Left Behind - The Movie

Rating:
Summary: The message is there.
Review: First of all, as with any movie made from a book, of course it is impossible to catch all the emotion and internal struggles that each of the characters face. I was a little disappointed that it lacked a lot of content from the book, but the message was very well felt. I really enjoyed seeing the part when Nicholae had the meeting with the UN and brainwashed everyone. It really brought the reality of the coming Ant-Christ to life. The film is a powerful tool however, to reach those we may feel could be left behind. The message is there,the return of Christ and the reality that the scriptures will be fulfilled, are displayed. I suggest any Christian and believer to get the film. God bless.To those skeptics out there who may see the movie. It's a fictional scenario about an apocalyptic reality. I encourage you as well to see the movie.

Rating:
Summary: Too much of a B movie??
Review: For one I am a christian and I loved the book, but the movie is more of a B movie than a Big screen production. The reason I gave it 5 stars is because I love the message. I do encorage you to experience the book and the movie, but don't read the book before the movie, because it ruins the whole movie.

Rating:
Summary: Too much of a book for too short a movie
Review: The general view of people that watched the video is - people that haven't read the book liked it and the ones that read "Left Behind" didn't care for it. I appreciate the producers trying to get this message out there but it was just too much book to cover in the hour and a half of movie. Maybe if they had more financing to beef up some of the effects and a longer running time, maybe. I don't look for the big movie opening in February since word-of-mouth won't get much buzz. Good try! Read the book if you haven't. You'll be hooked. Can't wait till "The Mark" comes out.

Rating:
Summary: Not to Bad
Review: I got the movie yesterday and after dinner watched Left Behind:the movie, and I was pretty happy with it.By the end of the film my wife said"Thats it?I want to see more of it!"Me too!I wish it was longer(2 hours would have been fine)I liked this movie alot the message is great,the fact we can watch it with children is good.Ok my complaints,why didnt they get a bigger budget??It looks (as other critics have said)like a made for t.v. movie.The acting,and selection of actors is fine but they needed a bigger budget to accomplish the silver screen quality they were looking for.My wife and I read the novles and understand you cant have every sceen from the book or original storyline in the movie.It is streamlined but it turns out faithfull to the book.As far as a salvation message,I see it clearly,though I belive some people expected a up front "heres how to become a Christian" message.I think though that after seeing what can happen(especially in the next 4 books in the series)after the rapture it would motivate one to really dig deep and hopfully start looking to the Lord.I do think as in the book the movie should have expressed that Christ IS Lord and the only way to God is through the Son.Over all its pretty good,if you have seen Omega Code,the acting on the part of the heros is alot better(Casper Van Dien is the William Shatner of the year 2000,)Although Omega Codes special effects were a bit slicker.I will show this to lots of friends.

Rating:
Summary: Save your money...this is on PAX TV for free.
Review: I suppose this film is entertaining if you're into evangelical Christianity, but for the rest of us, it's nothing but a sermon in disguise. Fundies might praise this one to high heaven, but the only time I praised was when the final credits rolled.

Besides, what is it with these evangelical action flicks...why do they always pick the lamest lead actor available? In "Omega Code," it was Casper Van Dien, whose only starring role was in "Starship Troopers" (classic line: "This planet crawls!"). Now it's Kirk Cameron from "Growing Pains"...couldn't they have gotten Alan Thicke to play the antichrist?

On a serious note...I certainly respect Christian theology, though I disagree with it. But it's hard to maintain that respect when their theology is being crammed down your throat sideways, as it is in this film.

Moreover, other films about the same type of Satan/antichrist/apocalypse subject matter ("The Exorcist," "Rosemary's Baby," "The Omen") were entertaining without being preachy. I suspect that the goal of the producers of this film (i.e., getting "the word" out) could have been achieved without preaching, and that's too bad, because this could have been a much better film - and reached a far broader audience with its message - without the Jack Van Impe tone.

