Vic Armstrong is one of the great figures of the stunt world; you’ve seen his work in dozens of our favourite action films, from Raiders of the Lost Ark to Terminator 2. He’s a genuine cult hero for action cinema enthusiasts, but his directorial effort Left Behind just wasn’t the right move for him or us. With Nicolas Cage being all the rage these days, and some introspective analysis of his darkest hours included in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, it felt like a good time to exhume their much derided religion-sci-fi adventure Left Behind, which crashed, burned, flamed out and generally wasn’t well-loved back in 2014.
Based on a bestselling franchise of Christian faith-based novels, Left Behind is a disaster movie where the disaster in question is The Rapture, when all the good people leave the earth, leaving piles of limp clothing, and all the sinners get left behind, as the title suggests. Cage plays pilot Rayford Steele, who is about to take a passenger plane from JFK to London, missing the birthday party of his daughter Chloe (Cassi Thompson) to do so. During the flight, various children and a few adults vanish, and as chaos engulfs the world, Rayford Steele has to use all of his flying expertise to get the sinful survivors back to terra firma.
Armstrong does well, as you might expect, with the physical effects, but Left Behind flounders in all other areas. Cage is a great actor on form, but when he phones it in, he’s a risible presence, and so it proves here. For a film with a religious POV, the attitudes displayed are baffling; several characters explain what The Rapture is, but they’re all portrayed in an unsympathetic light, and the film seems entirely preoccupied with the mechanics of landing a jet aircraft on a motorway rather than any theological questions.
‘I have no spoilers, no flaps, no elevators, and if I run this thing dry, no reverse thrust, I need some room!’ squeaks Rayford as his plane threatens to ditch in the ocean; fortunately his daughter is able to clear a landing area to ensure a happy ending. Left Behind is gaining a reputation as a camp classic, and even Christian audiences didn’t know what to make of this weirdly compromised film; a low-point for Cage, Armstrong and anyone who happens to see it, Left Behind is unbearable for all but hard-core bad movie fans, who will find it a rich text indeed. If you’re looking for a thoughtful, spiritual, thought-provoking film, the takeaway is; don’t get Left Behind.
Ten Commandments and The Passion of Christ seemed to hit the box office button.
They did, but neither of them show how to land a jumbo jet on a motorway with no air traffic support.
Are you sure? You must be thinking of a different Ten Commandments. Anyone who can split a Red Sea – or of any other color – would have no problem landing a jumbo jet.
That would be a great ending, if Cage lands his jet in the Red Sea. Thematically strong.
He could jump from the Red Sea to the Black Sea and throw in the sea of Tranquility while he was at it.
The Seven Seas of Nic Cage. I can see that being a thing.
Start with Four or Five Seas – leave room for a sequel.
I had wondered about this one and now I don’t have to any more. Cheers! Nope.
Is the correct answer.
Good. Don’t send anyone I’m worn out.
Cheeky!
I meant I had a busy weekend and I’m knackered, no cheeks involved.
I’ll put Tom Hardy on ice for now.
I’m sure he won’t mind.
I’m not a religious myself, but the idea of the Rapture and people being left behind is a great idea for a cinematic story. It’s strange to me that they’re aren’t better, more nuanced and rich films about it. Perhaps it’s like you mentioned with Father Stu – there seems to be such critical scorn for such films. It’s really a shame.
Agreed. There should be good films on this subject. In fact, The Rapture was fine. But openly religious movies are ghettoised…
I’ve read many of the books and watched the original 2000 movie with Kirk Cameron. I knew this version was going to ignore everything I might have been interested in, so I ignored it. I’m glad to say that both the movie and I seem to have suffered no adverse effects from ignoring the other 😀
The books were pretty fluffified though, so it’s not like they were great base material to work with.
I can’t comment on the books, but the derision for this film seems to come from religion and non-religious sides alike, so maybe it’s done something almost impossible in uniting so many people of different mentalities…
Nothing like a bad movie to unite us all 😀
And this one is terrible. Unite!
Is that the rallying cry of Chinchester North?
I’m not sure, is it a building society?
I have no idea. I can’t keep straight what you all consider sport versus riots in general.
So it’s either a sports club or a specialized SWAT team 😉
Either way, sounds like a winner. What sports do you like?
I like volleyball. But only to play. Watching it, no thanks.
Ok, let’s play Volleyball. I’ll serve…and it’s a cracker, low over the net and into the corner! One love! What a shot! Left you scampering to no avail!
Yeah, I’m totally not warmed up. Plus, that spandex doesn’t fit like it used to 😀
No time for chat. Bang! Two nil!
Wut?! Volleyball is ALL about chatting.
Not in my hood. Ready? Bang. Three nil!
I call a 15minute chat break.
* tweet *
Not while we’re live on tv. Serve still on my side, bang, bang, bang, six nil to me! What a thrashing! Right, juice break. Penalty against Mr Bookstodge, racket abuse. Man, you cannot catch a break!
Fine. I’m calling in the Bookstodge Clone Cyber Army.
We laser beam you and take the Pure Platinum Trophy to our secret lair. Where we have plans for a world domination weapon that only needs a platinum trophy to be completed.
Check and Mate!
No checkmate in this game. Right, your serve…into the net! I’ll take another shot! Wallop! Another ace! Psychic Grandma predicted it! A total rout!
You can see why I never made it big in the sports world…
I’m seeing it, and do are millions of viewers at home. Wipe away the tears, good effort, but not enough! I’m playing Alex in the final…
I think you need to change your name to Sports Authority!
That was the original name. FaCt!
Alex plays volleyball? I wonder if there’s a Charlie Chan volleyball movie he learned it all from?
Charlie Chan’s Big Serve (1946) Werner Oland, Keye Luke and Sir Lancelot. Charlie infiltrates a Communist Volleyball tournament. Alex reviewed it last year. ‘Nothing of interest’ was his quote.
You know, that actually sounds better than half the Chan movies he DOES review.
Is the correct answer.
It really needed zombies.
Is that the look Cage gave you when he came home and found you sleeping in his bed?
That would be a rapture for all concerned. Strong entry in our ongoing glowering competition. Maggie Smith look out…👀