Left Behind

Plot synopsis:
University of Central Arkansas student Chloe Steele (Cassi Thomson) has flown in from college to surprise her father, pilot Rayford Steele (Nicolas Cage), for his birthday party. However, her mother Irene quickly calls to inform her that her father cannot make it. While at the airport waiting for him, Chloe meets up with investigative reporter Cameron "Buck" Williams (Chad Michael Murray).
Rayford shows up on his way to a flight and apologizes to Chloe for missing his birthday party, insisting he was called in to pilot a flight to London at the last minute. He also assures Chloe things are fine between himself and his wife, who recently had become an active believing Christian, much to Chloe's chagrin. Chloe suspects things are not fine between her father and mother – she had seen him flirting with flight attendant Hattie Durham (Nicky Whelan) and notices he has removed his wedding ring. Her suspicions soon are confirmed when an airport worker hands Chloe two hard-to-get U2 concert tickets in London that Rayford had ordered, indicating his trip to London and possible extramarital fling was planned all along.
Chloe brushes off another one of her mother's preachings about Christianity and takes her brother to the mall. While there, her brother suddenly vanishes, leaving only his clothes behind. Chloe is shocked and notices this same thing has happened to numerous others at the mall. Mayhem breaks loose as shoppers begin looting the stores. A driver-less car plows through the mall windows, and a small plane without a pilot crashes in the mall parking lot. Chloe sees television reports of children and some adults disappearing, as worldwide panic sets in.
On Rayford's flight, the same strange event has occurred – several people, including his co-pilot Chris Smith (William Ragsdale), Kimmy (Stephanie Honore), one of the flight attendants, and all the children on board, have simply disappeared, leaving their clothing and personal effects behind. The remaining passengers panic and demand answers. Rayford does his best to reassure the passengers he will pass on information once he has any. Rayford has difficulty getting radio or satellite phone contact with anyone on the ground, until he is finally informed that people have disappeared everywhere and the world is in uproar. Soon a pilot-less jet approaches directly into Rayford's flight path. He narrowly avoids a midair collision, but the jet damages Rayford's fuel line. He decides his only option is to return to New York and hope his fuel holds out.
On the ground, Chloe hears her father's mayday call on her cell phone and assumes his plane has crashed. She later finds her mother's jewelry left behind in the shower, as she has also disappeared. Chloe makes her way to New Hope Village Church to discover the family pastor Bruce Barnes (Lance E. Nichols) who explains God has taken his believers to heaven, and the rest have to face the end of days. The pastor explains he was not taken because he did not really believe what he had preached. Rayford comes to the same conclusion by examining his copilot and stewardess' personal effects. He tells Hattie the truth about his wife. She is initially upset as she did not know he was married, but Rayford convinces her to be brave and to help calm the passengers down until they can safely land.
Chloe climbs to the top of a bridge, intending to jump off it and end her life, when she gets a call from Buck, who is in the cockpit with Rayford. Rayford explains to Chloe all the New York area airports are closed and the streets full, and he is low on fuel and has nowhere to land. Chloe finds an abandoned Ford truck and uses it to clear away the equipment from a bridge under construction in order to create a makeshift runway. She uses her compass app and tells Rayford the coordinates of the landing site. Rayford is able to glide to a rough landing, saving the passengers, who leave the plane only to see the world aflame. Buck mentions that it looks like the end of the world, while Chloe informs him that it is just the beginning.

Tags: suspenseful, melodrama

Review:
Isn't it curious that the movie tried so hard to portray all of those that were left as bad messed up people?
The acting is bad , Cage tries hard to make work out of a script that was seemingly penned by 8 year old's .
This movie epitomizes the problem with religion in general.It starts with a conclusion, so it's tediously predictable & boring boring boring, strictly by-the-numbers fluff for the easily entertained.As demonstrated the featured review, the only people who will like this dog are those who take a creepy satisfaction in their belief that they alone will get sucked up to heaven while everybody else fries in hell.As a result, it's aimed at a narrow audience of knee-jerk true believers who would like it no matter how awful it is.And this was awful, folks.
Now if we could simply ignore the horrendous script not to mention the awful acting, we still have a movie full of stereotypes regarding non-Christians, Christians, Muslisms and even smaller people (just trying to be politically correct) which got old very fast.But believe it or not, this is not even the worst part of the movie!
This is my first review, I had to get an account to verbalize how horrible this was, it just leaves you grasping at straws why you watched this and anything good there was in the movie is not enough when you reach the end.
