Journey to Bethlehem

A young woman carrying an unimaginable responsibility. A young man torn between love and honor. A jealous king who will stop at nothing to keep his crown.

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. A unique new entry into the collection of holiday classic movies, this epic Christmas musical is unlike any before it. See JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM in theaters beginning November 10.

Buy tickets today at Journey to Bethlehem Tickets.

• You can also give the gift of giving and make someone’s Christmas brighter by providing tickets for JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM! https://fandango.egifter.com/journeytobethlehem

 

 

 My Review: I do have a mixed reaction to "Journey to Bethlehem." It's mostly positive, but my initial reaction doesn't completely embrace the film.

Negative: I tend to view historical events in films through the lens of the customs and laws of that time period, so Mary and Joseph seemed a bit immature to me to be taking on the the responsibility of raising our Savior. I've also never thought of their story as a Rom-Com. But, this also can open the door to a great conversation starter with people who want to know more. Some of the scenes did not work very well for me, but it may have just been my mood. I do plan to see the film again.

Positive: There was some great music! I do need a longer version of "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" since this version was amazing! My other favorite was "In My Blood" by Joel Smallbone (for King + Country)! Most of the comedy was entertaining too. (I can overlook a joke or song that I simply didn't like.)

I could not find fault based on Scripture either. Of course, people don't normally break out in song and dance (although I often wish they did), but this is a MUSICAL. I do love musicals.

 

I was impressed with the acting. Antonio Banderas made an excellent villain in the role of Herod, and I enjoyed Joel Smallbone as Antipater as much as I loved his music. Fiona Palomo and Milo Manheim were not quite the Mary and Joseph in MY mind, but they are both wonderful in the film's version And I was entertained by the 3 Wise Men: Omid Djalili (Melchoir), Rizwan Manji (Gaspar), and Geno Segers (Balthazar). Adam Anders wrote (with Peter Barsocchini), directed, and produced Journey to Bethlehem.

While I do understand why some will find the story offensive, I won't go that far. Some of the story seemed a little irreverent. However, I don't believe that is the intent of the filmmakers. I'm not familiar with their previous work, so it may be simply be their method of telling a story.

Scroll down to Links to find a clip of the director titled, "No Scripture Harmed." There are also several resources you can use for "Journey to Bethlehem."

GIVEAWAY: One person will win 2 Free Tickets to see JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM! The deadline to enter is Nov. 12, 2023 (USA only) Leave a comment on this blog or under the blog post shared on other social media platforms.

Disclosure: Many thanks to AFFIRM Films, Inc. for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

LINKS:

JourneyToBethlehemmovie.com

Buy Tickets

The Heart of the Movie

"Can We Make This Work?"


No Scripture Harmed (short version)

 

RESOURCES - Downloadable family discussion guides suitable for different ages, coloring sheets, photos, video clips, and Spanish resources.

 

5000 Blankets

In theaters December 12 and 13 ONLY! Don't Miss 5000 BLANKETS, a film inspired by a remarkable true story! The story is filled with hope, and it highlights the power of family and faith. Directed by: Amin Matalqa
Writing Credits: Larry Postel and Matthew Antonelli

When her husband (Rob Mayes) has a mental break-down and goes missing, a woman (Anna Camp) and her young son (Carson Minniear) set out to find him on the streets, sparking a movement of compassion towards those in need and inspiring a city. It's incredible what can happen when you transform your heart to serve the people around you. Catch 5000 BLANKETS exclusively in select theaters for two days only!
BUY TICKETS Here!

TRAILER:

 

PHILLIP'S WISH was founded by a little boy who saw a need in the world and decided to do something about it. Phillip and his mom started a campaign to collect blankets to provide warmth to as many homeless people as they could. 

Thanks to the help and support of others, Phillip’s Wish – that no one would be cold or uncared for- can become a reality. Please consider being a part of Phillip’s Wish and experience firsthand the words of Winston Churchill, “You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give.”

REVIEW: Wonderful movie and knowing that it is based on a true story makes it even more special. A movement sparked in Fort Worth, Texas, many years ago is still alive and thriving and this film is an excellent inspiration for the viewer to reach out to "Phillip's Wish" or an organization in your area to make a difference in the lives of individuals to struggle to survive. 

But, 5000 BLANKETS is not a promo for a cause. It is a story of a family's struggle with mental illness and how it affected their lives as individuals and as a family unit. Watching their struggle and how each person responded demonstrated the value of family, faith, and friends when hit by a major crises. It also put individual faces to those who are homeless. The story was not told in a manner meant to manipulate the viewer's emotions, but to give glimpses of reality from the POV of many. I thought the writers, director, and actors worked well to share a story, a slice of life, and to leave a message of hope.

