Left Behind II: Tribulation Force (2002) Reviews

• Thank God it was good

  Winds_of_Destination2007-08-10

  Aside from movies based upon the life of Jesus Christ, there hasn't been one good Christian film. Until now. Left Behind II is based on the events right after Left Behind, throwing us deeper into the slowly changing ruled by mastermind Nicolae Carpathia, who is quick to gain power. The performances are better in the film; its nothing special, sadly, but is not so cheesy. It has its clichés, but in the end, you've forgotten them. My favorite was Gordon Currie, who has so perfectly become the Antichrist in the book series that it'd be difficult to see another in the role (aside from maybe Cillian Murphy). But when it comes to sticking to the book, the movie does sidetrack a bit. The love story is shortened significantly and the entire ending of the book is left out, but it sticks much closer to the book than the first. Some of the newer scenes were awesome, my personal favorite being Carpathia shaking the hand of Rayford Steele. The scene is so creepy and thrilling, I'm glad they decided to add it in. The showdown is also nice, although I didn't like the whole angel subplot during it. Overall, I am glad to say the movie is good. Certainly not great but it so much better than its predecessor or successor, and should've been released on the silver screen. 6.9/10.

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• Insulting and Unintentionally funny

  arouet2002-11-23

  This movie fails on a number of levels. As it can be viewed on strictly religious terms or as an action thriller, I will address both. First, let's just talk about it terms of an thriller film. It fails in this regard because it simply makes no sense. People don't act in any sort of real manner. It's simply not how people would act if this were a real situation of millions of people vanishing. You would think the Bible is some book that was only known to the people who vanished and no one else. Everyone else seems to be completely in the dark and don't even make the connection this might be the "Rapture," yet, millions of Christians vanish overnight as Christians have been saying they will. I don't know about you, but if that happens in real life, me and most of the planet would be rushing to Church the next morning. It seems implausible no one would. Also, everyone goes about their business as if some mugging happened in the neighborhood. The most ridiculous thing is that most people accept the disappearance as some sort of nuclear radiation when that is the most insane excuse that could be even offered. This film is incredibly outdated, a complete fabrication of how and what the U.N. is and how it works. Acting and dialogue are unintentionally hilarious, setting off streams and fits of laughter. In one Church scene, there is a bulletin board and six pictures of people on it with the caption, "OUR MISSING" A Church and there is only six missing people? How funny is that? What was it, The Church of Satan? There's no surprises and no tension, especially among the people who are not saved and whom you know will be calling out for Jesus by the end of the picture. There's a lot of talk about the "Wailing Wall," yet what is supposed to be the wailing wall, I guess, looks nothing like the real "wailing wall," as if producers have no clue about the "wailing wall" or don't think it's important enough to make a reasonable close simulation of it. The whole movie treats it's audience as simple-minded, uneducated couch potatoes. Seeing this as a religious film, it is incredibly insulting. This lies the main offense. It's not powerful enough to convert anyone and not realistic enough to make anyone want to know more. It's most heinous crime, though, is how it uses the Jews. If the Jews made a big-budget multi-million dollar film and a huge media campaign about how the Pope came to his senses and announces to the world how he has come to the conclusion that Jesus Christ was not GOD after all and everyone should know that and see the truth, there would be an UPROAR in the Christian community. But they seem to have no problem committing that perfidious insult onto the Jews. Rabbi Ben Judah, the most learned and respected scholar in the world, announces to the planet that Jesus Christ is indeed God and he has been wrong and now knows the truth. This is terrible, terrible injustice to the Jewish faith. Besides the fact that it is simply ludicrous to think that a Rabbi could sit on a podium in Israel and the entire world of different religions is going to sit back and take his word for it just because he thinks so and these other religions be converted (What planet is this film on? Certainly not Earth), but to put words like that in the mouth of the head of another religion and have them say how wrong they were, well, it's just hateful and disrespectful, that's all. It's also disturbing that the whole conspiracy of trying to take over the world comes from INTERNATIONAL BANKERS, which has always been another word for Jews when it is in this context. It's just another example of the total disregard for the integrity of the Jews. It feigns respect for them while denigrating their beliefs. Coupled with a preposterous plot and representation, this film fails as both an action thriller and as a religious film.

