A young woman carrying an unimaginable responsibility. A young man torn between love and honor. A jealous king who will stop at nothing to keep his crown. This live-action Christmas musical celebration for the entire family weaves classic Christmas melodies with new pop songs in a music-infused retelling of the greatest story ever told, the story of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus. A unique new entry into the collection of holiday classic movies, this epic Christmas musical is unlike any before it.
For thoughts on Journey To Bethlehem, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
[youtube https://youtu.be/EebQYEN6tQ8?si=mJUV_lZagjBFWT7m&t=595]
Video Quality
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment brings Journey To Bethlehem to Blu-Ray with a resplendent 1080p video presentation that realizes this movie flawlessly. The presentation delivers depth in the interior shots and when out in the natural environment. The lovely production design along with the facets of costumes provide distinct textural details. Flesh tones remain natural with a favorable amount of detail present in close-ups. The image is crisp and clear with a robust color palette full of complex hues. The film especially embraces bold splashes within the clothing and production design. Black levels are strong with no egregious instances of digital noise or crush, and highlights are likewise stable with no blooming in sight. This Blu-Ray delivers everything you want from Sony.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray comes with a tremendous DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that boldly realizes the sonic ambitions of the narrative. A large part of the film’s identity is the musical elements, and these tunes spring to life with every tune confidently emanating from the speakers. Dialogue flows flawlessly without being overshadowed by competing sounds. Numerous bustling moments effectively call upon the surround speakers to spring to life. When the characters are walking through public spaces, some notable ambient details flesh out the setting. The low end of the track adds some texture without stealing focus. The audio track is a top-tier presentation for this feature on all fronts. There are optional English, English SDH, and many more subtitles provided.
Special Features
- Meet Mary & Joseph: A two-and-a-half-minute piece that puts a spotlight on the two lead performers and the qualities they bring to these characters.
- Deleted & Extended Scenes: There are three scenes totaling six minutes provided here that did not make the final cut and are worth a watch.
- The Heart of The Journey To Bethlehem: A five-minute making-of featurette in which the creative team discusses the decision to make a movie musical out of this story, the message they wanted to serve to the audience, and more.
- Meet Fig: A two-minute look at the talented donkey who plays Fig.
- Meet Mary’s Sisters: A two-minute exploration of the newly-created sisters for the story.
- Meet Antipater: A nearly three-minute look at the participation of Joel from For King + Country.
- Previews
Final Thoughts
Journey To Bethlehem is the type of faith-based movie that should be the norm and not the exception. With this feature, the creative team puts a focus on the filmmaking aspect instead of the message behind the film. By giving audiences a film that has strong performances, grand spectacle, and standout craft elements, you are giving them something that actually enhances the message while still delivering a satisfying cinematic experience. While far from a perfect movie, this effort is a good time for religious audiences and open-minded nonbelievers alike. Sony Pictures has provided a Blu-Ray disc that sports a great A/V presentation and a fine assortment of supplements. If you want a unique telling of the nativity story that does not lack cinematic panache, give this a shot. Recommended
Journey To Bethlehem is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray, DVD, and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