GIVEAWAY! One $10 Amazon gift card! This is limited to US winners only. Deadline to enter is Dec 13th!! #5000BlanketsMIN

DISCLOSURE: Many thanks to Sony Pictures for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

LINKS:

• Buy Tickets
• 5000BlanketsMovie.com 
• PhillipsWish.com 
• 5000 Blankets FB 
• 5000 Blankets IG 
• IMDb 
• The Heart of '5000 Blankets' video 

 

 

Show Me the Father

 

The first documentary by the Kendrick Brothers, SHOW ME THE FATHER, is a compelling and heartfelt peek into the stories and private lives of some well-known men, including Dr. Tony Evans, Jim Daly (Focus on the Family), Deland McCullough, Sherman Smith, Stephen Kendrick, and Alex Kendrick. These men share insights into their relationships with their own fathers, what it means to be a father, and, ultimately, the importance of God the Father in all aspects of life. Take a look at the trailer below:

Show Me the Father opens in theaters on September 10th and is definitely worth seeing, especially as a family. I was able to view the film early and was highly impressed with the film's content and production. I wasn't familiar with all of the men interviewed, but each had something vital to share. Each unique father story invites you to examine how you view your earthly father and how this affects your relationship with God. The documentary brings both familiar and new perspectives about how the relationship (or lack of) with your father makes a tremendous impact on your relationship with your dad, your children, others... and with God.

The movie definitely is not just for men. A girl's relationship with her daddy has an impact, too. Many women have said that their initial view of God has much in common with their view of their father. After viewing the film, this may open much-needed conversations. Gather your family, men's groups, marriage classes and make this an event to remember! You can get tickets at showmethefathermovie.com

GIVEAWAY!! I'm giving away 2 tickets to the movie, via Fandango, for opening weekend, Sept 10-12, 2021. The winner will be notified via email. Prize must be claimed within 24 hours. Enter using #showmethefather in comments. Deadline is Sept. 6, 2021.

Note: This giveaway is limited to US residents only.

Disclosure: Thanks to Sony Pictures for providing this product/product information for review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I received a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. However, opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

#ShowMeTheFather #ShowMeTheFatherMIN
#MomentumInfluencerNetwork

LINKS:

• Website
• Tickets
• Group Tickets
• Instagram
• Facebook
• IMDb
• The Heart of the Movie 
• Audience Reactions 
• The Blessing 

Show Me the Father trailer

 

SHOW ME THE FATHER is the first documentary from the Kendrick Brothers (Overcomer, War Room, Fireproof). It features powerful true stories featuring well-known men of God like Dr. Tony Evans, Jim Daly (Focus on the Family), Sherman Smith, Stephen Kendrick, and Alex Kendrick.

Each of us has our own unique father story, and it's a relationship (or lack of) that makes a tremendous impact on our lives. The men in this film bring a new perspective and invites you to examine how you view your earthly father and how this affects your relationship with God.

See the trailer:

Please share the trailer and the September 10th opening in theaters. And think about whom you want to invite. It is a great film to see with your family, and also an excellent event with your men's group... or with any group! Check out the Group Tickets in the Links below:

LINKS

• Website
• Tickets
• Group Tickets
• Instagram
• Facebook
• IMDb

#ShowMeTheFather
#ShowMeTheFatherMIN 

#MomentumInfluencerNetwork

All Saints movie

AllSaintsmovie.com

ALL SAINTS, based on the inspiring true story of salesman-turned-pastor Michael Spurlock (John Corbett), is the story of a faithful few working together to save their community. Assigned to a small church with only a dozen members, Spurlock has also been given the task of finding a buyer for the prime property and closing the church. But his plans to complete the deal and be transferred to a growing church hits a snag when a group of refugee farmers from Burma arrive to make a fresh start in America.

As the church welcomes the newcomers, a fresh vision is unveiled. Working together, the congregants persevere to turn the land into a working farm that will feed the flock and support church expenses. The film delivers an incredibly relevant and timely message of faith, hope, community and the power of the church.

The film reunites Corbett with his former "Northern Exposure" co-star, Barry Corbin. Other featured stars of All Saints are Chonda Pierce, Cara Buono, Nelson Lee, Gregory Alan Williams, and Myles Moore. Written by Steve Armour and directed by Steve Gomer, the film, released through Sony AFFIRM (Sony Pictures), will open in theaters on August 25, 2017. It is rated PG and running time is 108 minutes.

The trailer looks amazing. Wonderful actors, the cinematography is great, and more importantly, I love the inspirational feel to it. We all need faith... as well as something to hope for and a dream to achieve.

Be sure to check out the website and follow on the All Saints social media platforms. For easy access, click on links below:

• All Saints website
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• YouTube

Buy Tickets HERE

GIVEAWAY: Thanks to Sony AFFIRM, I can offer 2 FREE tickets via Fandango for All Saints when it opens in theaters next month. Please leave a comment to enter. Also, consider sharing this blog to spread the word about this inspirational film. Please use #AllSaintsL3 when you share. Thanks!!

DISCLAIMER: In compliance with Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines, as a Featured Contributor of Sony’s ALL SAINTS Influencer Program, I received the value of two movie tickets in exchange for an honest review on my blog. I am part of a Blogging Partnership/Marketing Campaign with LEV3L Digital Marketing.