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The Nativity StoryReviewed by: David Criswell, Ph.D. Better than Average
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience:
Family, Adults
Drama, Historical, Christmas, Religion
1 hr. 32 min.
Year of Release:
USA Release:
December 1, 2006 (wide)
Relevant Issues
About the biblical people
About the biblical places
Jesus birth and ministry Has science disproved the miracles associated with Jesus Christ? Answer Christmas movies REVIEWS of other Christmas movies
"One Couple. One Journey. One Child… who would change the world… forever" Learn about the screenwriter of this film—GO
Behind the scenes feature article about the filmmakers and cast—GO
The glory days of the Biblical epics seemed to have died out in the early 60s. When the quality of Biblical epics deteriorated, it became impossible to justify the large budgets they required. As a result, the past three decades have seen few Biblical sagas, and even fewer good ones. However, with the success of "The Passion of the Christ," the Biblical epic may be experiencing a comeback. For example, "One Night with the King" featured a lustery performance and enjoyed moderate success, especially considering that it was not well-marketed by its secular distributor. Now comes "The Nativity Story," a Biblical saga about Joseph and Mary and the birth of the Christ, Jesus. It is not easy to take a person's entire life and compress it into a two hour movie. This is perhaps why most movies about Jesus have failed to capture His greatness. However, with Mel Gibson's "…Passion…," it became apparent that movies are most effective when they take a small snippet of the Lord's life and focus the movie on that brief period, allowing the characters to become more developed and less of a cardboard cutout. By focusing on the nativity and the events surrounding His birth, the film can spend time developing the characters and "fleshing them out." This particular aspect, however, is something that some may object to, for it requires extra-Biblical interpretations and dramatizations. Those interpretations and dramatizations are open to criticism, and each viewer should take them into account before judging the movie. For this reason, I will begin with the possible criticisms. Too often, liberties are taken with the stories. This was evident most recently in "One Night with the King" where Xerxes is transformed into a noble and even virtuous man who falls in love with Esther. "The Nativity…" stays more true to its source. There is very little in the movie that is un-Biblical, but much that is extra-Biblical. Perhaps the greatest issue that some viewers might raise an eyebrow at is the fact that Mary was unhappy with Joseph, at first, and even says "I don't love" him. Although she later comes to love him, the marriage is portrayed as an unhappy, arranged marriage. Now, while arranged marriages did take place, it is highly unlikely that Joseph and Mary's were arranged, for such marriages were largely reserved for the wealthy upper class. Even more odd is that, in such a small village, Mary should not initially have known Joseph better. It is true that the parents usually had to give their consent for marriage, but it was not common for a poor family to arrange a marriage for their daughter to a relative stranger she did not love. Having said this, the plot gives Mary and Joseph a chance to grow together, rather than having the relationship "prefabbed." It is done to allow the director to better show their growing love, and on that level it does work. In most every other instance, the movie stays true to its source. On a historical level, the movie is very realistic, with only one noticeable flaw. The sets, costumes, and culture were meticulously researched to ensure their authenticity, and several times throughout the movie there is a smattering of Hebrew. The printed words are also shown in true Hebrew, showing close attention to detail. One feels as if they truly are living in Judea in antiquity, and writer Mike Rich commented that Orthodox Jews who had seen the film complimented the movie for its respect of the Jewish heritage and tradition. However, the one glaring error, which most will probably never notice, was the curious way in which the movie connects Herod to the Romans. It is true that Herod was a puppet king, under the authority of Caesar, but the Romans were wise in how they maintained control. They allowed provinces to maintain their own soldiers and guards for the king, but ensured his loyalty with a visible Roman presence. As brutal as the Romans were, they did not seek to unnecessarily stir up the populations against them, so, whenever necessary, they would let Herod do his dirty deeds with his own soldiers. In the movie, however, it is Roman soldiers throughout the movie who act in Herod's name and perform his wishes and deeds. Romans are even seen standing guard at the Temple entrance, which, had they violated sacred ground, would have sparked riots (indeed, the revolt of 66 A.D. began when Caligula placed a Roman standard within Temple grounds). It is Romans shown slaughtering the children in Bethlehem, and it is implied that Herod ordered the crucifixion of various political enemies. However, crucifixion was a Roman punishment, not a Jewish one. When Jesus was tried, we remember that the Jewish courts could find no cause to convict Him. Had they, He would have been stoned to death. Only the Romans ordered crucifixions. Mike Rich admitted that part of the reason was a desire to avoid the controversy which plagued Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ," so this error is perhaps easily overlooked. Still one other issue to address before reviewing the aesthetics of the movie is the issue of Catholicism. Many evangelicals were concerned with the overt Catholicism of Mel Gibson's Christ, and with a movie about Mary it is obvious that many Protestants and Catholics desire to see their own view of Mary in the film. If Protestants were mildly disappointed with Gibson, then Catholics may be mildly (but only mildly) disappointed with "The Nativity Story." There is no Mary worship, and the writer himself was concerned over the depiction of Mary having birth pangs. According to Catholic dogma, Mary was without sin. Consequently, many Catholics, but not all, believe that Mary did not experience pain in childbirth, since that was a punishment given by God for sin (Genesis 3:15). However, the Bible is quite clear that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Mary, like all people, was a sinner. Certainly she was more pure and innocent than most of us (and, if some say "more than all of us," I will not object), but to deny she was a sinner, and subject to birth pangs, is to call Paul (and indeed the Holy Spirit) a liar, for "all have sinned" means there are none born of man who have not sinned. The movie is, therefore, accurate to portray Mary in labor pains. On a cinematic level, the movie is very much a triumph in the drama genre. It lacks the action that fans of the old Cecil B. DeMille epics expect, but carries with it stronger character development and is far better at evoking emotion. For the most part, the acting is top notch. One might fault Keisha for at times lacking range and depth, for when Mary is confronted with accusations of adultery she seems too passive. Might not Mary have cried or become angry? Instead she somberly replies, "I have broken no vows." These criticisms, however, are far too harsh, for sixteen year old girls have not had the personal experiences to draw upon to give them that depth of acting. Moreover, an outward expression of anger or sorrow may not have been as convincing as the inner somber and contemplative look which she displayed. Keisha, an Academy Award nominated actress, did a fine job, as did the rest of the cast. What the movie does best is to develop the story that is left largely untold. We know that Mary and Elizabeth knew one another, and that they shared the joy of bearing prophetic children, but we do not know the specifics of what Mary and Elizabeth went through. In the movie, that relationship is explored. We also see Mary's faith tested, and we see Joseph when he is confronted with a pregnant wife whom he had never touched. How would we have reacted? Certainly, we would not have believed her, nor did Joseph, but Joseph's decision not to accuse Mary (which would result in the death penalty by Mosaic Law) showed his righteousness, not his trust in her story. These are the elements that the movie dwells upon; the long journey to Bethlehem in difficult circumstances, and the faith of two meek individuals. The movie also enhances the plots and contrivances of Herod and the journey of the Magi. In the film, Herod is depicted as a cold, calculating man. The depiction is certainly a fair judgment, although many believe that Herod was a deranged man who was apt to fly into rages at the slightest whim or offense. The film, however, shows Herod coolly and calmly discussing whether or not the slaughter of children in Bethlehem would preserve his kingdom. Conversely, the Magi are often a source of comic relief. One Magi is "usually right," while another is reluctantly dragged across the desert. The scenes are, nevertheless, reverent and never over the top, although I admit that the Sahara desert with its mounds of sand doesn't look anything like the Iraqi desert with its rocks, and it was also hard at times to believe that the Magi came from Persia. These are, however, petty criticisms. The scenes really underline the journeys of faith which each person makes. The Magi, after all, did not have trains or planes. Their journey to see a child was based solely on their interpretation of Scripture and their astronomical arts, but most importantly their faith. It was a journey that would take nine months, not nine days. Such sacrifices are highlighted throughout the film, but too often forgotten by many of us. Parents should be advised that the movie carries a PG-rating. The Slaughter of the Innocents is done without blood visible on screen, but it is obvious what is happening, and there are scenes of crucified prisoners which might be disturbing to very young children. Some might also object to a scene showing the newborn baby Jesus in the buff (bottom showing), but the movie is really very clean morally. The filming of this type of movie is long overdue. "The Nativity…" actually holds up as one of the best Biblical epics in recent memory. It was often compared and contrasted with "The Passion of the Christ" by its producers and by the media present at the preview, and such comparisons are obvious, but its contrasts are even more apparent. The one was a violent story of Christ's passion and His death for our sins; the other a humble story of Christ's birth. Oscar Isaac, who portrayed Joseph in the film, commented, "I never realized that it was such a story about humility… look at the humbleness and that kind of love." Oscar came away saying that he wished he could be as self-sacrificing as his character. "It is not about the rich and powerful… but about the humble." In this day and age, it is a lesson we all need to learn better. Violence: Mild / Profanity: None / Sex/Nudity: None See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers. Comments below:
Positive—I think your reviewer did a fine job in analyzing this film. I think all Christians, both young and old, should see this wonderful movie. Anything this decent and uplifting hasn't been made in decades!! The story line moved very well and I was absorbed in the action throughout. I loved it and found no fault with it cinematically. All Christians can be proud of this sensitive, intelligent, sophisticated, elegant and TRUE portrayal of Scripture and the birth of the son of God.
