• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
Fiona Palomo plays Mary and Milo Manheim is Joseph in “Journey to Bethlehem.”

‘Quantico’ Star Says Criticism of New Christmas Movie Has Surprisingly Come from Christians

November 17, 2023
EXCLUSIVE: Trump Small Biz Czar Slams Newsom For Siding With Illegals Over Local Businesses

EXCLUSIVE: Trump Small Biz Czar Slams Newsom For Siding With Illegals Over Local Businesses

June 15, 2025
EXCLUSIVE: Trump VA Sec Urges Vets To Give Maligned Agency Second Chance

EXCLUSIVE: Trump VA Sec Urges Vets To Give Maligned Agency Second Chance

June 15, 2025
Rand Paul Says What Could Make Him A ‘Yes’ On Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’

Rand Paul Says What Could Make Him A ‘Yes’ On Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’

June 15, 2025
Numerous Anti-ICE Protesters Arrested In NYC

Numerous Anti-ICE Protesters Arrested In NYC

June 15, 2025
‘Overwhelmingly Peaceful’: Karen Bass Describes Protest From Comfort Of A Helicopter

‘Overwhelmingly Peaceful’: Karen Bass Describes Protest From Comfort Of A Helicopter

June 15, 2025
Rioters Storm Oregon ICE Building, Injure Officers

Rioters Storm Oregon ICE Building, Injure Officers

June 15, 2025
EXCLUSIVE PICS: Democrat Bigwigs Hobnob At Ritzy Soros Wedding On ‘No Kings’ Day

EXCLUSIVE PICS: Democrat Bigwigs Hobnob At Ritzy Soros Wedding On ‘No Kings’ Day

June 15, 2025
STEVE MILLOY: President Trump Moves To End The War On Coal

STEVE MILLOY: President Trump Moves To End The War On Coal

June 15, 2025
LYNN WESTMORELAND: Trump Saved Your Venmo And Cash App From Biden’s IRS Spies

LYNN WESTMORELAND: Trump Saved Your Venmo And Cash App From Biden’s IRS Spies

June 15, 2025
NED RYUN: GOP & America Will Be Better for Passing Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill

NED RYUN: GOP & America Will Be Better for Passing Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill

June 15, 2025
EXCLUSIVE: Small Biz Chief Pledges Zero Tolerance For Fraud After Biden Mission Drift

EXCLUSIVE: Small Biz Chief Pledges Zero Tolerance For Fraud After Biden Mission Drift

June 14, 2025
EXCLUSIVE: VA Will Save ‘Literally Millions Of Dollars’ By Scrapping Sex Changes, Sec Says

EXCLUSIVE: VA Will Save ‘Literally Millions Of Dollars’ By Scrapping Sex Changes, Sec Says

June 14, 2025
  • Donald Trump
  • State of the Union
  • Elon Musk
  • Tariffs
  • Congress
  • Faith
  • Immigration
Sunday, June 15, 2025
  • Login
IJR
  • Politics
  • US News
  • Commentary
  • World News
  • Faith
  • Latest Polls
No Result
View All Result
IJR
No Result
View All Result
Home Commentary

‘Quantico’ Star Says Criticism of New Christmas Movie Has Surprisingly Come from Christians

by Western Journal
November 17, 2023
in Commentary
240 12
0
Fiona Palomo plays Mary and Milo Manheim is Joseph in “Journey to Bethlehem.”

Fiona Palomo plays Mary and Milo Manheim is Joseph in “Journey to Bethlehem.” (Photo courtesy of Affirm Films)

491
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

“Quantico” star Alan Powell, who co-produced the new faith-based film “Journey to Bethlehem” about the birth of Jesus Christ, has been surprised and disappointed to see the reception that some Christian outlets have given it.

“We made this movie with so much passion and love for this story. I was raised in the Church … I was in a Christian band. I’ve acted in faith-based movies, and this is a movie about the birth of Christ,” said Powell, the son of a former Baptist megachurch pastor in Nashville.

“It’s something that we truthfully didn’t see coming and are bit confounded by, quite frankly. I mean, we absolutely hold this story reverently. We believe in this film,” he added.

