Rating: 
Summary: Books Made Into Movies
Review: I found this to be an excellent movie; however, it would have been better if I had not read the book first. The book was much more detailed and, as always when a book is made into a movie, they make a lot of revisions. I kept expecting certain things in the movie that were in the book, so that was a little disappointing. I bought the DVD before it was released to the theatre circuit and am glad I did. I would like to see the rest of the Left Behind books made into films. Perhaps Billy Graham or John Hagee will sign on to do this.
Rating: 
Summary: What a great movie for the entire family!
Review: I purchased this DVD after reading the Left Behind books that were out. Often I find movies disappointing after reading the book first but that was not the case with this one. I thought the acting was very good and the action kept the entire family interested. I'm hoping they continue the series on DVD/video so we can own the books AND the movies!
Rating: 
Summary: A Semi-missed Opportunity
Review: I really like Cloud Tens flicks but this one reminds me of a TV movie. The product is so slick it ends up almost to be without any real character. I like this movie but it is not that engaging or that good. Cloud Ten's best film is JUDGEMENT which shows real artistry. I like all the other end times films from Cloud Ten better than this one. The actors in LEFT BEHIND are great but the characters are lacking alot. I think that about the book series too. Although I like reading the books the characters are just drones. Cardboard cut-outs of people with stereotypical motivations and sometimes they get a little boring.
I think Cloud Ten has done a lot for Christian filmmaking and I know they will do even more great work in the future.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting, but obviously more effort was needed.
Review: "In the beginning... it's a little late for that."Growing Pains star Kirk Cameron plays Buck Williams in the film adaption of the Jerry B. Jenkins/Tim LaHaye novel, Left Behind which focuses upon the oncoming events during the rapture, in which the Antichrist will be born, and unite ten kingdoms. Brad Johnson plays Rayford Steele, a husband and father who's wife has been trying to teach him the word of God for years, but he's always ignored her. After millions of people disappear in a blink-of-an-eye vanish, which includes his son and wife, Rayford and his daughter unite with a fallen priest and Buck to try and survive the very destructive future which they are promised to face. In a film skipping the theatrical release first in order, and going to video first, then to theaters, we realize that this film wants to get some attention. The film seemed to be totally blown off at the box office, and little credibility was given, but as far as it has gone, it is passable. I've never read any of the novels, because I'm not one who can just sit back and read, but I'd say that this film has a lot to show, given such a small budget, and no major actors. The film opens in the cities, and we sort of gander upon the world today. We then head to a crop field where Buck and a foreign stand, (Buck being a reporter interviewing him) and all of a sudden planes start crashing and exploding in the air. This is one of the signs to the earth's destruction, in which God returns to save all of his Christian followers, and leaves the rapture to those who've turned away from him. So... the visual effects aren't top order, they are credible. There is a lot put into the acting though. Kirk Cameron and Brad Johnson are great everyday people put into the position of being caught in a world of darkness. Because of all the children and a select few of adult people having been gone, Antichrist, Nicolae Carpathia comes to the decision of radiation having killed them off. The world is in complete chaos! People dying and hurt everywhere. In so happening, they are searching for a leader, someone to guide them through these times- Nicolae calls upon himself. Many readers who've followed the book of Revelation can comply with the film, but those who have no clue of the bible may be totally clueless. yet, this is a great discipling tool for non-christians- looking for an answer that can be put into 21st Century terms. Director Vic Sarin has an imaginative appeal to create this film. He mixes human emotion and explosive trauma to create this disaster film smuthered in cheapness and with a low balance of creativeness. This proving- that most of the time- the novel is much better than the film. Yet, with great characters we can relate to, and smooth charisma to show something of itself, toppled with bumpy advertising, releasing, and budget- the film does the very best it can to be an everyday motion picture. Maybe if Touchstone or Dreamworks or 20th Century Fox had released it would have 10 times the sharpness, but with the small Cloud Ten Pictures production company, it can't deliver a whole lot. Left Behind, which I hope is followed with a string of sequels that follow the books, is thunderdome entertainment filled with good performances and story, but presented in such a street trash manner, may intrigue some audiences, but bore others. It is a great discipling tool and good film to see, which I'm sure many will enjoy, but if only a larger production company would distribute it, it would get the praise it deserves. Check this film out for a thought-provoking trip. Even though it isn't listed on the cover, the MPAA rated this film a PG-13, a rating it really didn't deserve- a PG I'd say. But the reason is for Some Violence.