Good / 5 —Halyna Barannik, age 60 Positive—This film is amazing, both from a biblical standpoint and an artistic one. Other than "The Passion…," I've not seen biblical films that felt like big screen productions. Somehow they always look low-budget and have mediocre acting. This is NOT the case with this film. The feel is very epic, but also intimate. After viewing it (I went to a pre-release screening) I told several people that I encountered (waiter in restaurant, sales associate in store) to go see it. I intend to see it the weekend it is released to boost the ratings and send a strong message to Hollywood that there is a need for more films like this.
Excellent! / 4½ —Todra Payne, age 39 Positive—Reverent is the best word I can use to describe this movie. Do not expect glib dialogue or pulse thumping action scenes. The music has a definite tilt to the Reformation which only adds to the feeling of reverence. The movie focuses on two young people who act on faith. Do not get caught up about the film's depictions of the details of Christ's birth. Instead, feel the fear of two young people acting in faith on a seemingly impossible task and how God responded.
Excellent! / 4½ —Bill Walters, age 58 Positive—The movie is very good, and I enjoyed seeing the real Christmas story. However, what has not been mentioned in the main review is that the story does not stay true to the Biblical account at the end. It shows the magi arriving at the stable on the night of Jesus' birth, with the shepherds still there. This is clearly contrary to the Biblical account, where the magi arrive at a house to visit the child Jesus. They also give the impression that it is the magi's idea not to go back to Herod. The Bible tells us that God warned them. Finally, they give the impression that the soldiers go into Bethlehem the night after Jesus' birth to slaughter the babies, with Mary, Joseph and Jesus still in the stable when God tells them to leave. We can tell from the Bible that Mary, Joseph and Jesus were in Bethlehem for at least 40 days (due to the days of Mary's purification) before leaving for Egypt. Other than these errors, I am very happy with the Biblical accuracy of the movie. It is just a shame they spoiled the ending. The film would have been of so much more benefit had they had got the whole movie right.
Good / 4 —Paul, age 29 Positive—Me, my wife and our 2 daughters (12 and 14), just viewed the movie… and I just want to say, we were moved in our hearts, and you could sense the Holy Ghost awakening in your spirit at different times during the movie. I wanted us to see this film to set the tone for our Christmas season of celebrating the birth of our Lord, the Christ! I'm going to rate this film as excellent, in spite of the late biblical omissions (only errors if the writer intentionally deceived). People need to learn what Christmas is really about! I say this because we will be very fortunate to see a film about Jesus, and our worship of him, made with quality and accuracy, again in my lifetime! The devil can't be happy about this movie! We loved it, and will use it to keep the focus of our Christmas season celebration on the true reason for the season, Jesus! "It is more blessed to give than to receive."
Excellent! / 5 —Michael Wyatt, age 43 Positive—Excellent movie—great acting. It appeared to be very realistic in its portrayal of the housing, clothing, and general life of the period. It followed the Biblical account for the most part and portrayed the very human side of the story. I was a little disappointed that only a sole angel announced the birth of the Christ child to the shepherds, and they didn't show the heavenly hosts with him. But, overall, it was a great clean movie coming from Hollywood. I usually wait until movies get to the second-run movie theater but I dropped down for my family to see this one, and it was well worth it.
Excellent! / 4½ —Phil Troyer, age 49 Positive—An excellent, excellent movie! Painstakingly paying attention to detail, you feel transported into the times when the birth of Christ took place. For the most part, it doesn't stray too far from the Bible, and where it does, it's not going to make or break the positive impact of the movie. The nativity is a reverent portrayal of the birth of Christ. Sometimes I feel that too often, the evangelical church has become a little too familiar with God and lack the reverence that the Catholic church has maintained.
Too often movies involving Christian subject matter are done by low budget, private film companies. It's refreshing and long overdue to now start seeing quality films as this one, getting quality actors and set design. I saw it with an audience of all ages, and although I wouldn't think this movie would hold the attention of young children, you could hear a pin drop in the theatre. In celebrating Christmas, I couldn't help but wonder how we went from the nativity, to what Christmas has become. We've abandoned the creche for consumerism. Excellent! / 5 —J. Moore, age 52 Positive—A truly reverent and realistic portrayal of the biblical account of the birth of Christ. Among the desolate wasteland of trashy Hollywood films, it's a miracle that a film like this gets even made. Though very subdued and humble, it's not afraid to proclaim the Truth about Christ: that He is God in the Flesh, the King of Kings, the Priest of Priests, the Sacrifice for our sins. My biggest concern was that the movie would shy away from all that, but it does not. It has an excellent script incorporating many passages from the Bible.
The sets, costumes, and look of the film do an outstanding job of portraying places and events in the Gospel. They do a far better job than my petty imagination. And that's the thing about good Biblical films: they are not meant to replace the Bible, but enrich it. If they give you a deeper appreciation for the Word of God and of its life-changing truths and events, then they have done their job. If they make you see something or someone in a new light, then you may discover a treasure you hadn't found before. I thought all the performances were well done, though honestly I was disappointed with the pretty actress that played Mary. I guess I'm too emotional and theatrical, but I thought that she could put a little more… emotion into her portrayal. The only other things that disappointed me in the movie was the angel incidents. Every time an angel came to a person in the Bible, they were always afraid. And the incident with Mary is no exception (Luke 1:29-30). I expected Mary to fall down on her knees, when the angel Gabriel appeared to her, or at least tremble, but instead she stands and stares at him calmly, carrying on a conversation with him as if he was a gardener. However, on second thought, it's still a great portrayal of Mary. She said herself, after all, in Luke 1:48, that God "hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden…" God always chooses those we least expect to bring about His great will. For God to choose Mary, He chose a woman perhaps the most humble, meek, lowly, woman on earth. It's a good interpretation to portray Mary very subdued and low-key. It shows her humility. I thought the best performance was done by the actor that portrayed Joseph. Joseph is shown as devout, sincere, godly, and humble. You really believe that he cares for Mary, and it's wonderful when you see him talk about he and Mary raising Jesus. 'I wonder if I will have to teach Him anything?' he humbly asks. The film does a great job, I think, of showing why God pick these two individuals to bear His Son. They are both people of character, faith, and humility, and they would be the last two people you'd notice in Jerusalem. The greatest people are probably those who are most overlooked. My nit-picks, I hope, are minor and non-aggravating. The other angel incident that I wished was done better was towards the end. When the angel appeared to the shepherds in the field, the Bible says in following verses, that there was a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." I must say, I really would have like to have seen that. Instead I get one angel mildly proclaiming the birth of Christ, and a couple of interested and captivated shepherd men, though not overawed or afraid. However, this may have been done to try to keep the viewers' main focus on the film's main attraction which is Christ. If that is the reason, then more power to them! All in all, ignore my nit-picks, and go see the film. It is truly great and wonderful because it is what Christmas is all about. If Christ was not born, if God had not come into this world, there would be no salvation for man. Excellent! / 4½ —Matthew, age 19 Positive—Finally, we have a movie that shows the true meaning of Christmas. Forget all the rubbish movies that Hollywood has churned out over the years this time of year, this is a movie to see this Christmas! The story starts well, setting the scene with a verse from Jeremiah, which revolves around the prophecy of Jesus's birth. It oddly starts at the end of the actual story, where Herod orders the killing of all the baby boys in Bethlehem. After this, however, it switches back to a scene in Nazareth—a scene of Mary farming with other younger women. The setting itself was well done, and looked very realistic—I had never thought of picturing either Nazareth or Bethlehem in this light. Jerusalem also looked impressive—far more impressive than Mel Gibson's attempt in "The Passion of the Christ," and Ridley Scott's "Kingdom of Heaven."
The actual birth of Jesus was one of the best scenes in the movie, and also one of the most moving in cinematic history to me. The scene where Jesus is finally born was indeed a beautiful moment, and it made me think, "This is the one—the guy that would save us, God the Son, born as a man." It was just an indescribable scene of love, joy and pure beauty. In comparison to Mel Gibson's work, I actually prefer this movie. I may be one of the few Christians out there who thought that The Passion was a bad way to get the true message across, whilst The Nativity was a good way. The Passion gave out a truly negative impact, and gave out the wrong message, which was more of a negative sort. The Nativity, however, gave out a message of hope and love—and it achieved that very well. I would recommend this movie to a non-Christian, while I would find it hard to recommend The Passion in the same way. Overall, this movie was well done and well accomplished. It's finally good to see the true meaning of Christmas! Excellent! / 5 —Dave, age 21 Positive—I just saw the film tonight at a pre-screening along with a friend and my daughters ages 6 and 9. It was absolutely incredible. Yes, there were probably some things as mentioned in the review that were a little off from scripture, but it was beautifully filmed and incredibly intricately detailed. It was extremely thought-provoking and moving. I cried with just joy and reverence. I felt as though I was there right in the movie. The details in the clothing, the buildings, the scenes of village life, the poverty, the brutality of the Roman occupation, the music were all just breath-taking. This movie took me back to the great epics—"The Ten Commandments," "Ben-Hur" and the like. I can't wait to see it again and purchase it so that my family can watch it again and again. What a wonderful new Christmas tradition and a breath of fresh air in this age of holiday greed, materialism and emptiness. My daughters were spell-bound. I truly felt the love of God to send his only-begotten Son to be born so poor and simple and to die for our sakes!!