From the start the movies direction, plot, acting and music all give the impression of a day time drama but much much worse.
Too much emphasis is placed on the religious aspects of this story making it feel like a veritable propaganda flick, ruining all chances of immersing in the story-line.Do not waste your money on such a poorly produced movie.
Acting is terrible, effects are cutting edge (if this movie had been made in the 1950s), lines are cheesy, plot is crap.
that was full of predictable scenes and ridiculous religious conversation.i'm shocked that nicolas cage agreed to act in it.anyway this movie made me and my boyfriend laugh.
Directed by Vic Armstrong, this Christian thriller stars Nicolas Cage as Rayford Steele, an airplane pilot who is unexpectedly called into work on the day his daughter Chloe (played by Cassi Thomson) arrives home from college for his birthday, much to their disappointment.
Those people left behind scramble to make sense of what happens, as Ray struggles to land his damaged plane safely back to New York.Academy Award winner Nicholas Cage once again majorly disappoints with his hammy and florid performance in this film as Ray here.
If "The Remaining" had a horror approach to depicting the Rapture, "Left Behind" played like a bad B-action film, down to its fiery, explosive, down-the-wire, narrow- escape type finale.
The first Left Behind movie, starring Kirk Cameron and based off of the same book series as this one, was bad but the bar was also pretty low on it.
1.) A soundtrack that sounds like bad elevator music 2.) Maybe it was just my theater but the dialogue was also difficult to hear 3.) Casually calm characters on the airplane after one of the most horrifying events known to mankind has just occurred 4.) Out of place comedic relief and 5.) So-so acting.To be fair though, there were some improvements from the original movie.
Many of the airplane scenes felt overly contrived with stilted acting.The movie doesn't necessarily follow the plot of the Left Behind book as it's merely inspired by it but it doesn't matter with all the aforementioned problems.
There's also a lot less preaching in this film than the original but frankly could have used more as to convey some message of inspiration.If you're a fan of the Left Behind series I wouldn't say completely disregard this film but please don't have high expectations that this movie will deliver and improve on the original.
If you're one with the big man upstairs, if you agree with his mysterious ways, if you think for a second that he actually exists and controls the horrors of natural disaster and in this flick ethnic cleansing, then hands down it's going to be a favorite to the bible basher.What a disappointment, a waste of money and more so a terrible addition to Nick Cage's impressive history within the movie industry, the one out of ten is for Nick and Nick alone, the rest, storyline, acting, if you can call it that, pitiful....
Sure there are some parts that are a bit cheesy, but that's to expect in a Nicolas Cage movie.
IMDb Left BehindSigh - this is the 'mildest' - and I use this term VERY mildly - of the 3 iterations of a religiously - Christian, or, more, accurately, an American, paranoid, 'born-'again,' religious, extremist story.Saying this does not prepare one for the over-the-head religiousness, and all the ickyness (hatred, paranoia, 'everything is OK, just as long as YOU think the 'right' way - 'OUR' way nonsense) possible.Here's the EXTREMELY simplistic plot, from a VERY simplistic screenplay, based on an even-more simplistic story: all of the sudden, people - but, primarily, children (why?
Well, as Christian doctoring espouses, they're 'innocent.' Right), but, others - mainly those, who are elderly, espouse a lot of 'come and pray with me, to Christ'-type nonsense.'Lft behind?' Well, everyone else, including those on a plane piloted by Nicholas Cage (who I do like, and realise he appears in anything which sounds 'interesting,' and he gets paid to be in), and a plane full of 'non-believers,' which in this case, is so-so myopic; the Muslim, the angry, almost hello sh dwarf, and others.Typical dialogue is the Muslim gets up and says 'we should pray,' to which the dwarf - his anger so visible, says, hostility 'pray?
It is next-to-impossible for anyone other than a child, who doesn't (YET) have the 'us-or- them'-type thinking which makes such trash, unwatchable.The only audience for such dreck is paranoiac, under-educated 'born-again,' American, religious lunatics, and before I leave, let me remind you; most wars fought during humanity's time on this planet have been fought over, in the 'name of' ONE thing; religion.The problem with ALL region are people - trying to say 'mine's better than yours.'Well, for those who have a belief in a 'higher power,' other than themselves, for those who find comfort in not having to take responsibility for ANYthing, so long as they can invoke 'god' in it, this bile's for them, and their 20+, 'home-skooled' offspring.Anyone with a brain, save your money, and do ANYthing, watch ANYTHING BUT this dreck..
