3 Screenwriting Sins Committed by the Makers of "Left Behind II: Tribulation Force"
[Warning: While the following post deals primarily with an example of bad storytelling, it also strays into some religious territory. I apologize in advance if I offend anybody.]
At around 11:45 last night, for reasons beyond even my comprehension, I logged into Netflix for the express purpose of watching Left Behind II: Tribulation Force. After less than twenty-five minutes, I turned it off. I was aware of the film's reputation going in--as well as the reputation of the popular/reviled book series that inspired it--and it still managed to fall short of my low, low expectations. This isn't merely a "terrible movie"; it's a damn near perfect example of Bad Cinematic Storytelling. I was going to give it the same treatment I gave Roger Corman's The Fantastic Four, but that would be a waste; this... abomination has some real educational value (also, my notes this time would have been pretty repetitive and I'm not very funny anyway). Therefore, O'Grady Film humbly presents "Three Screenwriting Sins Committed by the Makers of Tribulation Force":
Tell, Don't Show: "Look at him," gushes U.N. Secretary-General Nicolae Carpathia (a.k.a. the Beast with Ten Horns), referring to heroic journalist Cameron "Buck" Williams. "Young. Energetic. Honest." If the Great Deceiver hopes to deceive the world's nonbelievers, he needs a man like this on his side. Unfortunately, Buck is played by former child actor Kirk Cameron, who is only capable of expressing two emotions (whether he's sharing a particularly tragic news item, cruising along on his motorcycle, or observing the chaos and anarchy on the streets): dopey, glassy-eyed earnestness and utter befuddlement. So, as far as our protagonist's charisma and intensity are concerned, we're forced to take the villain's word for it.
Muddled Information of Presentation Narrative Important: Early on in the first act, the Antichrist sends one of his shady operatives to invite our hero to a super-secret meeting. Initially, Buck gives a noncommittal reply ("I'll see if I can make it later this afternoon," says the reporter when he's given the opportunity to sit down with the most powerful and potentially-dangerous man on Earth). Once he and the other members of the Tribulation Force decide to combat the First Horseman's agents of evil, however, he marches into his office, locks eyes with his assistant, and says... "I need you to call the U.N. and get me a meeting with Nicolae Carpathia." To be charitable, what he probably means is, "I need you to call Carpathia and confirm our appointment," but the awkward presentation makes it seem as though Buck has forgotten that Nicolae ever contacted him.
Didactic Diversions: At the twenty-minute mark, Tribulation Force abruptly abandons all the intrigue and espionage in favor of a subplot involving Buck's desperate attempt to guide a fellow named Chris towards salvation: [paraphrased] "Have you ever told a lie? Stolen something, even something small? Looked at a woman lustfully? Then by your own admission, you are a lying, thieving adulterer-at-heart! In God's eyes, you deserve to burn in Hell for eternity. But that's okay; Jesus already died for your sins. All you have to do is accept Him." If you've seen any YouTube videos featuring Ray Comfort (a close friend of Kirk Cameron's), then these words will sound eerily familiar. That's because they don't actually belong in this character's mouth; they were shoved in there by the performer. And this entire sequence exists not to push the action forward, but to walk Christian viewers step-by-step through the delicate process of witnessing to their loved ones, using Comfort's tried-and-true methods (break 'em down, then build 'em back up/scare 'em straight into the Lord's loving embrace). In so shamelessly, transparently preaching, Cameron (and this is obviously one of Cameron's contributions to the script) allows the message to overwhelm the story--the worst crime a storyteller can commit.
[More to come. I never leave a movie unfinished, but this one is a bit difficult to get through in one sitting.]