PS...regardless of whether you like this film or not, it's being broadcast on PAX TV for free. So, if you are tempted to buy this dreck, do the world a favor: tape it, and put the fifteen bucks you'd spend on it into the hat next Sunday. Jesus would approve, I'm sure. :)

Rating:
Summary: Movie fails in its goals.
Review: This movie is basically derived from the book except for the fact that it leaves out many parts of the book, and I believe it leaves out some of the most important parts. I think the shock and chaos that would result from all Christians disappearing from the world was not covered well at all and would have made the movie much more compelling.

The producers were WRONG in releasing this movie on video before it goes to the theaters. They said their goal was to have those who have read the books and buy the video to get their friends to go to the movie in theaters when it opens on Feb. 2, 2001. That isn't going to happen with me because the movie was BORING!

The rapture and seven years in itself is a very exciting story to be told. But the movie, like the book, just captures 1/12 of the excitement. I doubt there will be 11 more movies, so they should have tried to add a little more biblical prophecy into this one.

The actors were good, but they just didn't have much to work with. I guess I wish they would have focused more on the characters discovering what the Bible said happened and their reactions to what is going to happen.

Rating:
Summary: Left Behind
Review: I bought and watched the movie-Left Behind- yesterday. I was very excited about watching it because I completely believe the message that it is trying to get across. However, I was a little disappointed after seeing the movie. I think that it needed to give more details about what was going on because if you are a non-believer and you are not familiar with the Bible, then you are not going to understand what is going on during this movie. Also, I feel that it should have shown more of what will(or what we think) will happen during that 7 year period so that people will really think about their own lives and want to make a change if they need to. The actors did a good job in this movie, but the movie overall what not as powerful as I had expected. Please keep up with the movies though because even if you only reach a few people, then that is better than reaching none.

Rating:
Summary: No Shame here!
Review: I viewed this movie last night. At least four times during the movie; my best friend, who is NOT an emotional person was moved to tears. (Me too ) It was a good translation from the book. The story is riveting. It starts out with action. Then goes to "slice of life" and picks up from there. The portrails of the main characters are realistic and believable. If you liked the Book - see the move - If you liked both - Read the Book (Bible)

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: This is exactly the type of movie that will get non-believers to ask questions. The message is quite clear, yet not overwhelming and preachy. The movie is action-packed, suspenseful, and frightening. I watched it with my husband who hasn't read the books. We both believe this movie will attract non-Christians to the theater and leave them asking questions.

I think the quality of the production is excellent. However, some of the acting tends to be a bit dry. I think Clarence Gilyard's portrayal of Bruce Barnes, a pastor who knew it and taught it, but never actually believed it, was fantastic.

Believers should invite their non-believing friends and family to see the movie, and then be there to answer the questions that will follow.

Rating:
Summary: We should have left it behind in the Store!
Review: First of all let us start off by saying that we were very disappointed in the movie-- especially after such an excellent novel. The presentation of the video tape was well done. The only problem is that the cover was eye catching, but the pretty box was better than what waw contained inside the box!

The biblical inaccuracy and deviation from the novel were confusing particularly for those unknowledgeable of the Word and it cheats the viewer out of many dramatic images so incredibly portrayed by the book. The movie had all of the characters familiar with each other from the beginning, which left little room for any type of character development whatsoever. Buck's tongue interpretation of the stranger in the wheat fields as well as his encounter and stand against the anti-christ is incomprehensible considering Buck wasn't even saved until the last scene of the movie. The special effects left a bit to be desired as the helicopters looked like locusts and the tanks like toys. The money they spent on the video's box should have been put into production of the movie itself instead.

It was obvious that the producers attempted to cram the best selling novel into an hour and a half but they did not succeed. It is disappointing because the core message of the project is that Jesus saves and has plans for His people. Oh well. . .With the novel, we couldn't wait to get to the next page; but with the movie, we reached the end and felt like we should not have spent the $30, and instead, should have left the movie behind! So disappointing. . .