Left Behind II: Tribulation Force

Plot synopsis:
It's a week after the rapture and the millions of people who vanished into thin air are still missing. Chaos rules the world as panic and grief-stricken survivors continue to search for their lost loved-ones. Suicide rates are skyrocketing, businesses and homes are being looted, and martial law is in effect. A desperate world looks to the leadership and guidance of UN Secretary General Nicolae Carpathia, the only person offering any answers, hope, and plans to restore peace and order.
While Carpathia has the world's adoration and trust, he is seemingly unaware of a small group of rebels spreading the truth that he is in fact the Antichrist. Buck Williams (Kirk Cameron) is a highly respected television journalist who has seen firsthand Carpathia's manipulative and deadly powers. His position allows him special access to a global audience through the media and to Carpathia himself. Airline pilot Rayford Steele (Brad Johnson) and his 20-year-old daughter, Chloe (Janaya Stephens), make up the rest of this group. Ray is still struggling to come to grips with the loss of his wife and son, but his recent salvation and friendship with Pastor Barnes have brought him back to the church and closer to his feisty daughter. Ivy Gold, Buck's assistant from the first film, comes into the GNN headquarters, and they go to Buck's apartment so they can work on the story of the vanishings.
As the Tribulation Force struggles to open the eyes of the world to the truth, Global events get even stranger when word leaks out that three men have mysteriously burned to death at one of the holiest sites in Israel: the Western Wall. At the same time, Rabbi Ben Judah, one of the leading religious scholars of his time, plans to make a world-altering announcement based on years of research. Pastor Barnes believes both events are linked to Carpathia, signaling the oncoming terror of The Tribulation. He acts quickly by getting Ray and Buck to embark on a dangerous mission to infiltrate Carpathia's organization. They must get to Ben Judah before he makes his announcement. Buck is going to the Wailing Wall to get the witness on tape, but Steve Plank tries to talk him out of it. Bruce wants Rayford to join Carpathia's staff as the pilot of the new plane that the US government gave to Nicolae. Rayford initially turns down the mission.
Rayford, while grieving about his family, receives a call from Chris (his former co-pilot). He goes to Chris' apartment, and saves Chris' life and soul, because Chris wanted to commit suicide. Rayford then accepts Bruce's mission, to spy on Nicolae. Chloe is concerned for Buck and Rayford, but Buck starts to care for Chloe.
Rayford then heads to Hattie to try and fly the plane. Initially, Hattie is suspicious of Rayford (due to their last confrontation), but Rayford convinces her that he is the right man for the job. Meanwhile, Chloe goes to Bruce and asks about relationships during this time of chaos. She then goes to Buck's apartment where she sees Ivy Gold, Buck's assistant. Ivy blows Chloe off, thinking that she is just some star-struck fan of Buck's. Buck tries to call the Steele's house, but Chloe doesn't want to chat with him. When Rayford finally picks up the phone, he uses a bit of deception to have Buck meet with Chloe. When Buck leaves his apartment, he is taken to the roof of his building where he has a meeting with Nicolae. Buck is granted access to the Wailing Wall, and he goes to meet with Chloe.
Chloe first blows him off, but some deception from Rayford gets them to talk. Buck and Chloe make up and start a relationship. Rayford and Buck then leave for Israel. Meanwhile, Ivy starts to visit Chloe at the church, initially to apologize for her behavior, and then later because she starts to become friends with Chloe and Bruce. Nicolae then ups the security at the Wailing Wall; and, with the help of Steve Plank, they create a "One World" religion. At the airport before leaving for Israel, Buck and Chloe share some time together. Rayford tells Chloe that he will watch over Buck.
On the airplane, Rayford attempts to find some solid evidence about Nicolae. He finds some information on a computer pertaining to Rabbi Ben-Judah. While obtaining the evidence, Nicolae comes in and congratulates Rayford on being the pilot. As Rayford hands Nicolae their ETA, he sees a vision that disturbs him. When on the ground in Israel, Rayford shows the email he downloaded from Nicolae's computer to Buck. They realize that the conversation about Ben-Judah was about the speech he was going to give. Steve and Nicolae changed the speech because Ben-Judah was going to announce Jesus as the Son of God. Instead, because of the new changes, Ben-Judah is going to announce Nicolae as the Messiah. Buck goes to meet Rabbi Tsion Ben-Judah. He asks the Rabbi to come and discredit the witnesses, and prove that Jesus is the messiah. He agrees. Nicolae puts added security on the wall, and Rayford and Buck pray to God to help the get message out.
