Left Behind (2000): Movie Review

Left Behind is a Christian drama starring Kirk Cameron as Buck Williams, an investigative reporter. Brad Johnson is Rayford Steele an airline pilot and Janaya Stephens plays his daughter Chloe Steele. Clarence Gilyard Jr. rounds out the cast as Bruce Barnes. Warning: my movie review contains plot spoilers.

The movie begins with Buck Williams interviewing a famous scientist Dr. Chaim Rosenzweig who has developed a formula that would make any soil perfect for growing food. In the middle of this interview Israel is attacked by numerous fighter jets that mysteriously blow up as they try to destroy Israel. Meanwhile, chaos takes hold of the world as people realize that millions of people have suddenly disappeared, mainly children but lots of adults too. Rayford Steele quickly comes to the realization that God has taken his devout followers to heaven. Buck Williams is slow to believe but he comes to realize that all of these events are leading to seven years of tribulation under the antichrist.

I enjoyed the movie immensely. I know it has been reviewed badly and most non-Christians just consider the movie as a propaganda tool but that is simply not the case. It is a movie based on the bible as is The Ten Commandants, Passion of the Christ, etc. You need to go into the movie with an open mind, whether you are a Christian or not. The plot is intriguing and does a great job of making a point. It also has some incredible emotional scenes that do a great job of pulling at the heart strings. I found the movie extremely entertaining and intriguing. I never once had the impression that the movie was trying to sell me something. The movie is based on a best selling novel. I haven't read the book so I don't have a comparison.

I have always thought Brad Johnson was a great actor and highly underrated. He did a great job in this movie. Clarence Gilyard Jr. was a nice surprise and his scene is the church when he is realizes that there is a difference between believing and accepting the Lord is very moving. The movie had me crying in several parts, especially with the scenes when all the parents realize their children have disappeared.

Call me a bible thumper all you want but I loved the movie and I look forward to renting the other two in the series. I give the movie 5 out of 5 stars.