entertainment, you may enjoy it more.

"Mary" (2024) had the potential to be a powerful and moving portrayal of one of history's most significant figures. While the film boasts stunning visuals and a reverent tone, it ultimately falls short due to a lackluster screenplay and missed opportunities to delve deeper into Mary's emotional and spiritual journey.

The film chronicles Mary's life from her childhood to the birth of Jesus, touching upon key events and challenges she faced. While the production design and cinematography are commendable, creating a visually immersive experience, the narrative itself feels flat and uninspired.

The screenplay lacks depth and nuance, failing to fully explore Mary's internal struggles, her unwavering faith, and the profound impact of her experiences. The dialogue often feels stilted and lacks emotional resonance, preventing the audience from truly connecting with the characters and their journey.

The performances are adequate, but the actors are hampered by the weak script, preventing them from fully embodying the complexities of their roles. The film's pacing also suffers, with certain scenes feeling rushed while others drag on unnecessarily.

Despite its shortcomings, "Mary" (2024) offers glimpses of what could have been a truly powerful and inspiring film. The film's reverence for its subject matter and its stunning visuals are commendable. However, its lackluster screenplay and missed opportunities to explore the emotional and spiritual depths of Mary's story prevent it from reaching its full potential.

Marys parents, and the king looked like they were Scottish which made it hard from the start. Gabriel looked evil. Great acting and production..I thought with Passion that Christian film has reached a new height but we never got that high again..Music ministry is the same. Its gone down. What is happening? There use to be more good Christian films and songs but not as much. Christians films are getting better at production but scripts are lackin. Ethnically Mary and Joseph were great . The opening scenes with herod may have been over the top and less over. The filming and cotr message are great.

Wow. I see a lot of low reviews for this film that I don't really understand. I am not certain what people expect when making a movie with limited canonical source material. Of course there will be creative licenses taken to create the depth needed for a full length film. But I think there were good tie-ins, like Mary being dedicated to the temple, where she created bonds with Anna, whom Mary and Joseph later presented to at the temple in Luke 2. I liked the backstory of Mary's parents praying for a child, and Mary being foreordained for her calling and mission. I liked Gabriel's interwoven involvement in the story, and even though some may not care for it- the inclusion of Lucifer I found to be an effective antagonizing force. I especially liked the brief exchange between Gabriel and Lucifer. Rather than people complaining about heresy, or inaccuracies, let it be a motivation to read the actual source material in the Bible. Overall, I thought the acting performances to be strong, especially the leads. Anthony Hopkins made himself a good, if not overplayed, villain in the narrative. As we enter the Christmas season, I think this is a very worthy movie to enjoy as an entire family as we remember the roots and very nature of it. Enjoy it for what it is. I liked it.