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• Do the best with what you have

  Grizjed4602004-12-30

  The reason this movie does not meet many peoples' standards is simple...money. Movies that are so obviously Christian based will never bring in multi-millions of dollars. Because of this, people just interested in a monetary return would not be willing to risk their money. The people that do risk the money are generally those who feel so strongly about the message that they are willing to risk the money in order to voice the message to as many as possible. It is true, the goal of the producers, actors, etc, is to relay Jesus' own words. That He is the ONLY way to God. ANY other way is a dead end. The movie points out that each individual has a decision to make. We see that repeatedly throughout the film. We are also reminded that a 'not accept' is, by nature, a rejection. Although, the use of that word does seem rather unpalatable and final. It seems that if money is a concern, the movie makers have a choice...emphasize the message or the presentation of such.

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• A incredibly worthy sequel!!!

  Robert_duder2005-10-22

  I know the Left Behind series (both books and movies) gain an enormous amount of criticism!! There is far too much close mindedness for people to be silent. I would love to cover all that right now but I am critiquing a film...a film and film series I love, and a series of books I am very passionate about (doesn't mean religiously just honest to goodness LOVED THEM!!) After seeing the very well attempted Left Behind, I anxiously awaited the follow up sequel. The first time I saw it I admit I was disappointed but after seeing it again...most recently immediately after the first film I realize how great a sequel it is. A new director in the form of Bill Corcoran flawlessly connects the two films. The entire cast from the original returns and I think they all perfected their roles. Left Behind II is a much deeper, moralistic message. More "preachy" some might say. Nonetheless they keep the story and the characters in tact and you keep riveted. The sequel is far more drama than action making it more slow paced but also furthers the story a great deal. The second book was chalk full of events and they tried to apply as much of that as they could in the second film. The performances are far more emotional and dramatic, and it will really tug your heart strings. You'll feel the emotion and that's awesome!! Once again they are working with a similarly small budget but do a decent job nonetheless. There is nothing less mainstream than a Christian film but they do their best to make it interesting for anyone and I think they succeed wonderfully. There is a such a great story here and the actors are all good enough to watch. Kirk Cameron is much better in the sequel as Cameron "Buck" Williams. His romance and relationship with Chloe Steele, played once again very nicely by Janaya Stephens is well thought out and really one of the focus' of the film. They have great chemistry although I think it's quite a bit held back because of Cameron's real life marriage to Chelsea Noble who plays Hattie Durham in the film. She also does a good job...some will say she is annoying, and campy and needy but for those of us who have read the book Hattie Durham is exactly that!!! Therefore she's perfect!! Brad Johnson continues to impress playing Rayford Steele and Clarence Gilyard Jr. as their spiritual "leader" Pastor Bruce Barnes is good as well although a little monotone at times. Despite the drama and emotion they still do pull off some great action scenes and some great locations from around the world. The story is not quite as complex as it was in the original but if you watch these two films together you'll enjoy them both a great deal. So far this is a great series of films and certainly some of the best independent film making I've ever seen. It's not for everyone and you will get intense critics decided on how people should or would react when millions disappear. Funny how anyone would know that?? I guess if the Christians are right about all this we'll find out won't we?? The films are intriguing and both of them are brilliant, I love them...for myself...for anyone else I just don't know but for me they are amazing!!! 8.5/10

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• You've gotta be joking!

  xshitz2005-10-16

  This film is not entertainment, but unabashed Christian propaganda. Actually, it's just a thin, endlessly hokey, unintentionally hilarious farce where a handful of white American Christians save the world. Kirk Cameron is particularly loathsome during a scene where a skeptic leaves a church during a religious pep-talk given by a Cosby-Show-preacher. Cameron's character tries to convince the skeptic that he must be saved by quoting the Ten Commandments to him and showing the guy how he is but a gnat in the eyes of God because he's broken a few of the commandments. I'm sure Ralph Reed, and the rest of them, were lapping this stuff up, but it was as stilted and forced a moment as I've ever seen on screen. Of course the anti-Christ is a foreign person -- no American could fit that bill -- who speaks with a comic Russian accent. Good for a laugh, this film in its DVD form would also make a great drink coaster -- non-alcoholic, of course -- when you're done viewing it. This is film-making at its most contrived and forgettable.

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