Rating: 
Summary: Don't Let this one be Left Behind
Review: You don't have to be a Christian to enjoy Left Behind. Nor do you have to even read the books as some have said. I'm a Non-Christian who has not read the books and I absoulutely loved this movie.Left Behind is the story about mankind's last days on Earth and what causes it's destruction. Delicately touching upon biblical verses of Earth's final days, Left Behind takes us through a journey of those left behind after many people have disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Amoung the cast is Kirk Cameron who plays Buck Williams, a journalist witnessing first hand these odd days and doubting with everyone else that they are happening. While Left Behind certainly contains Christian and bibilical views, it is also certainly not attempting to convert non-Christians with it's material. It's a movie with a well writen story, and not intended for only Christian audiences, but for all. The movie isn't perfect, nothing is. But with a story so interesting and that could possibly happen, Left Behind has all it needs in it's story and suberb acting by it's stars. Don't be put off by its above average special effects that you see near the beginning of the film, for they more than aducately do the job. Like I said, it isn't about special effects, it's about story. I strongly encourage everyone to purchase this movie, watch it and then spread the word. The success of this film relys upon the word of mouth generated by those who see the film on video before it's release to theaters in February 2001. The more people that spread the word, the more screens it will open on. Left Behind is well worth your time, don't leave it behind.
Rating: 
Summary: A Christian From Calif
Review: I saw the movie and felt it lacked "punch". It really didn't hit home the reasons of the "vanishings". The plot of the movie seemed to dance around it. Some of my family members saw the film, none of them had any type of comments. It was hard to tell if the film had any impact with them. There were too few scenes that were hard hitting! The impression I get from viewing the movie was just another ficitous bibical story. I viewed the 3 times because felt I was missing the point! I watched other films regarding prophecial events to come that had more impact.
Rating:
Summary: A Fair-to-Middling Apocolyptic Tale!
Review: With the coming of the Millennium, and the Mideast situation again in the headlines, groups of Christian filmmakers have determined that the time is right to reinterpret the Biblical prophetical books (Daniel, Ezekiel, and Revelations, primarily) and the stories of the Antichrist and the Rapture. The first of the current 'End of the World' films was 'The Omega Code', featuring Caspar Van Dien as a reporter involved with a charismatic leader (Michael York), who was actually the Antichrist; in 'Left Behind', the reporter is Kirk Cameron, with the leader portrayed by Gordon Currie. Both films feature 'mainstream' casts, better-than-average production values (although the FX are bargain basement, at times), and a moral that says that although even worse times are coming, God will prevail (as opposed to Hollywood's earlier Antichrist films, 'The Omen', and 'Rosemary's Baby', for example) that put Satan on top, at films' end. Where 'Left Behind' and 'The Omega Code' differ is the interpretation of when the Rapture, the Biblical-predicted ascension to Heaven of the faithful, will occur. 'The Omega Code' implies that the Antichrist will already be in place, and world events already twisting to his purpose, when the devout will disappear. 'Left Behind' follows the majority Christian opinion, that the devout will leave before the seven-year Tribulation (rule of the Antichrist) begins. In following this interpretation, the Rapture serves as a Stephen King-like opening to 'Left Behind', and provides a 'hook' that the rest of the film plays off of. One of the things that struck me as interesting about 'Left Behind' was that, as children, our church hammered into us, again and again, to accept Christ and AVOID missing the Rapture, and being left behind, at all costs! 'Left Behind' on the other hand, says, in effect, 'Hey, most of us will miss the boat, so let's face the worst of times with faith'. This may be a more honest way of seeing things, but it still feels uncomfortable! The story focuses on Brad Johnson, a career-motivated married pilot with a girlfriend on the side, who has no time to listen to his wife's Christian message (guess which one goes to Heaven in the Rapture?), and Kirk Cameron (looking VERY young!), an international reporter who witnesses first-hand the Biblical prophecies being fulfilled, yet searches for human explanations for events. Both men must reexamine their lives, and discover for themselves God's purpose. Don't expect a neat and tidy resolution to 'Left Behind'! The first of a four-film saga of the Tribulation, the story serves primarily to introduce characters, place the Antichrist as the Ruler of the Earth, and show that no human can stop or even slow down his ascent. Only faith and the love of God will help those 'left behind' to survive, elements that they lacked prior to the Rapture, but that they must embrace despite the price in suffering they will have to pay, if they want any chance of salvation! For non-Christians, this message may seem fanciful, and the story second-rate Ludlum; for those who do follow Christ, 'Left Behind' is intended as a 'Wake-Up Call', not as well-done as it might have been, but powerful, nonetheless! Is it great cinema? Not really, but it is better than the standard 'religious' film, and deserves respect for attempting to buck the 'typical' Hollywood product, with a message which may be quite timely!