Where Abraham did not refuse God's demand to sacrifice his only child, after only one hour of watching this terrible movie I had to let the good lord down, I could not do it.
Like watching an 80's movie, witch horrible acting.
I started watching this cinematic abortion on Netflix after '2012', a MUCH better movie about the world ending.
The film had one great special effects moment with the characters Chloe and Ramie, and that was the high point of the whole movie.
I'm not ashamed to say I actually got of the couch and the others, still hoping it might get better, were left behind(see what I did there, that's the only joke I can make from this movie, seriously).
I officially gave up, have never done that before, I can usually find something that is at least a little bit interesting to keep me through even the worst of movies, may it be a characters personality or just a really good looking actor but this movie didn't even bring that, not that there weren't some people I wouldn't mind looking at for a bit more but I just couldn't take it anymore.
I know you can do better.I didn't read the books but so many people liked them that I'm sure there's a big difference.You may want to watch it on DVD...
A very insulting movie to non Christians(Especially to Islamic followers).Cant believe they actually belittle other religions on the big screen.
Seems like the director is using famous names like Nicholas Cage and Jodin Sparks to lure people into watching this movie.
Awful!The sound track, I think was provided by a Monkey wearing gloves trying to play Chopin.Its almost like they actually couldn't be bothered to make the movie and borrowed some kids toys for special effects..
What pisses me off is he's the only reason I watched it.I know about the 'Left Behind' series and what to expect as far as a story.But for Cage to attach his name to something that is 1,000 times worse than the Kirk Cameron version from 14 years ago is unforgivable.I had high hopes that were immediately diminished in the opening scene.
And then it just got worse...and worse...and worse...and I can't believe I was still watching when it got even.....worse.This was such a missed opportunity for the "Christian Family Apocalyptic Genre." I'll venture to guess that 99% of the budget for the film went to that Devil Nic Cage!.
Oddly enough, it turned out bad, but not THAT bad.Here's the thing: It's decently casted (Cage of course being the lone big name, and sadly he delivers a performance sub-par his other movies), fairly (if mostly over)-acted, well shot, good choice of locations and good FX...
I think Nicholas Cage is a good actor and have enjoyed some of his movies as well.
I like the actor who played Buck (the original Kirk Cameron part) as well as the actress that played Chloe.For once Christianity Today got it right they state "Christian magazine Christianity Today heavily criticized the film, saying, "Left Behind is not a Christian Movie, whatever 'Christian Movie' could even possibly mean.
The worst part of this movie was the poor devout Muslim man who believes in THE SAME GOD as the Christians who were "saved" through evaporation who gets left behind because he is brown.
Excellent teaching material for film students: HOW TO DELIBERATEDLY MAKE THE WORST FILM POSSIBLE.Without a doubt Nicholas Cage's WORST movie ever, but it is THAT bad, that it becomes funny again.
I like Nick Cage as a rule , but this his worst film ever and in my bottom 10 of all time.
I am not sure what sort of audience this could possibly attract, as even the highly Christian audience would have to be those who would enjoy terrible acting and plot line anyway.A ridiculously stupid concept of a movie based around Christian myths causing most of the world to lose all of their children for no reason.If you want to laugh at this movie, then go ahead, but this movie has terrible acting, terrible storyline, terrible believability, terrible explanations.
Nicholas Cage is one of my favourite actors and I am hoping this film does not mean a steep decline in the quality of movies he is part of from now on.
This movie is so bad it will probably be famous from be listed on top of a lot of turkey lists.The acting is terrible, only hire $1 actors is the trick apparently but they could have acted better if the script was better but it's horrible, the dialog is dug up from the 80's.
But why didn't they hire an acting coach at least, looks like they got Nicolas to do that job too.The plot is half way stolen from a bunch of other movies like The Langoliers and Flightplan but it's like they heard the script from a drunk guy, wrote it down on a napkin, dropped it in the toilet and then tried to put it all together to a full length movie.Lots of bloopers too :) The main broad that Nick is dating has different make up all through the movie.But one positive note..or should I say Consistent note is that Nicholas Cage finally has a cast of his own caliber.
Left Behind is definitely character driven rather than special effects driven, and although the special effects in this movie were good (but not great), I more enjoyed watching the characters meet and learn about each other and develop genuine relationships in the middle of a very intense and scary situation.
