"The Nativity Story"

[Sauniere]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/30/AR2006113001587.html

-snip-
With the blockbuster success of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ," it should surprise no one that Hollywood has glommed onto Jesus in a big way. And what better biblical story to reenact than the Savior's birth, made immortal everywhere, from millions of pulpits to Linus's annual speech in "A Charlie Brown Christmas"?

"The Nativity Story" made me think of Linus, and reminded me why he makes me cry every year. Starchy where Linus is spontaneous, stagy where Linus is sincere, this drab exercise in glum piety slumps where it should soar, sapping the story of its mystery and transcendence with an overriding sense of literality. As the familiar characters take their famous journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, it often looks like they're treading on eggshells, painstakingly trying to avoid offense, misinterpretation or controversy with every careful step...

[FlyingGuineapig]

"The Nativity Story" made me think of Linus, and reminded me why he makes me cry every year. Starchy where Linus is spontaneous, stagy where Linus is sincere, this drab exercise in glum piety slumps where it should soar, sapping the story of its mystery and transcendence with an overriding sense of literality. As the familiar characters take their famous journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, it often looks like they're treading on eggshells, painstakingly trying to avoid offense, misinterpretation or controversy with every careful step...

Yep, thank God that Linus was able to get away with it. These days, Charles M. Schulz, Warner Bros, and Bill Melendez would be sued, boycotted, and tarred-n-feathered.

Liberals would complain it didn't present a Muslim or Jewish point of view.
Conservatives would complain that it there were secret gay/lesbian themes in Patty's unusual relationships & behaviour.
Snoopy's fights against the Red Baron would be seen as pro-American propoganda, with some complaining that showing Snoopy shot down is "defeatist" thinking, while others would argue that it promotes violence.

[brainpan]

"The Nativity Story" made me think of Linus, and reminded me why he makes me cry every year. Starchy where Linus is spontaneous, stagy where Linus is sincere, this drab exercise in glum piety slumps where it should soar, sapping the story of its mystery and transcendence with an overriding sense of literality. As the familiar characters take their famous journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, it often looks like they're treading on eggshells, painstakingly trying to avoid offense, misinterpretation or controversy with every careful step...We can thank the likes of Mel Gibson for that. :mad:

[brainpan]

Liberals would complain it didn't present a Muslim or Jewish point of view.
Conservatives would complain that it there were secret gay/lesbian themes in Patty's unusual relationships & behaviour.
Snoopy's fights against the Red Baron would be seen as pro-American propoganda, with some complaining that showing Snoopy shot down is "defeatist" thinking, while others would argue that it promotes violence.Everyone would complain about everything, you're right. That's what we do now.

It reminds me of the South Park episode where all offensive speech was removed from the Christmas play. The actors spun in a circle chanting, "happy, happy, happyyyyyyy."

[Sauniere]

We can thank the likes of Mel Gibson for that. :mad:

my sentiments exactly

[The Big Bog]

Yep, thank God that Linus was able to get away with it. These days, Charles M. Schulz, Warner Bros, and Bill Melendez would be sued, boycotted, and tarred-n-feathered.


Honestly? You think???

I'm as liberal and as agnostic as all get out and I have to admit I'm touched every time I watch that Christmas special. The simplicity, the humility, the anti-commercialism message. No matter our religious beliefs and no matter how cynical we are, I still believe that almost everyone can still welcome a message of peace on earth and good will towards men--free of the crass shopping euphoria and organized religious divides that has ruined Christmas for so many of us these days.

[Sauniere]

Honestly? You think???

I'm as liberal and as agnostic as all get out and I have to admit I'm touched every time I watch that Christmas special. The simplicity, the humility, the anti-commercialism message. No matter our religious beliefs and no matter how cynical we are, I still believe that almost everyone can still welcome a message of peace on earth and good will towards men--free of the crass shopping euphoria and organized religious divides that has ruined Christmas for so many of us these days.

They call that a "bleeding heart liberal" Mon Ami... :flowers: