Left Behind (2014)

Director: Vic Armstrong

Writers: Paul Lalonde, based on the novel by Jerry B. Jenkins, and Tim LaHaye.

Cast: Nicolas Cage (Rayford Steele), Lea Thompson (Irene Steele), Cassi Thomson (Chole Steele), Chad Michael Murray (Buck Williams), Nicky Whelan (Hattie Durham), Quinton Aaron (Simon), and Martin Klebba (Melvin Weir).

The film begins with Rayford Steele (Nicolas Cage) walking into the airport terminals, he is a pilot, getting ready for his trip to Londan.  Meanwhile Chole Steele (Cassi Thomson) just arrived, her flight was exhausting, her relationship with her parents has always been on the rocky side, even though her mom and dad are always a part, dad with his work schedule, and mom going to church and finding the Lord has put things a bit into prospective.   

Irene Steele (Lea Thompson), having another wonderful discussion with her daughter Chole (Cassi Thomson). Chole finds out that her dad, Rayford Steele (Cage) is working, a flight to London, which makes things difficult, a strained relationship, and now her father is seen with a women. Visiting for the holidays, and like usual, a missing father, working, always making excuses. Really makes no difference, her father always  makes it hard for her brother, Raymie Steele (Major Dodson) and her.  Instead of waiting, she quickly looks at the flight terminals, notices the time for the next flight to London and proceeds to the terminal where she meets her dad, an awkward moment, but never the less, she tries not to notice the blond that left, their happiness tells her something else.

The discussion was humdrum, his excuses only makes things, harder, but in the end the resolution was all the same.  The man i call dad was cheating on my mom, a very noticeable venture, but he tries to hide it changing the subject.  Asked him about his wedding ring, and he said it was in the car's glove box.  The talk was like one of those people you absolutely hate, but decide to hear them out so that you could justify the reasoning behind everything, which is mainly his answers to my questions don't really connect with him.  Afterwards, he promises to come home, and even after his co-worker gave me tickets to a concert in London, two tickets that only confirm what he is doing.

  Meanwhile the passengers board, all of different ethnic backgrounds, each has a story, like Buck Williams (Chad Michael Murray), a recognized face, a man with a camera, an ideal way of making a living.  Just, awhile ago he had a conversation with an attractive women, Chole (Thompson), the flight will get easier thinking about her. He had a simple, pleasant conversation with her, she went on about her life, but in the end Buck liked hearing her talk.  Buck Williams (Murray) bumps into the Pilot, and gives him the tickets Chole (Thompson) had given him.  Rayford Steele (Nicolas Cage) notices the writing on the envelope, and his expression seems almost dark.  His happiness turns into something different, almost as if he had a change of heart.  But, looking into the monitor, he catches a glimpse of Hattie Durham (Nicky Whelan), the flight attendant he is going to the concert with, the blond his daughter caught him with.  His dark moment, vanishes, and continues to ready the plane for take off.

The plane takes off, as everyone on the plane settles in, the small man, Melvin Weir (Martin Klebba) gives his next door seat buddy, a mean glance.  Simon (Quinton Aaron) smiles, and continues listening to his music.  In another seat the very humble Muslim, Hassid (Alec Rayme) tries to help Melvin (Martin Klebba) but his efforts are in vain, the little guy just doesn't want any help with his on board luggage.  Meanwhile Edwin (Han Soto) talks to Jim (Judd Lormand) about some new technology coming out, his conversations don't go to well, because Jim has his mind on other things, the tech talk annoys, him.  A little girl, Katie (Kamryn Johnson) doing what children do, staring at the little man, but his glances makes her even more curious.

Meanwhile, Chole (Cassi Thomson) takes her brother Raymie (Major Dodson) to the mall, a gesture that made her brother happy, and maybe she can regroup her thoughts on how to deal with her parents situation without managing to ruin her brother's sanity.  The crowd in the mall starts to move fast, shout! screams! everywhere.  The cries are all names, something is wrong, when Chole realizes her brother is gone as well.  She searches and when what she finds, scares her.  Raymie's clothes are piled where he was standing, she notices people in the large crowd with the same problem.  Clothes, but no person, something is wrong.

Thousands, millions of people throughout the world has vanished; children, innocents, elderly, people that have done right in the eye's of the creator.  Chole reaches her home and finds the same situation, she goes to the local church, the place her mom attending for sometime now.  She notices the pastor Bruce Barnes (Lance E. Nichols) in the church, looking at the empty congregation, what has he done, is there something he missed.  the thoughts of a man who thought he was right was God, but him being in this church, is proof he had done wrong in the eye's of the creator, and now judgement will be called upon him.  Chole wants answers, and the pastor explains everything.  The rapture, the beginning of the end is here, and judgement among the one's left behind will be called.