People should be able to make mistakes and live morally but not religiously without being judged bad people.So many mothers shown on the movie having lost their children but surely not all of the mothers were sinful.
There is nothing and I mean nothing that is memorable about this movie.What I can not believe is the actors such as Nicholas Cage, Lea Thompson and others lent their names to this idiotic piece of trash.It's not that it is a religious movie, it's that every one of these types of movies, that have the potential to be extremely good because of the subject matter are really stupid.If I could, I would give this a minus ten..
Instead of letting his wife convulse in skimpy outfits onstage to convince people into embracing Christianity, the pastor in question could have used the funds to make a movie on hindsight like what Stoney Lake Entertainment has done here.For the uninitiated, Stoney Lake Entertainment is set up to produce faith-inspired films for the masses and their intention is to create a franchise for Left Behind which in turn is based on a series of popular books by Jerry B.
This is not the first time Left Behind is being made into a movie however, in actual fact it was originally done in the year 2000 and followed by two other sequels.Lake's CEO Paul Lalonde co-wrote this remake that involved the biblical Rapture where faithful believers are taken up to heaven before the apocalyptic end of days.
I seriously couldn't hold it in; I laughed so loud at how goofball-ish that moment was that I actually received nasty looks from people whom probably thought I was simply there to make fun of the movie for being Christian.
The only reason this movie deserves a star at all is because the acting actually wasn't bad...but that's it.
This movie perfectly portrays what a lot of christians think of non believers or followers of a different faith.
This movie was so, so bad and even Nicholas Cage couldn't make the film work.
He really looks like a man who's seriously questioning the choices that have led him to this - not in the movie, but in his actual life.Not good, not "so bad it's good".
So Left Behind is the remake of the original Left Behind which was based in the book about what happens to those left behind when every Christian and baby go to heaven during the Rapture.-So as great as that concept sounds, the film was just bad.
The daughter was a bit over the top heroic, but, nonetheless an important and timely story.Best line in the movie is when Cage tells his passengers as he is trying to land a plane without fuel or a runway, "If you would like to pray, now would be the time."The passengers were all good characters and cast well.
I like Nicholas Cage - he has been on some good movies, and this exemplifies that he has been in some shockingly bad ones too.
Having Nicolas Cage on the poster of a disaster movie is a juicy temptation like an anglerfish luring in its prey before consuming them without conscience or mercy.The ONE thing in the film that I actually got some entertainment from was the dwarf punt for no reason at the end.To the producers: You should be ashamed.
LEFT BEHIND is a big-bucks Hollywood adaptation of a popular Christian novel dealing with the Rapture (you know, when 'good' souls are sent up to Heaven, leaving all the bad eggs behind).
The script is trite, the CGI plane effects look like they belong in your average SyFy Channel movie, and the film as a whole suffers from a general trite feeling.
Absolutely not on special effects or locations (the whole film feels as though it's set in one part of plane) and not on actors, unless Mr. Cage charged an exuberant fee in another one of his incredibly bad movie roles.Not sure if we'll ever now see the end of Cage's tax woes, Cage here as flirtatious U2 loving pilot Rayford Steele can't even summon up the looney energy he is known for to save Left Behind in any way shape or form.
(It may have to do with an annoying guy at work being a fan of the book.) I'm a fan of most of Nicolas Cage's movies so I finally gave "Left Behind" a try.
I can't believe I was conned into buying this DVD in a store...the only reason this film got my attention was because of Nicholas Cage...shame on that man for putting his name to this utter garbage!It's preachy...but not just normal self righteous preachy you get in normal life...it's BADLY WRITTEN preachy.Bad acting, bad direction, bad script...worst un-special effects I have seen in 20 years....I felt genuinely embarrassed that I had bought this for the family to watch.
I watched this film recently on Netflix and thought it would be a decent actioner given it's star Nicholas Cage and the write up.
I can honestly say that this only further highlighted how bad this movie really is.I could tell from the cheesy music score and terrible acting right at the beginning of 'Left Behind' that this was going to be a dud.
This film looks very much like an amateur production and the actors no matter how hard they tried couldn't pull the movie around.
Nic Cage tried his best as did Cassi Thomson and Chad Murray but the poor filming, cheesy music and bad directing just made this movie a complete flop..
Bad,even for a Cage movie..
This movie is almost totally incoherent.Cage either doesn't care anymore and is just content to collect a check or his good performances were a fluke.I remember times when he might have been bad but at least he was enjoyable to watch.