They go to the Wailing Wall to meet the two witnesses. Rayford distracts the guards (through God's intervention in the form of an angelic singer) and Buck and Ben-Judah slip through to confront the two men. Ben-Judah chats with the two men and learns about Jesus. They are attacked by UN guards and the two witnesses breathe fire at their attackers and they die. During the broadcast, Nicolae cuts the feed right in the middle of the Ben-Judah/Two Witnesses confrontation. Buck then learns that the broadcast got cut and Ben-Judah ran off. Ivy comes to the church to give Chloe some food, and witnesses Chloe ministering to a severely burned fireman who then passes away. Ivy hugs Chloe, and states that the fireman was at peace. Chloe remarks that he found God.
Nicolae comes to the Temple Mount and speaks to the masses. Rabbi Ben-Judah then comes to the Temple Mount and starts giving his speech. Nicolae, along with his advisors, watch the broadcast. Rayford, in the cockpit, asks the copilot to take over. He then goes out and pulls the fuse to stop Nicolae from ruining the broadcast. Rabbi Ben-Judah then gives his speech about Jesus being the Messiah, and how he needs to be forgiven. Nicolae then orders the broadcast to be cut. In Chicago; Ivy, Chloe, and Bruce are watching, with Ivy crying. When the broadcast is cut, Ivy is stunned, but Chloe leads her to Jesus, with Bruce praying with them.
In Israel, Ben-Judah's announcement leaves the crowd mixed. Buck asks Ben-Judah if he will be ok, Ben-Judah states that Buck helped millions learn the truth. Back in the cockpit of the airplane, Rayford hangs up pictures of his wife and son. He is finally at peace about their disappearing.
Carpathia, filled with rage, tells God that it is his time to rule the Earth. Back in Chicago at the New Hope church, Bruce is leading worship. Ivy, Chris, Rayford, and Chloe are singing a hymn (How Great Thou Art) when Buck enters. Buck hugs everyone as they continue to sing.

Tags: violence

Review:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
First of all, I want to say that I did not watch the first one, and after seeing the movie, I couldn't understand how something like this was ever sold to the public in the first place.
This could've been a great film, because the story is there, but the film makers destroyed it.I would only recommend this movie to religious people who love really bad commercials..
But thousands of miles away, a small group, aware of Carpathia's true and sinister identity, is trying desperately to share their knowledge with anyone who will listen," according to the DVD sleeve description."Calling themselves the 'Tribulation Force', world-renowned television journalist Buck Williams (Kirk Cameron), Pastor Bruce Barnes (Clarence Gilyard), airline pilot Rayford Steele (Brad Johnson) and his 20-year-old daughter, Chloe (Janaya Stephens), embark on a dangerous mission to open the eyes of the world to the truth." Readers, this will be my last user review may God strike me down if these "Left Behind" movies aren't pure trash Really...
This entry serves only to pooh-pooh its own Christian revelations.* Tribulation Force (10/29/02) Bill Corcoran ~ Kirk Cameron, Brad Johnson, Janaya Stephens, Gordon Currie.
It's been a while since I've seen the first movie, or finished reading the tenth book, let alone the first or second.
His story seemed so real to me, and as I watched him twirl that gun I called out to Rayford "hurry up!"The acting in this movie was phenomenal.
I understand that due to time constraints and complexity the movie couldn't stick exactly to what the book had detailed.
So, God views them as sinners?) This movie (among others like it) preaches to the target audience by suggesting the people who will primarily be saved--and are most worthy of God's direct interventions in End Times--are those just like "us." Meaning just like the film's mostly Caucasian, mostly Heartland consumers.
I felt the first Left Behind film was such a corny lark (if people leave behind dentures and hip replacements, does that mean they also leave behind breast implants when they get Raptured?) that I had to see what Kirk Cameron and crew were up to for their second turn at bat.
The plot consists of our four left behind-ers forming a group (Tribulation force, unite!) that wants to warn the world that the leader of the UN is the, wait for it, Antichrist.
If this was the case couldn't we end this boring movie with Cameron yelling, "I loves me the Jesus" and be done with it?
When I Saw the First Left Behind I loved it by the Great Job they did of the Start of the Tribulation from The first to This One I was Hoping that they Make More and I was Happy.Set One Week After the Vanishing we see the Start of the Tribulation Force Buck (Kirk Cameron) Pastor Barnes (Clarence Gilard) Rayford (Brad Johnson)and Chloe (Janaya Stephens) as they try to Win Soles to Christ from The Antichrist Nicolae Carpathia (Gordon Currie) I Love This Movie for 2 Reasons1.I have seen a lot of End Times Movies (Christian and non christian)and I Believe Gordon Currie in my View Gives a A Different view of The antichrist and with a Bad Guy their a Good Guy the Tribulation Force I Liked All of them They Gave Even More Then the First witch Makes my Smile2.The Story.
