bandimal

I was hoping that with Nicolas Cage and Lea Thompson this movie would bring some star power to the Left Behind movies and kick-start a fresh and better-developed franchise than LaLonde's first attempt. My hopes were dashed. This movie was contrived, the dialog and acting were predictable (and not because I have read the book), and worst of all, there was no Gospel message. If you want to find a good dramatic version of Left Behind, search for the dramatic audio which is available as "Left Behind: An experience in sound and drama" on Amazon or for free on YouTube. The voice actors do a much better job than any of the screen actors have done so far. At the end of this movie is a line that should strike the hearts of everyone who watched the movie... something to the effect of "I think this is just the beginning." Oh, God, please, no.

This movie is based on a biography (book) by the same name. If you're reading this review, you should go read the book whether or not you have seen the movie. Once you've read the book, you can better judge the screen adaptation. It will give you an idea of why Rosie acted the way she did. Beth's mannerisms and speech patterns were similar to those portrayed in the book. Her boyfriend is portrayed similarly, perhaps a little more introverted. Someone else has written in their review that this is a movie about autism. Beth is developmentally disabled in some way, but neither the book nor the movie ever specifically mention autism or Asperger's disorder. The sisters, bus drivers, and other characters in this movie are all real. Enjoy your reading.