Rating: 
Summary: Dishonest packaging
Review: I rented this DVD knowing nothing about the book or background. The DVD jacket blurb just seemd to describe a possibly interesting story. I watched the movie and found the plot line far-fetched, jerky and halting, hard to follow, and as the movie unfolded, growingly heavy on religiosity. Then, ONLY when looking at the Special Features "making of" commentary, did I learn that the movie was an engine of a "Christian" filmmaking company and like-minded souls to serve the propagation of a Christian, faith-based message. I respect Christians and Christianity. Each to his or her own. But I resented the misleading packaging of this film. Not a word appeared on the jacket as to the Christian genesis of this opus. Nor was the movie that good either. But at least the "making of" piece was candidly honest as to the movie's motivations, and did portray an honest and even engaging effort by a non-Hollywood, likely shoestrings outfit to put together a worthwhile film. I applaud the effort but not the packaging, and wish the film itself had turned out better.
Rating:
Summary: Good attempt at a book to movie conversion
Review: While I must say that hands-down, the book was MUCH better than the movie, this is true for basically EVERY book that has ever been made into a movie. Read the book first, then watch the movie. I think the acting in the movie was quite good, and for as much as Kirk Cameron is etched in everyone's minds as Mike Seaver from Growing Pains, he gave an excellent performance, as did the other actors. Yes, there were many parts that were left out of the movie, but there are in many movies (just try watching "The Firm" after reading the book - did they tack on an ending from some other book entirely?) Overall, it was a very good attempt at converting a book to a movie, and it had an interesting story line and can be enjoyed by anyone, whether they are a Christian or not.
Rating:
Summary: It felt like a sloppy made-for-TV movie
Review: Based on the best-selling novel, this movie adaptation is very frustrating. The novels really aren't so much more than pedestrian fiction but the basic message is important regardless of your theological position. What makes this movie so frustrating to me is the fact that the script is so poorly developed and the characters are simply left undeveloped. I felt no empathy for the characters and that's a failure of the director and screenwriter. In a situation like these characters are in, empathy is writers' the strongest tool. The biggest failure of this film is that the directors' hackneyed attempt at filmmaking distracts from and undermines the essential message of the books. Knowing that anyone who had not read the series would be totally lost by the end of the film, I was just saddened. People who have criticized the actors are not really being fair. There are way more credible things to criticize. I am glad to hear that LaHaye and Jenkins were disappointed with this film. I pray that there are better Christian films out there because I certainly cannot recommend this one.
Rating:
Summary: Left Behind
Review: I enjoyed the plot of the movie. I had already read the book
(the whole series, in fact), and I found it stayed pretty close to the original story-line. Kirk Cameron did a great job as Buck. He was an excellent choice for the part. This makes me wait with impatient anticipation for the next movies in the series.
My only criticism doesn't really have to do with the plot, but rather the fact that there were no subtitles. That was very very disappointing. Other than that, I was very pleased with the movie.
Rating:
Summary: A disgrace to Christian media...
Review: Sad to say, it's plain bad. Perhaps if it had been a made for TV movie instead of claiming to be Hollywood quality. And from a Christian perspective, I have to believe that many more people have been turned off from Christianity than have been saved or ministered to though this film. Want a good witnessing tool in the media? Check out "The Apostle" "Shadowlands" "The Matrix" and most anything else besides "Left Behind." Im sorry to say it, but I think its true! When you see "Left Behind" in the Christian bookstores everywhere while the Bibles collect dust in the back corner, I have to be very concerned.
Rating:
Summary: Yes, I know...
Review: I'd heard LaHaye and Jenkins were none-too-happy about how this movie turned out. If this is true, then they were justified in their opinion. Now, don't get me wrong, the message of the story is there. However, do either of us read Christian novels or see Christian movies merely for the message? Might as well forget about books and movies and go straight to the Gospels. Almost everything that made the book stand out in the annuls of Christian Fiction is noticably lacking in this movie. Captain Steele's long time struggling on a diplomatic method of converting those left: gone. The sweet shyness between Buck and Chloe before things take off for them? Gone. In fact, on this last note, we get the feeling they're already together! There were also several liberties taken with the plot which will make it terribly difficult to write or film any of the other books. I recommend the novels heartily, but the movie is only for connesseurs of the series.
| 