I have not read the Book Tribulation Force but my Mother has and from what see told me They Are Ideas that is used from the Book and I Think That What Best Selling Book Turn to Movie Should do and that what Makes this movie Good For meit a Must See Movie and I Can't Weat for Left Behind 3**** out of ****.
Although I liked the movie from the acting, the characters, the plot, and even the special effect, I was let down from the preview that I had saw prior to the release date.
I give them credit in the fact that even though it still flawed in giving us what was according to the book (for those who watched Left Behind, but didn't read the book I urge you to read the book) especially at the end, the script writers did a better job this time of portraying the book's view rather than just writing around the book.
All in all, I think people who haven't read the books to like it much better than the first film..
I look forward to the 3rd movie in this series as it is also a good tool in making others aware of what is to come after these last days.
It was better than the first, but there was a lot in the book that got left out of this film.
Even though there was a lot in the movie that was different from the book, I still would recommend it because of the main story line.
In many ways I liked it better than Left Behind...The acting seemed better, the characters seemed to have more development time, and the message was good.
But this one was good and I'll be watching it again many times, no doubt.A couple of the quibbles I have with this movie are the "angelic woman" and the few times that the Christians lie.
I know no one's perfect, but I think they should have at the very least shown that they were wrong to lie.Good movie overall...and the special features on the DVD are neat!.
I'm amazed that someone would be so naive as to think that a movie trying to present the good news of the gospel to a world that is already saturated with the polluted wells of mass profanity, immorality and violence for violence's sake would criticize a film for NOT having these features in it.In case the reviewer is interested, the Bible presents many accounts of people who sinned for our learning and instruction so that we wouldn't repeat the same errors without giving pornographic or explicit depictions that do more to encourage people to seek drinks from polluted wells of ignorance than direct them to the water of life, found only in Jesus Christ, who stated that once a person truly drank of the water of eternal life He gives will never thirst again.I agree that not all the acting in these films is "A list Hollywood acting".
I think many films rely too much on filthy language, big effects, and sensuality with much less plot and storyline than is shown in the "Left Behind" movies.So if you want more raunchy supposedly 'realistic' language and sin depicted, there are plenty of other movies out there to choose from.
There is less and less originality in film today and more and more depending on moving the emotions or visceral than on reaching the mind of someone.I also wish the movies had stuck more to the original story.
These were hit movies, perhaps with better acting, but equally funny because the message outshone any script or plot and many people came away with the impression of "That Fed Ex movie" or "that Right to Die" flick.
(As a Christian, I can't even give it high marks for theology, since the whole "pretrib" Rapture theme is about as Biblically-sound as the stuff in "The Omen." If anyone can come up with one Bible verse - even one - that teaches a pretrib Rapture, I'll eat my hat.)  That said, LB2 is oddly unnerving given the current world situation - the United Nations is portrayed as an evil entity headed by the Anti-Christ, and there are few films out there willing to take on the U.N. for what it is, even after the global body's abyssmal political, economic, and human rights failures in the last few years.
It's also refreshing to see a film that throws political correctness to the wind (the Anti-Christ's speeches sound a lot like the drivel that spews from the mouths of our media celebrities and bone-headed college professors).As with Left Behind, Cloud Ten Pictures has taken a truly terrible book - quite likely the most poorly-written and ill-conceived series to ever hit the best-seller lists - and turned it into a watchable if unspectacular film.
(The script writer has substantially improved the moronic dialog of the book, and pains have been taken to make the characters more warmly humane than they were originally written.) Definitely a guilty pleasure movie for those of us raised in Baptist and Pentecostal churches.
Given the fact that in Left Behind II the book Ray and Amanda get married, and so do Buck and Chloe the movie was alright.
Tsion Ben Judah had to flee after his announcement Jesus was the Messiah with Buck in book 2, we do not see this in the movie.
The production was not the best out there, but like I said, when compared to the first movie, I felt that it did a good job finishing the series.
If you haven't seen the first movie then I suggest you do before you take a look at this film.
Once again, a recommended film, but I wasn;t expected much going into the movie..
I'd suggest reading the books after watching the movie.
The quartet of believers from the first Left Behind film are back again as the Tribulation Force.