Excellent! / 5 —Nina Williams-Mbengue, age 47 Positive—…I was so impressed that I will go back… I want to send a message to Hollywood that this movie is what I want to see more of in my theatres. This movie tries to keep to the Bible account of the birth of Jesus. It is definitely full of quotes from the Word. There are some things that are not Biblically accurate, but it is artistic liberties. There are a few slightly scary scenes like Herod's ordering the soldiers to kill all the babies and a bloody man on a tree. It was not gory. This is a film that everyone should see. I found it very refreshing. I hope that millions of Christians will flood the theatres this weekend to prove that the story of our Lord is worth paying to see. This is the Christmas story.
Excellent! / 4½ —Karen, age 40 Positive—This was a very well made film by a very talented director. No, it doesn't have the punch of "The Passion of the Christ," but other than that film, it is the best "faith" based movie I have ever seen. The production was beautiful, this was very well made. I would recommend to other people here if they like this film they should check out the director's two prior films "Thirteen" and "Lords of Dogtown," even though they seem like totally different stories, they do share a common theme of hope and finding joy in life. This is a very, very good film, and I recommend it to Christians and non Christians alike.
Better than Average / 4 —Jake, age 38 Positive—I found the movie simply Amazing! It brought me right into the story. I felt like I was there. They paid tremendous attention to historical detail in the actors, the dialogue, the settings, the music. I was there, up close and personal, with Mary and her parents and Joseph and all of those involved. I am very impressed. Having read (on this Web site) what the writer and producer said they set out to do, I'd say they were quite successful. It is true that much of the story had to be fabricated because the details of the story as recorded in the Gospels is much too brief to base a movie on. But that is true of any attempt to turn a biblical narrative into a full-length movie. It only takes a few minutes to read everything written about Christ's birth in Luke and Matthew. But I found that most of the storyline that they came up with was very logical and entirely believable. I think it is the best adaptation of a biblical narrative into a movie that I've seen, and I think I've seen them all. It's not perfect, but it's very good.
I'm a serious student of the Word. It is true that a few aspects of the movie vary from the Scriptures—particularly with the events at Bethlehem. I could nit-pick and complain about a number of details. But I have to to admit that they did not stray much from the nativity scene as it has come to be viewed by the church in our culture. When you buy a nativity scene at your local Christian bookstore, or when you see one set up on the lawn of a church, it almost always includes the wise men standing side-by-side with the shepherds at the manger. Not historically accurate, but sort of what we expect on one level. The makers of the movie were true to that picture. I can respect that, while teaching my own children the biblical differences. What I most liked about the movie were (1) it clearly and unapologetically set forth the story of our Christ's incredible birth in all of its humble glory, (2) it made a point of demonstrating how powerful and beautiful humble faith in and obedience to God are, (3) it was so real and personal, and (4) it deeply touched and moved me with pride in being a follower of Christ and with worship toward my God who loves the world so much. Any doubts anyone has about the love of God should be settled at the manger. I shed more tears during that 100 minutes than I ever dreamed a movie could evoke from me. I speak for my whole family when I say that this movie made us feel like we were there. We're telling everyone we know to see this film. Bring Kleenex. Excellent! / 4½ —Craig, age 45 Positive—I thought the movie was very good, the cultural setting very effective. The character development was moving, if not accurate sometimes. I was teary-eyed until the end, and my children had thoughtful discussion after. But do you rejoice for "Hollywood" when it is good and condemn when it is bad? Don't be deceived, it was a movie from Hollywood designed to not offend (!!); and to make themselves money. Where was Zechariah's praise and prophecy, armies of heaven praising God before the shepherds, and the real Mary. The strong mature Mary that spoke the magnificat! John was named and lept in her womb? I want to see him baptizing and preaching of the coming Kingdom of God! Some of us long for Christian movies made by Christians for Christians. Imagine what today's special effects could do. If offensive to non believers as sunday schooly or preachy then we have done well. There are much worse things being done with the budgets of mega churches and denominations. Make the story of Paul, of David, "This Coming Darkness."
Better than Average / 4 —Ken Chandler, age 48 Positive—I enjoyed this film very much, and am very glad it was made. I wish, however, that the writers had stuck more to the the scripture: Jesus was about two years old when the Magi arrived, which is why Herod had all boys 2 years and younger killed. The magi were very rich men. Their caravan, for a two year trip, would have been more than a couple of camels. Also, it would have been better had Mary reacted a bit more when visited by the angel—it was an awesome, frightening event in a young girl's life, and she showed almost no emotion at all. For that I blame the director. And why was Mary's wonderful prayer when she met with Elizabeth left out? Such a joyous thing, and so meaningful in the context.
Come on, Christian filmmakers, we can do a really GREAT job—so why not do it? This story had great dramatic potential, yet the dramatic lines were misdirected, leaving the audience to wonder if Herod is going to murder his son; and to look at the magi as buffoons—if they were so inept, then why were they together in the first place? They were scientists of the day and the filmmakers missed great dramatic opportunities in their piece of the story. This film is a HUGE improvement over the perfectly awful "One Night With The King", but we still need to do much better. Excellent! / 4½ —Jan Durkin, age 63 Positive—This was a hit and miss movie when it come to accuracy. Most of it was good, but there were a lot of things that are in contraposition to the Bible.
1. The Bible never says there were 3 magi, just says there were magi. 2. There was a host of angels when the angel of the Lord told the Shepherds about Christ's birth, no host in the movie. 3. The Shepherds and magi came at different times in the Bible; in the movie it's a free for all at the manger. I also had issue with Mary. She wasn't likable, Joseph was great.… With that being said, it hit on the important part, Jesus has come. Excellent! / 2½ —Nick, age 22 Positive—I just left the theater after seeing "The Nativity Story." The filmmakers definitely took some theatrical license when making the film. We have to be so careful to stay true to the scriptures in our lives. Having said that, I was touched very deeply by the correctly portrayed parts of the movie. It was kind of like "The Passion…," this was not an entertainment movie for me. It was too real and too close to home. I would encourage any follower of the Lord Jesus Christ to see it and be sure to compare the story with scripture, just so you know the truth. But to "see" the prophesies come true in things like the pregnancies of Elizabeth and Mary and the births of John the Baptist and our Lord Jesus Christ was AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME. I was sobbing as the images before me connected with the reality that God has made real in my heart through His Word. And I wanted to raise my fist and shout "YES!" when Jesus was born, God victoriously coming down to us on earth. The picture of everyone giving rightful attention and worship to the King of Kings, even in the form of a humble baby, really struck me and reminded of what my sole purpose for living is! Isn't it your purpose too?
Excellent! / 5 —Jason Kors, age 32 Positive—I agree with the comments I read. Only one thing bothers me in the review. I do not like this jumping to conclusions regarding our faith as Catholics. We were never taught that Mary did not have birth pangs and that we must worship her (as a sort of deity).…
Good / 4½ —Ivana, age 56 Positive—As a Bible college student, I really enjoyed seeing the things I have been learning come to life on the screen. The filmmakers really showed how people lived in the time of Jesus. I took some of the youth I work with, and they loved the movie. They asked question after question on the way home. The movie helped bring life to the story by portraying how Mary and Joseph must have felt in response to the news of Jesus' coming. I would highly recommend that everyone go and see this wonderful movie and show Hollywood what kind of films we want to see!
Good / 4 —Holly, age 31 Positive—This movie was wonderful! The music, the costumes, the cinematography, the actors—everything was very well done. The extra-Biblical interpretation of the mood of Mary's and Joseph's peers and family members really brought to life the phenomenon that was occurring in their lives. How extraordinary! And when the angel of the Lord came to Joseph, he automatically trusted the word of the Lord and took Mary as his wife with no fear. Each event in the movie brought the Christmas story alive in a new, fresh way.
The only disappointment to me was that I would have loved to see a magnificent display of the heavenly host surrounding the stable that night. I think that would have really topped off the movie, but as a whole, I was blessed by this film. Great movie! Excellent! / 5 —Leah Ogletree, age 27 Positive—My husband and I watched this movie on our date night, and we loved it. Some images of violence could be inappropriate for small children (in my opinion 6 years and under). I really appreciated the portrayal of Joseph. The filmmaker did a wonderful job of bringing him to life and what difficult decisions he faced. It really encapsulated the Father's heart. This film did a great job of bring the classic "story" to real life for us. Highly recommended!
Excellent! / 5 —Belinda, age 29 Positive—We really enjoyed the movie. The thing that surprised me the most was how they had the wise men show up on the night of Christ's birth, going with the popular belief rather than with the biblical account.
Excellent! / 5 —Kevin Romsey, age 52 Positive—I just saw this film over the weekend, and I have to say that it is one of the most powerful films that I have ever seen in my life. The performances were great! Keisha Castle Hughes was wonderful as Mary, and should receive an Oscar nomination for her work. Catherine Hardwicke has created a masterpiece! I just have one complaint. Why didn't Christian audiences support this like they should have? "The Passion of the Christ" was a tremendous success, and the box office numbers for this film haven't even come close to that. I say that only to say this—if Hollywood is going to take the time and money to create QUALITY Christian films for everyone to view, then why can't the Christian community support them? Just food for thought.
Excellent! / 5 —Adam Renkovish, age 24 Positive—I saw this movie about a week ago, and was completely amazed. Keisha Castle-Hughes, who plays Mary, was absolutely incredible. While some critics blasted her performance as being too full of fear, I think, "well, if you were a virgin girl and you found out you were pregnant with the son of God, you'd be scared, too." The cinematography, writing, and directing were also brilliant. However, this movie did have one minor flaw. It portrayed the three wise men as more of a clown troupe. While I don't doubt that they all had senses of humor, for me, it just went too far over the top. Altogether, this film was a rewarding, breathtaking experience.