“Journey to Bethlehem” is a joint venture of Monarch Media and Affirm Films, a division of Sony. It launched in over 2,000 theaters nationwide last weekend.

Audiences loved the light-hearted musical, giving it a 94 percent positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an A- CinemaScore, among the highest of the movies presently in theaters.

However, some Christian outlets have not liked the film, faulting it for filling in material not contained in the Bible.

The accounts of Jesus’ birth found at the beginning of the books of Matthew and Luke can be read in a matter of a few minutes, which leaves a lot of details to fill in.

For example, one of the characters in “Journey to Bethlehem” is Antipater, the son of Herod (played by Joel Smallbone), who is charged with carrying out the king’s decree to find the baby Jesus. He is not in the Bible, but was added to help tell the story.

“So as we did that, we’re coming up against some resistance from some people who are purists in a way and feel like we filled in gaps in ways that they’re unhappy with,” Powell explained.

“And so, instead of looking at the positive of, ‘Man we told a story about the birth of Christ and the entrance and the introduction of hope that God gave us in his son,’ we’re getting a little bit caught up in the, ‘Is this the right interpretation?’ or ‘You shouldn’t have done that. The Bible doesn’t say that,’ which we’ve been surprised by,” he added.

Antonio Banderas is the most recognizable face in “Journey to Bethlehem,” playing the wicked King Herod, who is intent on snuffing out the life of Jesus before the child can become a rival to his throne.

Fiona Palomo plays Mary and Milo Manheim is Joseph.

The popular Christian singer Lecrae is Gabriel.

The movie has a similar feel to “High School Musical,” which is not surprising, given Peter Barsocchini, the screenwriter of those productions, co-wrote the script for “Journey to Bethlehem.”

The other co-writer and director of the film is Adam Anders, who worked as a music producer on the television series “Glee,” Variety reported.

“I have had a dream to create a Christmas musical for years, and to see it come to life with a stunning cast has exceeded every expectation,” Anders told the outlet. “We could not be more excited for this film to be a classic for years to come.”

Manheim added: “I hope this music goes down in history because I’m going to be listening to it for a long time. It’s one of the best musicals I’ve ever been a part of.”

Powell told The Western Journal that “Journey to Bethlehem” is a passion project for Anders about 10 years in the making.

The theme of the story is, “God has bigger plans for you than you even have for yourself,” Powell said.

“I hope that [moviegoers] are encouraged to know that they are special and that they have purpose, the same way that Mary did and Joseph did, and that we are all called to responsibilities that we feel like sometimes are way more than we can do and way more than are possible. And yet, if we will just step out in faith … God will meet us there,” he shared.

Powell also hopes people will continue to support “Journey to Bethlehem” in theaters, so it can have a good run.

“We need this movie to work so that we can continue to make movies like this,” he said.

“Journey to Bethlehem” is a sweet film, with the added bonus of introducing people to the Christmas story who may have never heard it before.

Find theaters and showtimes here.


 

 

This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.

Tags: Cancel CultureChristianityChristmasentertainmentfaithHollywoodJesus ChristWJ Reports
Share196Tweet123
Western Journal

Western Journal

Advertisements

Top Stories June 10th
Top Stories June 7th
Top Stories June 6th
Top Stories June 3rd
Top Stories May 30th
Top Stories May 29th
Top Stories May 24th
Top Stories May 23rd
Top Stories May 21st
Top Stories May 17th

Join Over 6M Subscribers

We’re organizing an online community to elevate trusted voices on all sides so that you can be fully informed.





IJR

    Copyright © 2024 IJR

Trusted Voices On All Sides

  • About Us
  • GDPR Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Editorial Standards & Corrections Policy
  • Subscribe to IJR

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Politics
  • US News
  • Commentary
  • World News
  • Faith
  • Latest Polls

    Copyright © 2024 IJR

Top Stories June 10th Top Stories June 7th Top Stories June 6th Top Stories June 3rd Top Stories May 30th Top Stories May 29th Top Stories May 24th Top Stories May 23rd Top Stories May 21st Top Stories May 17th