Their mission is to frustrate the plans of the UN Secretary General, Carpathy who they see as the anti-Christ and to speed along the events spoken of in revelation.This film concerns the two witnesses who appear at the sight of Solomon's second temple, looking very much like ancient prophets of old.
It is my understanding that they are normally identified as Enoch and Elijah who according to the Old Testament God took to heaven without either of them going through death.I don't think it's any accident that the Left Behind series bears a very intentional resemblance to the Star Wars Trilogy.
The movie was so insanely awful in both script and acting that I and the friend I was viewing it with couldn't help but to burst out in laughter all throughout the movie.The movie seems more set on delivering it's Christian message than developing characters or making sense.
A Jewish guy screams "God is dead!"  And the Antichrist isn't Jerry Falwell,  which just seemed wrong to me.I can understand why Christians would want to produce films which exemplify or explain Christian teachings.
I've never read the Left Behind series, nor knew there was a book out for this.However, to me this movie, as was the first, was good.
If you believe in the revelations, and believe that the anti-Christ will come and that those with faith in god, who accept Jesus Christ as our savior and that those who did would be whisked away to heaven, then I suggest watching this movie.This is a movie for Christian and regilious followers, as well as some of the semi-believers or those that just want to sit down to a good movie.This movie follows greatly to the ideals of the revelations, and in some cases, Christ followers manages to deter Nicholis (Satan).I feel this was a great movie to watch.
I saw Left Behind before I started reading the books, and at that time I thought it was a pretty good movie.
At first I was very lost because the opening of Trib Force the movie didn't even come close to the opening of the book, and the pattern followed.
The problem with trying to turn a 400 page book into a 2 hour movie is that you can't cover all the details, and when that happens (like it did in Left Behind), you run into problems.
I think Trib Force has actually made Left Behind become a better movie, and I may start collecting the movies as "religiously ;)" as I have the book series.
Ordinarily I would have probably given this a 6, but with the way Trib Force set the tone for the rest of the series and actually made Left Behind a better movie, I give it a 7.
You might think this is a piece of garbage, Christian propaganda, and that it was no fun to watch the movie.
Not a great film, but much better than the first.I'd recommend it if you're really interested in the story line or if you're a born-again Christian who believes in the Rapture (not all Christians do, of course) and you want to see a film that touts your beliefs..
It is not saying ridding the world of opposing religions is evil.This movie is about the events that unfold to certain people during the Timeperiod know as the Tribulation.
Guess the world just looks better when you belief in God...All, well most, of the characters and actors from the first movie reappear in this one as well.
For example, the movie makes the anti-Christ's relation with the Christian protagonists seem somewhat less absurd, and leaving out most of the cheesy love story helps keep up the pace.
But this still is a good film.I hope that in the future they will be able to make the movies more similar to the book..
I know the Left Behind series (both books and movies) gain an enormous amount of criticism!!
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.
The most powerful part of the film was the scene where Buck and Tsion Ben-Judah are trying to get past the guards to see the witnesses at the Wailing Wall as Rayford watches from the shadows.
Some people suggest that it is not our place to criticise Christian films, and while a film about the end times may be interesting, I think we can get to the point where we dwell so much on them that we fail to see the bigger picture.
The book, written by so called End Times expert Tim Lehaye, is simply a piece of speculative fiction that would be entertaining if not for the scary fact that some people believe that these stories are true.
Also, I am sure that the ancient Christians thought that the end of the world was upon them when Rome was sacked, and that the tribulation had began, yet 1500 years has now come and gone since that happened.This movie is a little better than the first one though because at least it does give an outline of who Christ is and what he done, despite the fact that it still seems very contrived and forced.
Even then, some of the conversions are quite stomach turning (and this is all this movie seems to be, people becoming Christians), particularly with the guy named Chris (where did he come from).
I rent these Christian end of the world movies for their camp value, and so far I haven't been disappointed.
As you watch the movie, keep saying you yourself: Yes, some people actually believe this is the way the world is, and they have guns..
Ben Judah goes thorough the prophecies and announces Jesus as the Messiah and Nicolae lashes out at God. I encourage anyone to watch this movie and the others to come..
This applies as well for the idea that the whole world would embrace one religion in order to achieve world peace (in the second movie.) If it could happen, the folks left behind would be more likely than not to EMBRACE CHRISTIANITY, not reject it.
Anyway, rather than reveal the details and possibly ruin the movie for those who haven't seen it I will just say that this film is even better than the original in that it has more drama and suspense.