Rating:
Summary: Awesome Story!
Review: This wasn't your typical "Hollywood" production and it wasn't designed to be. The story of the rapture was not spelled out clearly, however, this movie gives non-believers just enough information, I think, to peak their curiosity and start to ask questions. It is up to us Christians to get this message out and fill in the blanks. I think it is an awesome witnessing tool and should be a part of every believer's library. Wake up everyone--Christ is coming--do you want to be Left Behind?
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, considering...
Review: Considering that Big Budget studios just aren't interested in Christian story lines, this DVD is a great example of working with what you have. There are a few flaws of course, aside from the fact that yes, it does appear more as a TV movie. I haven't read the books, so I can't compare them to the movie, but as a Christian who loves Bible Prophecy, and being a film buff, I thought it was great! The acting was mostly pretty bad, like in the Omega Code, but also like in the Omega Code it was thankfully ballanced with some good acting from Kirk Cameron, the antichrist character Nicolae and the Captain's (very cute) teen daughter Chloe. I must say again the antichrist character was excellent! He's going to get creepier and creepier in the sequels, and I can't wait till they get into the Mark! Looking forward to the sequels to the Omega Code too! Anyway, as for other flaws, well, it gets a bit preachy at times, which really needs to be softened up in order to reach non Christians with the message of the film. You can't be too, too obvious, though I know it's difficult in this sort of movie. The Captain's transformation into a Christian was so sudden and strong. It might have been more believable from the Preacher or someone else. The biggest flaw to my mind was the music, it just didn't seem to fit the scenes at times. I'm speaking mostly about the Ballads, not the score. There were scenes with Christian rock thrown in where it didn't seem to fit. Other than that though, it's an excellent movie. Seeing the clothes lying there after the people disappeared seemed a bit of a corny touch at first, but I suppose it does make sense. Maybe they could have been smoking or something. Give them some radiation burn like the shroud of turin. Anyway, it was a great movie, probably better than Omega Code, though that one was good too. I'm looking forward to the sequels a lot now that the groundwork is set. It was really getting interesting toward the end and left you wanting more of Carpathia! Let's support this movie when it comes out in theaters folks! Drag your friends! Or give the movie out as Christmas gifts like our fam is doing!
Rating: 
Summary: Please read the book forget the video.
Review: There's only one word for the movie. BAD! Don't buy it read the book. The words in the book will paint a visual picture in your mind 10 times better than this movie. If I had not read the book I would have been totally lost.(I've read all eight books) Pray for a re-make of this exciting series, that could truly be a blessing to the unsaved. But when this comes out on the big screen it will flop and I feel will hurt the book series and the message.I fail to see why a first class production could not have been done. This movie should have been at least a 120 minutes long. Well everything happens for a reason and God is still in control. Read the books everybody, read the books, at least until they re-make this movie and I pray they do. If I had the money I certainly would.
Rating: 
Summary: And I thought The Omega Code was pretty good...
Review: First of all, no, I have not read the novel or series of. So, I cannot pull apart this film as so many others before me have (who have read the book). I must say this, this is a heck of a lot better than The Omega Code(though my review on Omega Code highly favored it at the time).Why, it's less hype,minimal Hollywood special F/X and no melo-dramatics by the actors. It's in the subtlety of the f/x department for Left Behind that lets the acting and story take over this time in a film dealing with the apocalypse ! And, yes, Kirk Cameron has come quite a ways from his earlier teen acting days with ABC's Growing Pains family sit-com.While he may not be on the same acting status as Michael J.Fox in Hollywood terms, he's still commendable for his performance as a top Journalist named Buck Williams. I cannot picture Fox playing the same role with a straight face... Again, the strength in this film is it's subtlety with regards to effects. Maybe there is another spiritual message there also;Everyone expects the second coming of the Lord to be a huge spectacular laser show when,who knows, it may be a very humbling experience ! Left Behind may not be overwhelmed with a roster of top Hollywood names. Yet, Kirk Cameron and Brad Johnson are ideal for the roles !
