Christmas with the Chosen: The Messengers

I love "The Chosen" series and wanted to support it by seeing "Christmas with the Chosen" in theaters. I knew there would be special music in addition to the story itself, but hadn't realized the story would only be about 25% of the viewing experience. CCM isn't really my cup of tea, and all the zoomed-in facial emoting didn't help. (The Bonner family, however, was wonderful, as were the children's choir pieces). I wouldn't want to discourage anyone from supporting a good cause or from sending a message to theaters that there is a market for good-quality Christian films like "The Chosen"... but just recognize that most of this film is not actually "The Chosen."

LOVED THE ACTUAL EPISODE ITSELF. It actually moved me to tears. Some of the absolute best and most powerful scenes and performances possible. Those 30 minutes was worth trying to sit through the rest of this thing. Some honest reviews here nail it. For over an hour to start this construct is nothing but song after song after song after song after song after song after song... bad lip syncing of revival music on the Chosen set. They honestly bought two plants from Peir One and placed them on the set and told the musicians to pretend to sing. One great verbal exposition by the wonderful actress that plays Peter's wife was also in there somewhere. I had no idea going in that this was 75% music. After about an hour I had to get up and walk out. I checked my phone and discovered reviews here that informed me that an actual episode was eventually coming. I'm so glad I did and instead of walking to my car I walked back in. What hit next was beyond WONDERFUL. Like the series, the little nuances and true essence was in every scene. You could feel the Holy Spirit with the actors and the writers. Best Christmas present possible. Worth the 75% check your watch music to get to that 25% pure gold.

At the time I found out this movie would be in theatre, I was ecstatic, I told my 4 year old I was going to watch a movie that is the true story of Christmas. To my surprise, this "movie" was a cinematic event unlike any other I have seen. The music was stunning and uplifting, the presence of God, I could feel right next to me, the monologs were genius, and each one spoke to my soul and told me I must listen again and again. Then, right when I was starting to wonder if there would be a "movie" the chosen began. Captivating as it always is, the story unfolded in a way I have never seen done before. Humorous, devoted, beautiful, and bringing glory to the birth of Jesus. Then, it ended; and my hunger for more of my saviors story left me upset, upset because I wasn't ready to leave the presence of God. Upset because the production in its entirety brang you right into that amazing moment in time, as if a time capsul spilt out across the screen and I could almost touch the walls of Bethlehem. I wanted more. We all wanted more. As I left the theater, my husband brang me the vision I had been to distracted by my love for the story to see. The entire message of "The messengers" ... WE are the messengers. We are the ones who need to share the truth with the world, the truth that this isn't the end, the truth that if we know Jesus, we are free. Yes, I heard the message while watching the movie... but when my husband said it to me out loud, it made it all clear to me, and the movie in its entirety became brilliant. From wonderful and beautiful. To absolutely brilliant. Its a must see, and I could explain for hours on what this movie truly was and what it meant to me. But simply stated- well done Dallas Jenkins and his amazing team. Thank you for bringing Jesus to the television and thank you for this one of a kind epic cinematic experience. I can not wait to buy the movie and watch it .. probably monthly.

This was the best new Christmas movie I'll see this year! You've knocked it out of the park for certain. Thank you for such a quality program. The music was awesome! So many groups, some I've heard of and a few new ones for me as well.

I'm glad to support Christian movies in the theaters, but in this case it was very disappointing. The hour plus of CCM prior to the short episode was too long, and did not have very many well known artists. We asked each other - when is the actual movie going to start?

The short nativity episode was well acted and fits within the Chosen series, but was way too short to be in the theater. My wife and I went to the theater in support of the Chosen financially, and have given $ to support this kind of entertainment, but in this case we expected more.

I'd rather watch the Chosen from home on the TV and be able to FF to the actual episode. We're still looking forward to season 3 whenever that becomes available.

We didn't hate the movie, just felt like it could have been done much better. In this case it was a swing and a miss.