Excellent! / 4½ —Jared Barton, age 26 Positive—It is a remarkable film! I was deeply moved by the story and how beautifully Keisha Castle-Hughes and Oscar Isaac played their roles. They and the rest of the cast were phenomenal! May God bless them for accepting these roles. I am very pleased that the movie did not take a Catholic turn towards Mariology and that it stuck to Scripture (though so little is said about Joseph and Mary).
It was a new perspective to see this from the point of view of Mary and Joseph. It was such a personal experience of what they went through. (WARNING If you have not yet seen the film, a scene is revealed in the next line…) My ONLY complaint is that when the announcement of our Savior's birth came to the shepherds only ONE angel came. I was expecting an incredible scene depicting a multitude of angels shouting with joy and exalting God. I loved the film and I feel that we Christians should support it. This will send Hollywood a message of what we Christians want. If the Passion of the Christ moved you then this movie is a MUST see. I cannot wait to buy it on DVD when it is released. I will buy multiple copies to use as a witnessing tool. Excellent! / 5 —Luis Sanchez, age 37 Neutral
Neutral—"Nothing new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes). Somewhat disappointing after all the hype. I sat there thinking as every short scene went by, 'This is a mish mash of seemingly disconnected events thrown on the screen as though the director had a timer and wanted no scene to last too long for fear audience restlessness would set in, or worse, boredom.'
It did get strained at times, though I was interested to see another view of Christ's birth. Maybe the problem for me personally is about who this film was made for. If non Christians watch it, I think they will be confused by many of the hurried events …men on horses galloping across the set, while Mary is traveling to see her cousin Elizabeth; men hanging from trees on her way back home; a girl snatched by the Romans because her parents can't pay their taxes, but none in the village offers to help contribute. Are they all dirt poor or just afraid or plain selfish? (Obviously Joseph isn't as poor as his neighbors.) I wanted to buy a strategy guide for the folks in the audience of only twenty total on opening night! Another surprise. Where were the local Christians to support a first night of their Lord's birth, so to speak! Nevertheless, I got goose bumps at certain moments, such as the intimate pregnancy scenes between Elizabeth and Mary, Joseph and Mary. Joseph was portrayed very well. I liked him. As Mary with Attitude, Keisha Castle-Hughes was touching and invoked empathy, but she showed flashes of the same defiance displayed in "…Whale Rider" and didn't always appear to behave like "the submissive handmaiden of the Lord." The sets and scenery was good, but again fleeting and rushed over. Oh look, there's Jerusal… ! That was five minutes in the big city with a fortune teller "blessing" the weary couple, a few short hours in Bethlehem? Like a very plump, John the Baptist's rapid birth, a fast baby Jesus came into this world, no blood or soiled clothes, no umbilical cords. A sanitized nativity for which audience? Young, old or those who have a hard time seeing a perspiring Mary in such a position, also as a sinner in need of a Savior, and very human like us. Keisha has beautiful presence and got that across nicely! And was the budget straining when an already sinister-looking and disheveled angel Gabriel stood alone before the shepherds representing "the heavenly host?" He kept turning into some kind of high flying bird which might have been a dove or a hawk. I enjoyed the old shepherd's performance very much, and the traditional three wise men from the east and their dry humor and astrological arguing, but they probably arrived much too soon, by a year or two! Did anyone else notice how the cave got bigger and bigger and became the Christmas card we all grew up with? I never thought about the community shunning Mary before and her parents dismay, so a nice touch. Herod and his son, Antipas were as evil as we would expect and the Romans were as overpowering as we feared. Suddenly the holy family is on its way to Egypt to escape the soldiers' swords by a couple of seconds. No time to grab food and supplies. They're in the desert with a lean donkey and no fish or pita bread, but wait they're not going to Egypt, they're heading away from the pyramids. This was the Great Story, somewhat butchered by the director and writer, but overall my family liked it and in the end it did achieve the goal of presenting the nativity story most people relate to, a holy birth attended by donkeys, camels, sheep, shepherds, wise men and angels. Not a blockbuster evangelistic success perhaps, but a fair effort at telling the wondrous story! Good / 4 —Christopher Marsden, age 51 Neutral—I saw "The Nativity Story," and I must say that I was not impressed. It wasn't a bad film, nor was it offensive. I think my expectations were just different than how the movie depicted the birth of Jesus. Technically, the scenery was accurate, and the costumes were well thought out. Writings were in the Hebrew text, and the sets had me believe I was in Nazareth/Bethlehem around the zero year. But the acting just seemed wooden to me. Also, while the screenplay took certain liberties with the Biblical account, one liberty that I would have liked to have seen would have been more tension. For example, the tension of planning for the trip to Joseph's home town of Bethlehem for the census or the tensions of life between the Jews and Romans during that time. (The latter tension was portrayed in the film, but didn't seem believable).
Also, the three wise men were definitely present for comic relief. One wise man's favorite saying was, "If I'm right… and I usually am…," while another complained constantly of the journey. While they were the most enjoyable part of the film, I believe their parts were relegated to more that of "wise guys," rather than wise men. Another disappointment was when Joseph was attempting to find accommodations for himself and Mary—I recall the Biblical account of him knocking on several doors throughout the course of the evening and being turned away on numerous occasions because of the influx of population due to the required census. However, the movie depicts this as a 30 second race where Mary is suddenly in labor, he pounds on a door or two and finally a stranger points to an enclosed rock-like dwelling and calmly says, "That's all I have." I also didn't think Mary was subjected to an arranged marriage as she was in the movie. The Bible does mention that "…Mary was betrothed to Joseph…," but my interpretation was that meant that he had proposed marriage, and she had accepted his offer. Finally, although this has nothing to do with the film, I am aghast to learn that the actress portraying Mary (Keisha Castle-Hughes) became herself an unwed, pregnant woman at the ripe old age of 16. Hmmm… not a shining example for someone whose last role was the Virgin Mary. But it is her personal life. Good / 3 —Graham, age 44 Neutral—"The Nativity Story" may have a big budget and professional actors, actresses, and director, yet it is lacking in someway. Mary (Keisha Castle Hughes) was under-developed as a character. The appearances of the Angel Gabriel were annoying, and the flying bird was too cliche. The three wise men subplot was not working well with the main story line. In the end, where the birth of Christ is picture perfect for a Hallmark card. Come on, the wise men at the stable with the shepherds gathering around for that Kodak moment. Of all the Jesus films, Franco Zefferelli's "Jesus of Nazareth" is a competent portrayal from birth to resurrection. Other than "The Passion of the Christ," Jesus of Nazareth is still the bar to follow by. However, there are two good things I remember about "The Nativity Story." 1) Joseph was really fleshed out and 2) Mary's birth pang.
Excellent! / 2 —Mang Yang, age 34 Neutral—I noticed that the reviewer talked about the Nativity Story's "close attention to detail" in its use of Hebrew, etc. I must differ with this analysis. Firstly, although the text the Magi are supposedly translating in Persia is indeed composed of authentic Hebrew characters, it is the wrong passage. The verses shown on screen begin with Numbers 24:18b, 'And Seir, its enemies, will be a possession, while Israel performs valiantly. The verse they are supposedly translating is Numbers 24:17 ('A star will come forth from Jacob, a scepter will rise from Israel), which is not shown on the screen.
Secondly, when Zechariah holds up the slate supposedly saying, "His name is John," there is an error. There are two possibilities: either he has written "her name is John" in Hebrew or "his name is John" in Aramaic (the letters for each are the same). The first would be an obvious error; the latter would be a continuity error, because the characters speak Hebrew rather than Aramaic in the rest of the movie. Thirdly, the prayers are anachronistic because they use "ha-shem" (typically mispronounced "Va-shem" by the actors) as a circumlocution for the Divine Name in Hebrew—a modern practice of many Orthodox. Unfortunately, the people of that time used a different circumlocution—'Adonai.' Fourthly, no one would have crossed the desert to get to Judea from Persia. Rather, everyone followed the trade route around the desert to the north and proceeded down the old "Kings' Highway" from Syria towards Judea. Likewise, the approximately 80-mile walk from Nazareth to Bethlehem is not a walk through sandy desert, but would have followed a commonly-used pathway. The real risk would have been bandits along the road, not hunger or the length of the journey. While the movie did have its redeeming qualities—most notably in its depiction of Joseph's struggles with how to deal with the problem of Mary's premarital pregnancy, I was disappointed in its overall lack of attention to detail. Those I listed above are some of the more glaring examples of this lack. Good / 3 —Jason, age 24 Negative
None Comments from young people
Positive—This movie was excellent! I just went to see if it was good. It turned out that it was very, very good! I never seen a movie that really showed how God's son affected the people of Israel and the three wise men. The movie also showed what life was like for Mary's people and what they had to do in extreme situations.
Mary did not love Joseph in the beginning, but she came to love him because he believed her. Throughout the movie, Mary and Joseph bonded even closer and eventually came to the point were they did not want to be without each other. This story really showed how Mary was able to believe God and how God protected Joseph and Mary from harm so His Son could be born. It was a story of trust, love, and belief. I have never seen a better movie than this. Excellent! / 5 —Carli, age 16 Positive—This movie was entertaining and breathtaking. It portrays a story about a young woman who was given an impossible task, made possible by the awesome power of Christ, the inner strength of Joseph, and the gentle love of Mary. This is a story that we celebrate every year on Christmas, but few of us truly understand. It shows us the weak and human side of the people that held the fate of the world on their shoulders. This is a great movie that should be viewed by all, no matter the age.
Excellent! / 4½ —Kay, age 15 Positive—I just wanted to say that this was a great movie. I can't even explain in words how refreshing this was. It makes you think about that time. It's really worth the time and money to go see. It's accurate, has good costumes, a good Christmas movie and overall very good. If you're looking for a good movie for Christmas, this is the one.
