MovieChat Forums > The Remaining (2014) Discussion > 4.3? Really? I voted an 8, actually. And...

4.3? Really? I voted an 8, actually. And I'm 100% agnostic.


I have to say I approached this film, expecting some laughable preachy "film" like "Left Behind" (either Cameron or Cage's version), and what I found was a film that simply put entertainment first, didn't shy off to be ambiguous and play the rapture as straight horror, which is how it would be perceived... the screenplay simply exposes a simple question to the audience: it doesn't matter if you believe or not, in the christian version of the Apocalypse... here's a world in which that version, happens, so, IF that happens, isn't the natural thing to actually say "hey, I was obviously wrong, and these guys were right all along?". It simply exposes that idea, while not forgetting to scare, give thrills, here and there, and not forgetting to develope the characters enough, to keep the action going and keeping you somewhat interested in their fate.

And it's not a "found footage" film. At all. There are some parts that are seen from the point of view of a videocamera o a smartphone. I liked it enough to buy it and I'm writting this while watching it, again, and liking it more than the first time around. And yes, I'm still agnostic and skeptical a God, if exists, would be so cruel.

Filmmaking is good, acting is not bad, some interesting ideas floating around - more philosophical than religious, most of the time, as there's a narrow line dividing both of them - and I certainly think this a rarity deserving of some praise, even if, of course is way far from being a masterpiece and budget limitations are evident.

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Also an Agnostic Atheist. I gave it a 6/10, but regardless I enjoyed it.

The intolerance problem we're seeing in this forum is larger and societal, I believe. It is based on programming that is just as dangerous as christian preprogramming( that has traditionally induced guilt in the face of normal urges).

This growing intolerance we're facing as a society has gotten to a point where one cannot even suspend their own beliefs and enjoy a movie that I wouldn't say challenges one's own belief system in the least..unless one has an intolerant belief system. For example, people can watch a Zombie,a scifi film, or films about the Greek Gods and suspend their disbelief, but just one mention of western religion and..OMG it is too preachy.

To me, it's reminiscent of the times when religious people were the vocal majority and panned and attacked anything that challeneged or offered other suggestions of their belief system. Sad because we should have evolved beyond this type of behavior.


But we haven't, the angry pendulum has just swung back in the other direction.





If you put the federal government in charge of the desert, in 5 yrs there'd be a shortage of sand.

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My favorite film so far about this is The Rapture, which also suffers from many critical slings and arrows of its viewers.

This wasn't as clear cut as The Rapture, it seemed to be specifically for the 20-ish crowd and for a very specific reason whereas The Rapture left the viewer ambiguous. I don't agree with the "beating over the head Christianity" comments as this film seemed to borrow from other more known films to get to the end of the world.

The Reverend who pops up kinda midway through for 10 minutes or so kinda sewed up what was going on. I really wish they actually showed how he screwed-up rather than hinting around with it cause if there is any "christian" message, that's the one--telling them they're not "all that" because they so call "believe".

But basically to me this film is about making choices -- some were clear, some had a few more bits of time to decide while others were still wondering around not making one while time had run out. The ending...WAS an ending. Horrific to say the least- it's just a scary thing to think happening to earth in any context.

If your brain was donated to science, science would return it.

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Pastor Shay is an interesting character.

He actually admits ("preaches")to his "congregation" of so-far living people in the church that he has been living a lie. He claims not to have believed, but went thru all the motions of belief required of his profession.

Ultimately, he dies a gruesome - and painful - death despite his success in ministering to and giving emotional comfort to at least a few souls who have confided in him over many years. But, his "faking it" - to humans - didn't spare him from death.

E pluribus unum

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I agree! I give it a 7.

"End of the World" movies are a bizarre favorite of mine! Kinda messed up, huh? And, I have seen a few of the religious-themed ones. This is INFINITELY better than any of those! By leaps and bounds.

Much darker, much scarier, and any religious message is made an integral part of the plot, not just something thrown in.

I. Drink. Your. Milkshake! [slurp!] I DRINK IT UP! - Daniel Plainview - There Will Be Blood

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