Rating:
Summary: a great film for christian movie goers.
Review: i want lie this film is not just some huge blockbuster, but for the budget that the directors had to use the movie was very good. to try to condense a four hundred something page novel to a movie is a hard job and task in it self. so credit should got to the directors for their efforts. for you people who keep saying in your opening lines of your reviews i'm a beliver, i'm a born again christian, and i'm a devout christian, well i'm happy for you, but this has nothing to do with the movie. you continue to bash the movie with your reviews, which is fine because everyone has their own opinions, but try to imagine getting every detail of the novel into this movie and have it be huge blockbuster. all i can say is if they would have made the movie a two and a half hour movie, or a three hour movie you would all be on here complaining the movie was to long and they should condense it down. well as far as i'm concerned the movie was great. the characters were portrayed very well, and were cast very well.kirk cameron did a great job of portraying buck, and i don't know if they could have cast anybody better than brad johnson to play rayford steele. chloe and hattie fit their role. now the other area of complaining is nicolae carpathia. granted in the book he is a rather large gentlemen, but because of hollywoods over exaggeration of villans, we expect the same. i know this character in the movie is not what the book describes, but i think it's better because he is not just so overpowering, but he does a great job at the end of the movie at making you buy the idea of him being the antichrist. we all were expecting some high dollar film from the beginning, and may have been diappointed, but like i said give credit to the directors for a great job. the movie is not as detailed as the book, but the message and the idea of the book is still very clear. if you have not read the boks, the movie may seem a little confusing but you will still catch the message and point. for those of us who have read the books know what they say and we already know the message, so it shouldn't matter if we get the message becasue we already know it. if you haven't read the books i would reccomend reading them first, but if you don't, you will still get the message and be able to understand the movie. i hope those of you who think bad of the movie realize the limited budget and that hollywood would not help. hopefully the movie will do well enough at the box office hollywood will help, but if it doesn't i still hope that cloud ten or any other christian film company will still make the rest of the books into movies.
Rating: 
Summary: Much of what happened in the book was Left Behind.
Review: First off, let me say this wasn't the best movie i've ever seen, but it wasn't the worst either. But if you have read the book, you will be very disappointed. This movie needed to be at least a half hour longer than it was. Some important parts of the book were not even mentioned much less put in the movie. Honestly, i think this series of books should be made into a mini-series for television, that would be the only way to do this story justice. As for other problems with this film, I found the performance of Gordon Currie as Nicolae, not very convincing. A character like this needs to be played by an actor with charisma and strength, Currie's performance has neither of these qualities. Most of the other performances by the actors and actresses in this movie were fine though. I was plesantly surprised by Kirk Cameron's performance, even though the occasional thought of "Growing Pains" did come into my mind while watching this film. He did a good job with it, above average. As for other problems, I think anyone who watches this film who hasn't read the book or who isn't at least familiar with the book of Revelation, will be clueless as to what this movie is all about. While watching the film, I kept thinking that if I hadn't read the book I wouldn't understand this scene or that scene. Also, I think the movie could have done a better job explaining the Rapture. As for another plus for the film, the final scene at the UN was done very well, one of the few from the book done perfectly. As for recommending this movie, all I can say is if you have not read the book, read it first then see this movie, if not you will be lost. Also, don't buy the movie, borrow from a friend or rent it from your local video store. It wasn't the worst film ever made, but far from the best. It just doesn't do the book justice.
Rating:
Summary: Alot was Left Behind on this version of a classic
Review: Alot was Left Behind on this version of a classic. Being a christian and a dedicated fan of the literary series, I can't claim to be objective, BUT. As a consumer and a person educated in the subject being presented in this movie, I was disappointed. The film length, loyalty to the original theme and specific actor portrayals of characters and the character conversions was lacking substance. I was pleased with Kirk Cameron's performance as 'Buck', but specifically, [and I am a Brad Johnson fan] Brad Johnson lacked credibility as Rayford Steele. He's good as the pilot, but not as the new christian. He seems to betray the character's true conversion. And it is short on time. Less than 90 minutes is not enough time to explain this historically significant period all these folks are going through. But I leave it to God to bless. I hope it is remade at a later date. It's hard to sound nice when criticizing someone's work. Judge for yourself.
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