Left Behind III: World at War

I've seen all three of the left behind movies they are not my type of movie. I'm just not big on movies with religious undertones. That aside it really is a great movie.

There's lots of drama and a bit of action mixed with the plot of a world at war under the rule of devil. Not to mention great acting. I know there's many movies about then end of the world and man vs. the Devil but this story really is unlike any other.

I highly recommend you watch Left behind the movie and Tribulation Force before watching this one. Chances are if you can't get into the first movie or just didn't like the first movie than this one isn't for you.

As with most viewers of this film, I'm an avid reader of the books. The first 2 films have Buck, Ray and Chloe as the main characters but in this the second sequel they play second-fiddle to Louis Gossett JR's Presidential effort. World at War is based on the meeting he has with Buck in the book series.

The problem is - this film is as awful as the first two. Amanda appears just from nowhere and suddenly has a significant part to play (I won't reveal it in case anyone hasn't read the series). Other illogical parts feature. I really really want Cloud 10 to make a good Left Behind film but sadly this is similar in all the bad ways to the first 2.

This movie starts off with the President of the United States, "Gerald Fitzhugh" (Louis Gossett Jr.) sitting at his desk in a bombed out White House lamenting the day he gave up America's sovereignty to "Nicolae Carpathia" (Gordon Currie). The film then backtracks a bit to an assassination attempt upon him which manages to kill the Vice-President, "John Mallory" (Charles Martin Smith). It's at this point that we learn there are two groups who oppose Nicolae Carpathia: (1) The militias who intensely dislike the surrender of America's sovereignty and (2) Christians who refuse to accept the leadership of the anti-Christ. Naturally, Nicolae wants both groups destroyed and he comes up with a plan to discredit the first and another plan to decimate the second. Now, as far as the overall film is concerned I have to say that this turned out to be a major disappointment. Not only does it substantially deviate from the book but the last fourth of the movie was simply too preposterous to be believed. Along with that, I didn't think the movie flowed very smoothly from one scene to the next. That said, if there is going to be a fourth film in this series I would hope that it is made with a view towards reality and Biblical accuracy. Below average.

This movie stands alone, but is third in a series about the possible end of the world. The weapon today is...biological warfare!

Blond, handsome, charming Nicolae Carpathia (played by Brad Pitt's one time roommate Gordon Currie) had charmed the US President Fitzhugh (the distinguished Lou Gosset Jr) into disarming "in the name of peace". (Yes, like Hitler in 1930's who pretended peace as he rapidly rearmed. We haven't learned...)

And in an early scene, great editing and effects punctuate this question: Will Carpathia attack the US??? Gossett, not above pulling a gun to get info, will strike...but how can he attack back?

The US has no real weapons left.

Here, the small, very new Cloud Ten Productions shows how quickly they are learning to put together good films. (Even the first 2 "Left Behind" movies do not have the sophisticated editing, directing, scripting of this movie...)

President Fitzhugh played by Lou Gosset Jr. is a troubled man. He has helped the anti Christ come to power and rule the world without realizing it. Nicolae Carpatia rules the World with an iron grip and kills anyone who gets in his way. After the assassination of the vice President who worked for the militia and information about a deadly virus from Buck Williams (Kirk Cameron)and the Christian Group Tribulation Force, The President switches sides and fights Nicolae. But can he win? The LEFT BEHIND MOVIE SERIES keeps getting better and better from the Best Christian movie company in the World-CLOUD TEN PICTURES! The acting and production design have improved greatly.