Excellent! / 5 —Amy, age 13 Positive—I agree that everyone should see this film. It will not be a waste of time or money and it is something we all need to see.
I began working at the theater earlier this year. Ever since then, I have seen some pretty bad movies enter our doors and watched as great movies passed by. Within the past two months, several customers have called, asking if we would be getting movies such as "Facing the Giants" and "One Night with the King." Sadly, I have had to tell them no. When the previews for "The Nativity…" began showing I became very excited. I knew it was a movie I wanted to see. After so many disappointing phone calls and upset customers, I knew that this movie was one that could do very well. People seem to be ready for it. Satan tries to make us think that we are alone in our faith and stand a small chance against the world, but God always sends a reminder that we are not alone—the phone calls were mine. After reading the novel a few weeks ago, my hopes for the movie only grew. About a week ago, I asked my manager if he thought there was a chance we might be getting it. Amazingly enough, he was also very anxious about "The Nativity…" and said we certainly should; it should do well. When I was finally sure we were getting it in our theater, I volunteered to watch it (as if none of my managers wanted to, also!). It was one of the best movies ever made on Jesus' birth. Although we have all heard the story a million times, this movie is a great awakening. Although we can repeat the story word for word within our heads and speak all day on the true meaning of Christmas—how often do we ever really stop to think about it. This movie makes it all seem as real as it happened. You see Joseph and Mary. You begin to feel the way they might have felt. The actors certainly did an excellent job and the only time I snapped out of the story was when the film stopped for a second. They made it more real, and unlike some films, they did not have to make up or add to the story. There really isn't anything that makes you stop and question the movie. The only thing, about this movie, is that you have to have an open heart. You have to want to listen and know the truth. You have to want the truth and be willing to accept it. You cannot go see this film only to attack the acting and scenery. For those who are searching for the truth—this film can definitely set them on the right track. For those who already believe, be ready for an awakening. We can all fall asleep sometimes. * And just for the record, "The Nativity…" was doing very well today as far as ticket sells go. I didn't hear a single complaint, but it did get a few compliments and thoughtful faces from customers as they left the theater! Excellent! / 5 —Adison, age 17 Positive—Earlier this year, I made a statement on this Web site that "World Trade Center" was the best movie for 2006. I would like to revise that statement in light of "The Nativity Story." It is a terrific movie that joins the elite among two categories: Biblical films that are truly great (such as "The Passion of the Christ" and "The Ten Commandments") and films that actually capture the true meaning of Christmas. It is a movie that deserves our support and advertisement as "The Passion of the Christ" did.
As far as moral quality is concerned, this movie has nothing offensive or anything like that. You'll probably be disturbed by the Slaughter of the Innocents commanded by Herod, but this scene (which actually opens the movie), isn't truly offensive. This is the best release I've seen this year as far as morality is concerned. This one of the reasons why it deserves our great support. We need to send a message that we prefer that there would be little or no offensive content in our movies. Who knows? Maybe Hollywood might get the message that we and even many non-Christians have been sending them for years. That is: we don't like all the violence for the sake of violence, the gratuitous and immoral sex, the needless stream of profanity (most importantly, when they take God's name in vain), the anti-Christian content, and the various other kinds of offenses they throw at us all the time. As far as movie-making quality is concerned, this is still the best I've seen this year. The acting is good (though not as good as "The Passion of the Christ"'s acting), the script is good (even though sometimes you can't understand what certain people are saying, which is probably due to the accents the actors take on) the music is good, the background is beautiful, the costumes are believable, and the cinematography is great. The reconstruction of Nazareth, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Masada, and various other places that aren't named are done extremely well (Jerusalem looks beautiful and it almost reminded me of Minas Tirith from LOTR: Return of the King). This, combined with various other factors I mentioned above, makes it actually seem like your back in the days before Christ came into the world. In terms of Biblical accuracy, this movie is rated high, but not quite as accurate as "The Passion of the Christ." There are some minor discrepancies that the reviewer mentioned, but these don't classify as anything that would be disconcerting. Of course, being about the Nativity, this captures the true meaning of Christmas. Various Biblical quotes used in the movie (as well as other things, such as the gift of myrrh and the thing said by one of the Magi after it was given) constantly remind us about why Jesus came and what He was going to do. For these reasons, He came into the world, and that is why we celebrate Christmas. Needless to say, I highly recommend this movie. Good / 5 —Ross, age 17 Positive—I just went to see the movie. It was a good movie overall, but I did have a few complaints. I thought the movie started out nicely, but then as Mary and Joseph were introduced, I didn't really "get into" the movie. I couldn't place myself in that situation, which is what I usually look for in a movie. Mary didn't say much, and there was no expression on her face most of the time. Joseph, on the other hand, did a great job! I could feel and see how he was taking a step of faith and putting Mary and her needs before his! I thought the movie was slow, but it told the story just right!!! The dry humor was VERY good!! Overall, the movie was very good, and, as a Christian, I thought it shared the story very well!
Good / 4 —Madison, age 13 Positive—I am very surprised how so many people get upset by the number of wise man and shepherds. Yes, it is true that there is no number. There it could have been 1 or 100, but how would the makers of this movie know how many there were, they don't. Nobody on earth knows, so we simply put a average number. You should always remember and tell your children that there might not have been exactly three, but why should we not make a good Christian movie unlike the horrible films we have today just because we don't know every biblical fact there is. We DON'T know how Mary felt. We don't know how anybody else felt, other than what we read in the Bible, but this shouldn't pick up a huge issue.
Excellent! / 3½ —Kathleen, age 13 Positive—This movie was very well done, except for a few things that did not line up with the Bible. For example, one of the wise men made the decision not to go back to Herod after they saw the baby Jesus, instead of God telling them not to go back, and that the wise men showed up on the night that Jesus was born instead of when he was a toddler. Another example is when the Angel appeared to the Shepherds there was only one Angel instead of multitudes of them that were singing. I thought that that was a missed opportunity on the filmmakers part because of all the technology that we have today; I thought the multitudes of Angels would of been really neat. Other than a few things that were off the Bible I thought that this was a good movie and I definitely recommend it to anyone over the age 8-9 because some of the younger kids might get bored throughout the movie, and there was some violence.
One of the things I REALLY liked about the movie was the depiction of Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem. A lot of the time before seeing this movie I thought that it was just a nice little journey to Bethlehem with nothing to worry about (of course there is nothing to worry about with God on our side) but Mary and Joseph were short on food, their animal was getting weaker as the journey went along and other things like that. The acting in this movie is very good, I was really impressed with Oscar Isaacs who played Joseph, he did a FANTASTIC job as him, Keisha Castle-Hughes who played Mary was good to but not as good as Oscar Isaacs. So if you're looking for a Christmas movie to see this month don't see "Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause," see "The Nativity Story" which has the true meaning of Christmas in it, celebrating Jesus Christ's birth. Good / 4½ —Anthony, age 12 Positive—This was a film that we went to see with my Senior High Girls Bible Study. I was skeptical at first, it looked good in previews but I am all too aware of how Hollywood likes to tamper with biblical stories. I went into the movie waiting to see some huge twisted typical Hollywood version of the biblical story of Mary. I was almost knocked backwards though when I saw the movie. I cannot in words express how wonderful this movie was. It gave a more realistic portrayal of Mary and Joseph. It was amazing to see them as real people, going through struggles that they probably really did go through. After all, no where in the bible does it say that their journey was easy. It's a story of faith, trusting in God when the world seems to be turned against you. I also thought it was interesting how Mary was portrayed as a normal woman, chosen by God. She was not outstandingly beautiful, as everyone seems to want to believe, and she went through her own pains and doubts. Too often she is portrayed as outstandingly beautiful, and completely pure, which she was not, because it says in the bible that All have sinned. We know that no one was completely pure except God and Jesus.
I especially enjoyed that Mary and Joseph were Arabic, because that is their race in the bible. I had gotten annoyed sometimes, when Mary and Joseph were portrayed as blue-eyed and fair skinned, because they probably weren't. I am not racist or anything, I myself am fair skinned. But I did love that Mary and Joseph seemed so much closer to who they really were. And for those of you who complain about the three wise men being funny, who is to say that they didn't have a sense of humor? Jesus himself had (And has) a sense of humor. I found it enjoyable that they had fun, and even Joseph has a few funny lines. It was cool because really, they couldn't be serious all the time could they? Why would God create laughter if we weren't allowed to use it? It was refreshing. Also, as for Joseph knocking on a few doors in "30 seconds" as you said, he probably would have been frantic at that point. Mary is in labor and he can't find anywhere to stay, would you be incredibly calm and slowly walking door to door? No. All that aside, this is an amazing movie, and it has become one of my favorite movies. I am taking my family to see it, and me and all the girls from my bible study loved it. Satan doesn't want people to see this movie, I truly believe that. So take people to see it! You won't regret it! And bring a box of tissues, I was crying quite a lot during the movie because it was so moving. I got the chills when I finally saw the baby jesus, because it felt more like I know Mary and Joseph now, and I got to see their real struggles. Take your kids to see it, it's the true meaning of CHristmas. You won't regret seeing this movie. Excellent! / 5 —Rachel Hutcheson, age 16 |


