Sadly Over-hyped

Best movie ever!

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

This is truly an inspirational film and a joy to watch.Langston, played by Jacob Latimore, has to spend the Christmas holiday in New York City with his grandparents, Reverend Cornell Cobbs played by Forest Whitaker and Aretha Cobbs played by Angela Bassett, who he doesn't really know. While there, he has to go by their rules. He wants to get back home to his mother Naima played by Jennifer Hudson. He goes through some things and discovers the true meaning of faith, family and forgiveness.This adaptation of Langston Hughes' play is wonderful. I really like the storyline with its great messages and its attention to detail, even down to the Cobb's family brownstone in Harlem. The acting is powerful and intense and, of course, I love the music. Executive music director, Ralph Saadiq shows his musical talent and has created great songs that tell the story in such a way that both the young and old can listen to and enjoy. I especially like the choir scene.I recommend this film for ages 12 - 17. Of course, I think the whole family will enjoy this movie. I give it 5 out of 5 stars. It's truly a musical event to be enjoyed during the holiday season.Reviewed by Brianna B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic.

I really would have given it a higher rating but I wasn't 100% crazy about all of the singing. I loved the story line and the cast was phenomenal. Overall everyone did a really good job with the acting and singing. So many of my favorites in one film is really a treat. I will be telling everyone I know about this movie.It should be watched by all who value family and faith. This situation plagues many minority homes. Holding on to the anger, hurt of misunderstandings for years when it can be fixed with communication, respect, honesty and forgiveness.I wasn't sure about whether it would be good in the beginning but very pleased I stuck it out and even got my hubby-to-be to watch it with me and he liked it also.

BLACK NATIVITY has a lot of singing. People sing in church, but they also sing on the sidewalk, they sing in the street, and they sing at the bus station. If this movie had scenes in public rest rooms, like many of today's films, someone surely would be singing in there, as well. This flick also jumps around a lot. It goes in and out of dreams, as people nod off in church. One minute Jennifer Hudson's character is in Baltimore; the next, she's in Harlem, with not so much as a clicking of Ruby Red Slippers to explain her transit. Every character here seems Gung Ho for public humiliation. Names are dropped, including Martin Luther King, Jesus Christ, and Langston Hughes, but plugs also are given for specific brands of money-getter guns. The folks in this flick would suffer fewer headaches in someone would drive a pick-up truck on a route everyday--like a newspaper delivery person--but hand out bundles of cash instead of papers. Maybe this sequel could be entitled BANK ACTIVITY.

What can I say of this wonderful piece of cinematic gold? I was hooked from the inaugural bundle of photons emitted from that silver screen which darted across the darkened theater, striking my rods and cones, stimulating my visual cortex into effervescent fits of orgiastic black biblical entertainment.Not since Tyler Perry's latest classic have I witness such an incredible ensemble of all black Christian-rivisionism, which adheres in no way to Christian theological scholarship. This film, I'm convinced, along with Tyler Perry's eschatological works, will forever be remembered as the uniting impetus which was portended in the great words of Malcolm X, "There can be no black-white unity until there is first some black unity."TL;DR - Black science, black "christian" folk customs, tyler perry, malcolm x, fist.