The plane starts to descend, rapidly, Rayford Steele (Cage) notices that his co-pilot has disappeared, some passenger, including a small baby vanished as well.  After he manages to control the plane, he and Hattie (Nicky Whelan) try and calm down the passengers, they both work in conjunction, he looks at all the clues and finds something that will help him understand what has transpired, even after the trying to communicate for sometime now, and the results are slim at best.  Still trying to get over the other plane that went down, no pilot or co-pilot, the plane was on it's way to hell! The thoughts are coming together, a bit clearer now.  Hattie had brought him the clothes of Lori (Lolo Jones) the other flight attendant. he found a small book reminding her of a church event.  The clue opened up possibilities of an event so large that the world will know of it as it occurs.  His wife Irene (Lea Thompson) always talked about her faith, she was always willing to talk about Jesus, my wife, the depressed moment of darkness he felt earlier, has returned.


Rant:  The film is pretty good knowing the budget and what they had to work with, it was a decent film.  The reviews i have seen are really bad.  Movies like these have an underline message, the message here is pure and simple; change your ways before the rapture, and the end times begins.  Knowing what the content is, your heading for a more idealistic, religious point of view.  That being said, it drives me crazy when reviews are bad because it's yet another preachy film, and to those that haven't seen the film, i will address the preachy part shortly.  The film has a story, the acting is good, not bad, but good, i wouldn't have these actors in a golden globe awards ceremony, but despite the many challenges, this film is good.  Religious films are always knocked for their content, and quality.  The problem with these types of films is that it preaches, and preaches, but let's look at your typical "R," rated film.  Sex, drug use, violence, language, and more, Hollywood loves to promote those things in order to get the box office trends, with that being said, as i continue to review films, i watch both sides, and i truly understand both sides of the aisle. But, do not complain about content, when your watching a film with the opposite underline meaning.  Nothing wrong with a good clean, movie with a good message.  

Films like these love to preach their side of the spectrum, and with all respect, i enjoy what they're preaching about in the story.  Atheist will try and complain about the content, the preachy part of the film, quality and overall acting.  Whatever happened to turning the channel, don't like the story, don't watch the film.  Not very hard to accomplish. To me the content of this film was fine, the writers, Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins of the Left Behind series had said this was the best adaption of the rapture. Don't see the film if your bothered by the content.  The "change the channel," view is the best, don't like it, remove yourself from it.  Remember, everyone has an opinion, talk about it, and move on.  You have the right to express that opinion, that's what's wonderful about the United States.  

The Left Behind story is more than just a story, as we all know.  The content of what the rapture is, pretty terrifying in an odd way.  Yes, you could say, well if you believe in Christ and except him as your savior, your ticket to heaven is gold, right? well if it were that easy, life wouldn't be so hard.  In the film a pastor was left behind in the wake of what's to come, you see he had committed an act, something in his life different than what God wants, there is no way you could keep up with everything you do on a daily basis. I could go into the religious points and bring up the last book of the bible, which is Revelation, but i will not.  I'm not a biblical scholar, and i will not point out the rights and wrongs, but i will try and look at it from a very different point of view.  We do not know God's plan, he is the one who selects a path for us, but under the guide lines of free will.  As only perception, the pastor in the film stayed behind because, i believe God, has a plan for the pastor, maybe he will gather enough folks to combat the upcoming antichrist, who knows, and that's the beauty of it.  The Left Behind books, unfortunately i did not read the books, but i can debate the film as many times possible. Preachy films do well, others do not, it all depends on the story and how the writers convey the film, all in all it's up to the viewer to decide what's good and bad.

God's not Dead, Courageous, and Heaven is for Real, are my picks for this type of films, remember i not here to anger anyone, I'm here to review movies good or bad, giving the viewer a more conventional review.  Movies are made for our entertainment, but are not perfect, the producers seem to think they have a perfect gem, but in reality their gem is only a pebble.  A film in my opinion can be beautiful, without the high scale actors, special effects, and big time directors.  The three films i mentioned above are examples of that beauty.  The problem with these types of films is that some audiences get a bit turned off by the preachy, and want more out of what their watching.  Just like actions films that have blood, violence, sex, films that are preachy have the right to tell there story as well.  Sometimes we judge, without understanding the bigger picture.  They can make a movie about violence, then why not make a film about the creator, and problems people face on this planet.