text:
First image of 'Man of Steel' set
Posted by Huw,The USA Today has revealed details of toys being made to tie-in with the new Superman movie 'Man Of Steel', which is out in June. Among them is LEGO set 76002, Superman Metropolis Showdown.
Now you can see why I was under whelmed when I saw them at the London toy fair...
(Thanks Bill and others that emailed).
42 comments on this article
The Minifigures look rather nice in my opinion, and the small yellow car is not too bad, but that odd looking heap of slopes in the corner is just lazy. Not awful all in all, but I am a little disappointed in the General Zod Minifigure which looks very simplistic, too much so for me, however I think that Superman looks great in that costume.
Can't make up my mind about this set at the moment... It's very odd. Not much "Metropolis" in this set, but that was expected after seeing what price range it would be in... Is there more "Smallville" in the "Battle of Smallville" set?
Ok the "heap of slopes" appear to connect to the tower in Zods hand making it the base for it. It looks as though it is also a launcher to flip the car. That is also how Zod appears in most representations of the character. I also believe that is close to how he appeared in Batman 2.
It looks pretty good!
Sure, just the basics here, but nicely designed...! An updated dark-blue Superman, a great-looking General Zod, who is a critical supervillain, a cool car, some city scenery for a fight. Overall, a very nice set for the $13 price point!
Plus, actually, you might not need to buy this one set at all, since Superman and Zod appear in all of the sets for this Summer. The others also include Lois Lane, a modern Army General, and a surprising variety of Kryptonians!
Considering we are getting 7 new sets, based on two new movies, with 13 different totally new or redesigned characters, It's hard to find a reason to complain, right?! That's almost exactly as much as Waves 1, 2, and 3!
first look of Ironman´s new armor minifig in comicbookmovies
Ug, this is disappointing! I really wanted to see a building facade or false wall that crumbles. Likely something with the Daily Planet on it. While the car has a nice design, there's nothing superheroic about the set. Flipping the car can easily be done with your hand!
The figures look good, but unless Zod is unavailable in other sets (and I can't imagine he would be scarce) I'll be passing this one up.
Looks like a decent $15 dollar set, but I'm sure Lego will find a way to ask $20 or more for it.
I think the minifigures look great, and can't wait to get them!
Huw, is there going to be a set that has Jor El in it? I may have to get it so I can have Russell Crowe in minifigure form! xD
The set on the image is supposed to be only $12.99.
Something about that car bothers me...
For £10 it is ok in my opinion, 2 new minifigures and a car, it's no different to the catwoman bike chase really. If they ask for £15 or more I will just get the figures from the other sets.
I do however think they are completly wasting the license they have been given. there are so many characters they can make yet we get 10 different batmans.
Please Lego, make a few more of the justice league figures
I don't think it's that bad of a set, considering it'll cost the same (presumably) as the Batman/Catwoman chase set from last year.
That car's pretty awesome. I appreciate how the LEGO Super Heroes theme keeps giving us unique vehicle designs rather than just using generic LEGO City car and truck builds. To be honest I don't see much wrong with this set-- it seems like an effective way to add building and play value at this price point in a set about a super hero not known for his (or his enemies') use of vehicles or props.
I've got a Superman figure already thanks to the Lex Luthor giant robot set. So this doesn't worry me either way.
^^^^Hallows81, et al.
I agree, but I think that they are just planning out the pacing of how they will release different sets and characters, working in conjunction with the movie directors and studios. If the Man of Steel movie triggers more sequels, then each Summer we'll get more movie sets, probably including newer incarnations of Braniac and Darkseid as the future movie villains. Then during the Christmas seasons, they will likely do one larger nostalgia set based loosely on the older movies, like a Fortress of Solitude set with a Jor-El minifig, or The Daily Planet with Super-Girl, Bizarro, or Metallo, added in as bonus figs, just the same way they added Doctor Doom, Nova, and Beetle into the Daily Bugle Set.
Plus it is just a matter of time before we get the whole Justice League in one format or another, no?!
I think the movie is still on for 2015, and in the meantime we will get The Flash and Martian Manhunter as extra figs in other sets like they did with Wonder Woman and Aquaman, or as pre-order bonuses, or Comic-Con exclusives...!
Have no fear!
I was hoping that the Metropolis set would be The Daily Planet, but oh well, this looks cool anyway, and I look forward to getting it.
I actually think that this set looks amazing for one that appears to be so small; both the car and radio tower are well-built, and the minifigures are what you expect- and need- for the battle
The set looks like a bad ripoff of the just released Spider Man flying car set.
Glad I got the first Superman set.
I'd probably be much more in favour of this if it didn't carry the lofty title of "METROPOLIS SHOWDOWN". I think we can all agree that brings to mind something at least slightly larger that features, y'know, a Metropolis building. As it stands, the name commands higher expectations of its content and as such leads to inevitable disappointment at what it actually is; they should've gone with something simpler and more appropriate, like "Superman General Zod Encounter" or "Superman Girder Throw".
Compared to similar price-pointed sets, it's probably pretty decent; it's just crippled by that name.
I actually like this set, I didn't realize it was a car at first; but the figures are very nice...
^^Ah yes, but the overwhelming majority of TLG's customers don't hover on the rumor mill, so they do not even know what sets are coming out until they see the picture in the printed catalog, or until they see the real box on the shelf!
So if they exaggerate the titles, then I think that is more to get the toy store owners excited, so they order more.
As Aanchir and others noted, the real issue here is that both of these Kryptonians have the full range of Superman's powers, and so when they fight each other, they usually just smash each other with their fists or use heat vision.
So aside from a smash-able wall that any kid could build with spare parts, what exactly do you think the designers should have put in this set, without going over $13 total? Remember that they cannot do a tank or modern armies.
It would have been ultra cool to include the bronze globe from the top of the Daily Planet Building, broken off of it's pedestal... And that would be excellent for MOCers, but it would diminish the sale value of a future Daily Planet set.
To be honest, it doesn't look all that bad, at least IMO. I mean, it is a pretty inexpensive set by all accounts, comes two rather nice minifigs, and I've sorta got my eye on those tan bricks. The car just looks kinda lame and doesn't really go with a "real-life" city. It looks like something out of a LEGO racing theme.
The car looks rather half heated but considering it's no more then a prop it's forgivable. The cluster of slops is probably meant to represent rubble and I think it pulls that off rather well.
Since this is the smallest set of the series all it's shortcoming can be overlooked. It's just a vehicle for the minifigures which both look great. I see they made a new version of superman and I think he captures the movie version perfectly.
I also found a clearer image of the set with a white background. I posted a link below.
Personally......I like it. The figures and car are quite good and I don't mind that towery thing.Or maybe its because Im a huge D.C Universe nerd.
@the_real_indy: Aw come on, what part of "SUPERMAN GIRDER THROW" isn't the most exciting thing you've ever heard? :P
^ Oh, yes!! I'd buy "UCS Superman Girder Throw" at any price!! That sounds awesome!! =)
But, yeah, I think that if they do exaggerate the set names sometimes, then that's just to get the toy store owners to order more, especially if the box art image will still be hidden as "confidential" in the dealer's catalog.
For example, a lot of fans were unhappy that "Batwing Battle Over Gotham City" did not contain any architecture from Gotham City at all, and that "Hulk's HeliCarrier Breakout" was not a scaled-down version of the HeliCarrier.
Plus if "Tony Stark's Malibu Mansion Attack" is really only $40, then we'll definitely need to keep modest expectations!
Wow, in fact, if the "Malibu Mansion" set is only 364 pieces, and about 20 of those are the body parts for the 5 minifigs, then that is going to be a teeny-tiny mansion!!
Can't wait to see!! =D
The "Man of Steel"-Character Design isnt my cup of tea, but i like how the sets includes a car that is supposed to be thrown rather than driven :-)
Oh dear. I'd better go out and pick another #6862 to make sure I've got a spare "Classic" Superman and Wonder Woman.
Do not like the new suit at all.
Is that a new wheel arch?
Boy that car is designed in a strange way. Did TLC fire the designers of the Indy theme? Those cars were great!
@ Joefish
No, they used the basic wheel arch and just slapped a slop on top. I actually quite like it. It's a shame the Superheros sets have only been making their vehicles single seaters though.
I'm glad the comic style/original costume is available. I find this a bit like more 'subtle' film versions such as the Lego Avengers version of Captain America, not as satisfying as a comics design which is more bold and caricatured and suitable for a toy and MF.
Nice car by the way.
Oh right, I can see it's a 1x4 'speed bump' on top of one of last year's shorter wheel arches. Nice look though.
While this set looks awesome (and a pretty good value for money considering licensed sets at that price), it's disappointing to see the lack of any new minifigure pieces for this year's SH sets. I'll probably pass this for the Black Zero Escape one..
That car (as well as one of the Friends cars) looks a bit like a MOC that I made a few years ago, and I'm sure other MOCers have made similar cars. http://www.mocpages.com/moc.php/244209
I'm thinkin' "Hmmmm, Doesn't it look like you are supposed to stick the tower down into the center socket in the car, basically turning the whole thing into a giant makeshift hammer?! Is that why the car is so solidly built, and why it has such a tiny little square socket and no seat in the middle? You obviously could! Who wants to bet that General Zod actually punctures and impales a car with a signal tower, and then uses it as a massive hammer in the movie?! Is that the director's clever nod to the notion that Kryptonians don't use weapons?!"
I bet you USD 10 that I'm right! =D
^Great theory. I think that seems like a pretty likely explanation for all this set's odd subject matter.
Commenting has ended on this article.

