Left Behind - World At War on DVD (2005)

aneurin from Oxford [Highly rated reviewer] , 16/06/2006

This was much better than I’d been expecting. The action is up to Hollywood standards and, generally, the dialogue is fairly respectable. The acting varies in quality, but a highlight for me was Lou Gossett Jr. playing the rather amusing action man president.

Of course you will only watch this film for two reasons: because you’re an evangelical Christian, or because you want to know what the deal is with the ‘Left Behind’ series. I think both audiences would be satisfied with this film. The Christian message is clear and sensitively presented, and as such it does not imbalance the plot. The unconventional twist that everyone must die to have their happy ending brings a certain frisson to proceedings – for once, you genuinely do wonder whether a character will or won’t die.

There are also some revealing glimpses into the American evangelical outlook. The villain (Global Community leader Nicolae Carpathia) has his HQ in a generic corporate skyscraper and dresses like a city-slicker. The Global Community – which of course bears no relation to the UN, oh no – persecutes those Christians left behind and paves the way for the End of Days. There are many controversial areas – abortion, gay rights, inter-faith relations – which are never touched on, and it is unclear whether this was a conscious choice or not.

In sum, a very interesting film and a thoroughly enjoyable 90 minutes. It’s not Hollywood quality, but it’s damn close.

  7 out of 7 people found this review helpful

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A customer from Scottish Borders , 22/06/2005

This is a must see for all people whether they believe the Bible or not. You should by the end of it.

  5 out of 7 people found this review helpful

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A customer from Hampshire, England , 13/06/2006

I have read all the books in this series so knew who all the characters were and understood what was going on but had I not done so I think I would have found it difficult to follow from this one film, of which this is the third. The two previous do not seem to be available in UK and the first and last of the books, in my opinion, are the best. For information, there are 12. Maybe this film was made for TV and intended to watched weekly. This would then give it continuity as each book, like this film, ends with a cliffhanger! Having said all that it is very true to the books, well acted and well produced, even if the theology of the rapture is not what most evangelicals here going along with. However, if it makes anyone think about the end-times and about their salvation, it's worthwhile. The only reason I gave this only 3 stars is because I don't think it works as a stand alone film, otherwise great.

  3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

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Rhys Gronow from Cardiff, Wales , 08/09/2006

As a fan of the book series, I was excited when the DVD finally dropped through my mail box. It was not worth the wait.

Now before people start saying that books are always better than the movie and that I shouldnt go into a film with the expectation that it would be just as good to watch as read.I watched the first 2 movies and really enjoyed them, they made an effort to tie the movies into the books. This film did not.

There is no continuity in this movie from either the books or the films.In fact a lot of the old characters are not there and left unexplained, Haim to name but one.

The film has taken the name and some of the characters from the books and have completly made up there own story!

The film tells the story of President Fitz Gerald (who was raptured in the books)and how he starts world war 3 with nicole.Completly different story from the books, from the plot to the fate of some of the characters.

There seemed to be no plot, the filmed dragged along slowly the writing was poor,directing seemed ametuer (sorry but being truthfull) and character depth had seemed to become shallower. Nicole being the most obvious.

So for those of you would don't mind a very large use of artistic lisensing, its worth a rent, the special effects are the best in the series so far and it is obvious that a lot of love and time has gone into this movie, all for the Holy Cause.However if you are like me and expecting a film adaption that at least resembles the books. Give this one a miss.

  2 out of 3 people found this review helpful

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aneurin from Oxford [Highly rated reviewer] , 16/06/2006

This was much better than I’d been expecting. The action is up to Hollywood standards and, generally, the dialogue is fairly respectable. The acting varies in quality, but a highlight for me was Lou Gossett Jr. playing the rather amusing action man president.

Of course you will only watch this film for two reasons: because you’re an evangelical Christian, or because you want to know what the deal is with the ‘Left Behind’ series. I think both audiences would be satisfied with this film. The Christian message is clear and sensitively presented, and as such it does not imbalance the plot. The unconventional twist that everyone must die to have their happy ending brings a certain frisson to proceedings – for once, you genuinely do wonder whether a character will or won’t die.

There are also some revealing glimpses into the American evangelical outlook. The villain (Global Community leader Nicolae Carpathia) has his HQ in a generic corporate skyscraper and dresses like a city-slicker. The Global Community – which of course bears no relation to the UN, oh no – persecutes those Christians left behind and paves the way for the End of Days. There are many controversial areas – abortion, gay rights, inter-faith relations – which are never touched on, and it is unclear whether this was a conscious choice or not.

In sum, a very interesting film and a thoroughly enjoyable 90 minutes. It’s not Hollywood quality, but it’s damn close.

  7 out of 7 people found this review helpful

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A customer from Hampshire, England , 13/06/2006

I have read all the books in this series so knew who all the characters were and understood what was going on but had I not done so I think I would have found it difficult to follow from this one film, of which this is the third. The two previous do not seem to be available in UK and the first and last of the books, in my opinion, are the best. For information, there are 12. Maybe this film was made for TV and intended to watched weekly. This would then give it continuity as each book, like this film, ends with a cliffhanger! Having said all that it is very true to the books, well acted and well produced, even if the theology of the rapture is not what most evangelicals here going along with. However, if it makes anyone think about the end-times and about their salvation, it's worthwhile. The only reason I gave this only 3 stars is because I don't think it works as a stand alone film, otherwise great.

  3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

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