subset: commoncrawl


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You can pay via Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, or with a purchase order. If you are paying with a PO, please send the PO form to us via email or fax. Using postal mail to send a PO will incur significant delays.
If you are in the state of Pennsylvania and are a non-profit, please contact us with your non-profit tax ID number. Once we have your number on file, you will not need to resend for additional purchases.
You can purchase Finch from RobotShop. With locations in Europe and Canada, RobotShop offers improved shipping options for non-US customers.
If located in India, we suggest you purchase a Finch from Tenet Technetronics, India's premier distributor of hobbyist and educational electronics.


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Merops 5.065
Merops is an advanced tool for the management of your French portfolios. You can easily track the evolution of your investments, giving you the latest available quotes automatically (delayed 15 minutes). 5 years charts history of your stocks. Multi-portfolios. Multi-currencies ( Euro, Dollar, Swiss Franc, English Pound). Risk management. 20 indicators of technical analysis
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Who do you think looks best today? (5 photos)
The best street style from London Fashion Week: http://ow.ly/p48HS via @StyleCaster
"Anna really turned up the heat at the premiere of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World," says Glick. "With her hair in a side part and a smoky eye, she looked absolutely ravishing."Read MoreLess


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Created: 02/18/2014 5:22 PM
By: Devin Neeley, KOB Eyewitness News 4
Farmington Police have his picture and have been looking for a man for about three weeks. But, he's not a suspect in a crime, police think he might actually be a victim.
Farmington Police say it's not a victim who they are usually looking for.
"It happens, it's unusual, we are usually looking for the suspect," said Georgette Allen, public information officer for Farmington Police.
This time Farmington Police are looking for the possible victim of an armed robbery.
Allen said, "We believe these individuals may have robbed him."
Someone snapped a picture at Jaycee Park in Farmington on February 3. The picture depicts a man in blue pants, a blue jacket and blue watch cap surrounded by three men. One of the men seems to be wearing a red bandanna to hide his face.
Police say the man could play a vital part in the case against the three men wearing hoods.
Farmington police say those men have already been arrested and charged in another armed robbery.
While police are still looking for the victim, people are using the park even today, and neighbors say this is still a great place to play.
"Yeah, I feel it's one of the safest neighborhoods I have ever lived in," Mark Court said.
Court has lived in the neighborhood for 2 years and brings his dog to the park when the weather is nice.
"But yeah, it does concern me when there might be people running around robbing people or robbing homes or whatever. I don't like to hear about that just right down the street."
Until police can find this man, they aren't sure what happened, or if these men should face more charges.
If you know who this man is, or what may have happened at the park, you're urged to call Farmington Police at 505-599-1002.
KOB welcomes a lively and courteous discussion as long as you follow the rules of conduct set forth in our Terms of Use. Comments are not pre-screened before they post. You agree that anything you post may be used, along with your name and profile picture, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and the license you have granted pursuant to our Terms of Use.
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There's an apocryphal tale about a stubborn British lord who owns the land beneath the U.S. embassy in London. No amount of American largesse can convince him to sell. Deal after multimillion-dollar deal is offered, to no avail. Finally, the U.S. ambassador asks the titled gentleman what on earth he would take for the land. The wily codger furrows his brow. He stiffens his upper lip. At last he replies: "I'll take Florida."
He will have to queue up behind the droves of American golfers who rate the peninsula their top winter playground—and with good reason. With nearly 1,400 golf courses—more than any other state—Florida's allure owes much to the sport. More than sixty million rounds a year are played here, a state in which golf is a $6 billion industry. Here are a few choice places to contribute your share to the Sunshine State's economy.
Often kitschy, never boring, Miami—and its golf—has finally gone deluxe. The Four Seasons Hotel Miami (305-381-3381), which opened in October, resides in the tallest structure (seventy stories) south of Atlanta. When The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach (800-241-3333) opens in December it will mark the luxury hotel chain's third property in the Miami area. Yes, the pastel motels and J.Lo look-alikes are still in force, but the city is refining its act.
Golf-wise, Miami's grandest makeover has been the transformation earlier this year of the previously dreary Bayshore Golf Course in Miami Beach into a first-class test renamed the Miami Beach Golf Club. Treated to a more than $10 million rescue by Arthur Hills and Steve Forrest, the city-owned layout, a few blocks north of the Art Deco district, is an urban-golf oasis. After recontouring the fairways, reshaping the ten lakes, installing more than eighty bunkers, and building new greens and tees at every hole, Hills and crew seeded the spread with two strains of paspalum, an eco-friendly salt-tolerant grass that's perfectly adapted to the tropics. The virtually new course is now nearly as captivating as the city that surrounds it.
Eight miles west, Doral Golf Resort & Spa (800-713-6725) has changed considerably from the go-go getaway that New York real estate tycoon Alfred Kaskel and his wife, Doris (hence the name, Dor-Al), built on 2,400 acres of swampland in Miami in 1960. And yet . . . the horseshoe arrangement of low-rise lodges set below the smoked-glass windows of the clubhouse is still there. So is a fountain from the 1964 New York World's Fair, bubbling in a lake beside the practice putting green of the ninety-hole golf mecca. And, of course, you will want to play the Blue course, a.k.a. the Blue Monster, site of the PGA Tour's Ford Championship. One of Florida's first manufactured layouts, the Blue—designed by Dick Wilson and severely toughened up by Ray Floyd in 1996—is marked by sculpted lagoons, broad fairways defined by well-placed bunkers and large, subtly contoured greens. The par-four eighteenth, its long, skewed green cantilevered into a lake, is one of the sport's most daunting finishing holes. The course is a major-league test from the tips at 7,125 yards, but eminently playable for risk-averse enthusiasts from the forward tees.
Doral's other courses include the Great White, which Greg Norman completely reworked three years ago into a stark, desert-like spread, with holes framed by acres of tightly packed coquina sand, 2,400 mature palms and a gaggle of pot bunkers. The Red course, renovated in 2001, is the friendliest of the five. The Jim McLean Golf School at Doral is one of the best, as is the 148,000-square-foot Spa at Doral. The resort completed a $75 million makeover last year to bring its decor and facilities into the twenty-first century, and yet . . . you can still sniff the snap-brim '60s as you watch jets roar into the blue from nearby Miami International Airport.
Linked to Miami's mainland by the Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne is home to Crandon Park, one of Florida's best munis. Host of a Champions Tour event, Crandon was laid out by Robert von Hagge and Bruce Devlin in 1972 and touched up twenty-one years later in the wake of Hurricane Andrew. The course today, a stone's throw from the sea, is a beautifully landscaped track routed through a forest of mangroves, with numerous saltwater lagoons in play. The par-five eighteenth, with Biscayne Bay off to the right and the glistening Miami skyline in the distance, is truly memorable.
As culinary fusion capitals go, Miami is at or near the top. Go ethnic in Little Havana, trendy in Coconut Grove or line up for a table at Joe's Stone Crab (305-673-0365), a South Beach institution that boils the claws of these delectable crustaceans and serves them chilled with a mustard dressing on the side. For elegant continental dining, Restaurant St. Michel (305-446-6572), in the hotel of the same name in Coral Gables, is a good bet, as is the town's Palme d'Or (305-445-1926), located in the Biltmore Hotel.
Forty-five minutes east of Orlando, Daytona Beach is more famous as a spring-break capital, an auto-racing haven and a spot to cruise your vintage cherry-red GTO on the sand. But this carefree beach town has been put on the golf map by several new developments.
When it opened in 2000, the semiprivate Ocean Hammock was promoted as Florida's first new oceanfront course since 1929, when Seminole made its auspicious debut. Located between St. Augustine, the nation's oldest city, and Daytona Beach, Ocean Hammock was built around the time its designer, Jack Nicklaus, was collaborating with his old rival Arnold Palmer on The King & The Bear at nearby World Golf Village. Because that course was (and is) more King than Bear, Nicklaus escaped often to work on Ocean Hammock's fabulous parcel of sandy hammocks within sight and sound of the pounding surf. After digging a series of interior lakes and using the fill to raise the land along the shore for his prototype links, Nicklaus crafted a brilliant strategic test through scrub-covered dunes, oaks and pines. Green shapes, bunker depths and hole orientations were varied to create different looks on a 7,201-yard course that tests shot-making skills to the max. The par-four ninth, with rolling dunes framing the right side of the hole, is the real deal. Think Royal Troon with better weather.
To play the course, your best bet is to stay at the Lodge at Ocean Hammock (800-654-6538), a $25 million hostelry that opened this spring. All twenty rooms feature private balconies with ocean and golf-course views. A beautifully appointed lodge, it could pass for a getaway in the British West Indies.
Another lodging option is the Palm Coast Golf Resort (800-654-6538), built by ITT in the early 1980s. Guests there can play Ocean Hammock and four other courses, ranging from the decent (Palm Harbor) to the well above average (Matanzas Woods, Pine Lakes and Cypress Knoll). Both Matanzas and Pine Lakes are brawny Arnold Palmer-Ed Seay creations with room to bang the driver. But the sleeper is Cypress Knoll, a fairly short (6,591 yards) but enticing Gary Player design with open-entry greens and narrow fairways.
Rees Jones faced an interesting dilemma when he was asked, in 1990, to create a daily-fee facility that would offer a formidable challenge for the game's most talented female players yet could also be enjoyed by golfers of all abilities. The "Open Doctor" succeeded on both counts. The original course at Daytona Beach's LPGA International, now called the Champions, was specifically designed from the middle tees (the ideal spot for the average campaigner) and hosted the LPGA's Titleholders Championship for five years. It remains a versatile test that offers, according to Jones, "great variety in length, a diversity of shot options and putting-surface contours that reward accurate approaches." Strategic mounding and more than a hundred bunkers will get your attention on this links-style gem, no matter what set of tees you choose.


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*This is the perfect time of year for scammers. And you'd better believe social media is an outlet they are using big time! The latest is a post offering $250 gift cards to shop for Christmas dinner at the grocery chain Kroger. You may want to make alternate plans, as WAFF-TV of Huntsville, Ala., reported; […] …read more
Warning: $250 Kroger Gift Card Offered on Facebook Not Legit!


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Who do you think looks best today? (5 photos)
The best street style from London Fashion Week: http://ow.ly/p48HS via @StyleCaster
Dressing for your figure is one of fashion's biggest challenges. Whether your body type is athletic like Kerry Washington, lean, curvy, petite, boyish or busty, we've compiled a collection of dresses that will fit your shape perfectly and stay on-trend for this season. Click through the gallery for tips on how to wear the frocks, flatter your figure, and truly look your best.Read MoreLess


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Hebrew Names Version (HNV) | New International Version (NIV) |
62 The lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me all the day. | 62 what my enemies whisper and mutter against me all day long. |
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain. (Hebrew Names Version - The Holy Bible Online) | Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |


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Sleeps | 9 |
Bedrooms | 3 |
Bathrooms | 1 |
Half Baths | 1 |
Property type | cottage |
Minimum Stay | 3 - 7 nights |
Looking for a charming lakefront cottage to rent with all the comforts of home? This immaculate, well-kept cozy 3 bedroom home sleeps 7 with additional 2 more on a comfortable sleeper sofa. Enjoy waking up in the morning of the lapping sound of the water from your bedroom then a day of swimming, water skiing, fishing or boating. Fire up the grill for a tasty BBQ then gather around a campfire at the water's edge for toasting marshmallows while watching the shimmering moonlight reflection on the lake.
Fully equipped kitchen with everything you will need including a trash compactor, garbage disposal, food processor & microwave. Pillows, blankets, and kitchen towels are provided; you bring the sheets and bath towels. The water is filtered but you need to bring your own drinking water and paper products. Percs inside include 2 cable tv's with DVR & DVD/VHS player is available to play movies, high speed wireless internet, gas heat, washer & dryer, and a large dining room for playing cards. Outside there are 2 large decks, tables and chairs, gas grill, swing, jet ski lift, and a large dock for catching wide-mouth bass, perch, bluegill, or go for the big muskie!! Rowboat is available for your use. 2 new topside kayaks. Bicycles for adults & children. Boat ramp is also available at south end of lake if you want to bring your own boat.
Waneta Lake is located in the heart of the Finger Lakes so if you are looking for a little adventure then be sure to visit the eight wineries on the Keuka Lake Wine Trail, and if that isn't enough there are more to venture to on Seneca Lake which offers a unique tasteful experience at each location. If the wineries aren't your thing then visit the nearby Corning Glass Museum, Rockwell Western Art Museum or Curtis Motorcycle/Aircraft Museum. Why not visit the glacier cut Gorge at Watkins Glen and while your there visit the many antique shops or go out on Captain Bill's dinner cruise to see Seneca Lake which is the largest of the Finger Lakes. There is always, golfing, hiking the local waterfalls, Windmill farmers/craft market on Saturday that is an unique experience in itself. Just get in your car & enjoy the rolling hills with grapevines growing on both sides of Keuka & Seneca. The beauty that surrounds Waneta is a photographer's paradise.
Rentals are typically weekly. Saturday at 3:00pm and depart with the following Saturday at 10:00am. Weekends are also available especially in the Fall season. Linens are available at an additional cost.
Keywords: cottage, lakefront, dock, Boy's Scout camp, romantic getaway, lake house, water skiing, sailing, Public boat launch, summer vacation, hunters, fishermen, wine lovers,Finger Lakes Wine Country, Keuka Lake,Watkins Glen State Park, Watkins Glen, Watkins Glen racetrack, racetrack, Corning, Corning Glass, sleeps 7-9, wineries, Seneca Lake, water sports, campfires. Keuka Outlet Trail
When I was 2 yrs old I jumped off the dock on Waneta Lake and scared my mother to death. It was just the beginning of an adventuresome & exciting life that I was going to experience every summer. I have so many fond memories and valued all the friendships that I developed especially my water skiing buddies. We competed and traveled NY to several competitions and I earned my expert rating in slalom and was offered a job by Cypress Gardens. The lake will always be close to my heart even though I can't be there as much now since living in Florida. Renting it out gives other people the wonderful opportunity that I have so enjoyed and now they can experience also.
Sylvia purchased this cottage in 2003
It was my lifelong dream of owning my own place on the lake and I was fortunate that my family always owned this place and it has been passed down through the generations. My children also have a love for the lake and the best thing this past summer was seeing my 5 yr old grandson getting up on the ski sled that my kids used when they were young.
It is so conveniently located to the many attractions that surround the lake that you will never be bored. You can either just be lazy and float on your raft or jump in the car to go shopping, sightseeing, races at Watkins Glen or just enjoy the beautiful fall leaves on the hillside that surrounds the lake.
Renter has the use of a rowboat, the use of fishing poles, and water rafts for your enjoyment.
Rate Period | Nightly | Weekend Night | Weekly | Monthly | Event | ||||
Apr 1 2015 -
May 31 2015
3 night minimum stay
Jun 1 2015 -
Sep 7 2015
7 night minimum stay
Sep 8 2015 -
Oct 31 2015
3 night minimum stay
My Standard Rate
3 night minimum stay
Refundable damage deposit | $500 |
Cleaning | $100 |
Notes | Holidays will be a slightly higher rate. Security deposit is $500.00 which is refunded completely to you after the inspection of your departure within 10 days. $100.00 cleaning fee is also required. Linens will be provided at a fee of $100.00 for use of all beds. Smaller fee for linen service is applicable with the use of 1 or 2 beds. |
Payment is usually accepted in the quoted currency (USD) unless the currency and the amount is specifically agreed in advance with the owner / advertiser.


text: About GLBP Funded Projects in IndianaApproximately 6 million tons of soil erode each year in Indiana's portion of the Great Lakes Basin, causing economic and environmental losses and damages. To address this problem, since 1991 the Great Lakes Basin Program has supported six soil erosion and sediment control projects in Indiana totaling $96,311, with an additional $145,917 being leveraged from non-federal sources. Agricultural erosion (runoff from cropland, pasture land, animal facilities) and urban erosion (runoff/erosion from construction, highways, drain maintenance, road/stream crossings) have been the focus of the projects awarded in Indiana. About 4,000 acres are under some form of soil erosion and sediment control, thereby preventing the loss of 64,100 tons of soil annually, among other benefits. Public information and education programs have been an important component of the Indiana effort, targeting key stakeholders groups such as developers, landowners, school children and government agency personnel. Projects have used newspapers, cable television and newsletters as the vehicles for disseminating effective soil erosion and sediment control information.


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found a new home!
Plenty of my friends are looking
for one too. Find a pet to adopt.
Find a pet to adopt |
My name is Buster!
Facts about Buster
- Breed: Beagle
- Color: Tricolor (Tan/Brown & Black & White)
- Age: Adult
- Size: Small 25 lbs (11 kg) or less
- Sex: Male
- ID#: Buster - Beagle
Buster's Info...
I am already neutered, housetrained, purebred, up to date with shots, good with kids, good with dogs, and good with cats.
Buster - male, vet checked, vaccinated, spayed, dewormed, heartworm tested (-), tx flea preventative, 6yrs, ~47lbs, Beagle.
Buster's family moved away to a home that didn't allow pets, dumping this poor sweet boy in a high kill pound after 6 loyal years of companionship. Buster's time quickly ran out and he was slated to be euthanized. We are also heart broken to see that they have let him balloon to such a size. He is now safe and adored in a foster home.
From Buster's foster mom: Oh My Goodness, what a ladies man! Buster seems to grab the girls attention where ever he goes, they can't help but scoop his hefty body up in to their laps for a hug, you can tell by the big Beagle grin on his face that he just LOVES to get all the glory. This guy is just so sweet and so loveable, he's always happy and gets along really well with everyone. He just goes about the day doing his thing and loving every moment. He always has a smile on his face and is happy to sit with anyone – absolutely anyone that will give him some attention.
Buster is very over weight and needs to slowly start dropping the pounds with a proper diet, he should be on a premium Low Calorie kibble or better yet a Raw Food/BARF diet (lots of info on the web!). NO SNACKS! He needs to slowly work up to a good work out routine. At the moment he is too heavy to just start jogging or running for an hour, he can build up to it though. He does love to get out and go for walks so it shouldn't be hard to get this pudgy pants boy down to a normal weight. Buster's foster family would be happy to discuss a suitable diet and work out plan with his new adopters.
Buster gets along very will with other dogs, he'd be super as a second dog! He is fine with cats and loves respectful children of any age. Buster is house trained and crate trained, he is likely fine given free roam of his home when left alone and he'd love to curl up on your bed…or a doggy bed at night. He loves to be with people and would fit in to pretty much any household. We'd love to find Buster a home with a fenced yard, Beagles just don't like living in apartments with no outdoor space.
If you are interested in being considered to adopt a pet please submit a 4 Legged Love Adoption Application. An application must be submitted before an appointment can be made to meet/adopt a pet.
Other Pets at 4 Legged Love
Why Adoption is a Great Option
Buster, a Toronto/Etobicoke/GTA Beagle dog was adopted! Here's how you can benefit by looking at adoption as an option to buying a Beagle for sale in Toronto/Etobicoke/GTA, or seeking a Beagle dog from a breeder in Toronto/Etobicoke/GTA.
- Rescues and shelter volunteers in Toronto/Etobicoke/GTA already know the personality and tendencies of their pets. This means they can match you with the right pet. That will makes it much easier transition to owning a pet for yourself and your new pet.
- On average adoption fees are much less than you'd pay a Toronto/Etobicoke/GTA breeder, or pet store. Plus most often rescue pets have already been to the veterinarian for a check-up, had a round of vaccinations, and are spayed or neutered. That is a lot of savings!
- You will become a hero, and give a needy dog or cat a loving home. In fact, there are even Beagle breeders who help with Beagle rescue. One puppy or kitten adopted in Toronto/Etobicoke/GTA paves the way for another one to be saved.


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>>> We've Moved - Blippitt Is Now Viral Video Box <<<
The 2013 Travis Roy Foundation WIFFLE Ball Tournament ended in dramatic fashion.
A fly ball with hit to right-center field and the outfielder made a leaping grab – falling over the outfield wall – to record the final out.
The Crusaders wound up beating the Hardshells 3-0.
Some were arguing that, because the fielder didn't land in the field of play, the hit should have been ruled a home run.
After review, however, it was ruled that the batter was out.
Check it out below.
Related articles
>>> Love viral videos? Check out our new site...Viral Video Box <<<


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Demonika Ch. 1 I suppose I should have known from the start that the girl I found sitting in a dark, damp alley that night so long ago was a demon. Perhaps I was too young to put two and two together, or maybe I was too angry at my parents to care. I had only been ten for a few days, if I recall correctly, and I had just gotten into an awful fight with my father. I had looked to my mother for help, but to my dismay, she took my father's side. They were both strictly against me going into magic.
Ten was an important age for me; it was an important age for any youngster who desired a future in the magic arts. There was a


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As much as you love your children and your pets, they can be hard on your lovely decorator items. There are two ways you can avoid having beloved (and expensive) pieces ruined by crayon squiggles or cat claws: Don't have those things in your home or buy items that are tough enough to withstand a lot of wear and tear.
Indoor outdoor pillows are an excellent example of a decorative item that can survive just about anything. These pillows are covered in tough, weather-resistant fabric that is made to shrug off heat, sun and rain and still look good. If they can make it through all that, they can stand up to your three-year-old.
But just because they are strong doesn't mean they aren't pretty. Indoor outdoor pillows are available in a rainbow of colors and plethora of patterns. If you can't find something that will enhance your décor, chances are you're not looking hard enough. From brights to pastels, from stripes to damask, there is something that will work in your space.
These tough pillows come in a variety of sizes and shapes, so they can be used in just about any decorating scheme, whether it's traditional, modern or something else. They're also available as floor pillows, which are excellent for kids' and teens' rooms as well as for family rooms.
Consider switching your throw pillows to indoor outdoor versions. They will blend beautifully with your existing décor and they'll stand up to whatever your family can dish out.
Latest posts by Administrator (see all)
- What Bedding is Right for You? - January 27, 2015
- Pollen Season is the Reason: Hypoallergenic Bedding Relief - May 27, 2014


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That's right, blood and semen.
Lady Gaga is rumoured to have signed a deal with fragrance company Coty Inc. to create her own signature scent. And style blog Fashionista is now reporting that she's requested the perfume "smell of blood and semen".
Gaga was likely inspired by fashion designer Rad Hourani, who recently listed semen as the inspiration for one of his six new scents.
Gaga's perfume is expected to hit the shelves in 2012. ...Along with the end of the world and all that.
DOLLY: Justin Bieber releasing fragrance


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Photos: Arizona's most lopsided wins under Sean Miller
In just four years as coach of the Arizona Wildcats, Sean Miller has helmed 20 games in which the Cats have beaten a foe by 25 or more points. Most recently, the UA put a beatdown on the Utah Utes in the Pac-12 Tournament. And just this season, the Cats have 10 such wins. BYU was the only team to do the same to UA in that same period (30-point win at McKale Center on Dec. 28, 2010). Here's a look at the largest margins of victory, from No. 20 to No. 1, in Miller's career in Tucson.
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