'Left Behind: World at War,' 3rd in sequel set, to debut

This is the first first-run movie to open exclusively through churches.
LOS ANGELES -- More than 3,100 churches nationwide, including a number in Northeast Ohio, will debut the film "Left Behind: World at War" this weekend.
The number of screens qualifies the release as one typical of major Hollywood blockbuster movies.
The third in the film series based on the New York Times best-selling books is opening exclusively in churches and ministry locations this weekend. Though churches have enjoyed film nights for many years, no first run movie has ever opened exclusively through churches and ministry.
The film, which has a returning cast of Kirk Cameron, Brad Johnson, Chelsea Noble, Gordon Currie and Janaya Stephens, adds Academy Award winner Louis Gossett Jr. playing the role of U.S. President Gerald Fitzhugh. Additionally, Craig Baxley ("Kingdom Hospital," "Rose Red") came on board as director, for the high-intensity, action-filled drama.
Based on the last 50 pages of the second book, "Tribulation Force," "Left Behind: World at War" chronicles the final days of America as a world power as prophesied in the Bible.
"'The Left Behind' franchise is set in the end times, but the story is about turning to your faith in God and seeking his will during difficult times. This story could just as easily be told in the setting of a natural disaster or terrorist attack," Cameron said. "Ten out of 10 people will die, and this movie requires the audience to think about what will happen to them when their time on earth comes to an end. The gospel message remains the same regardless of the circumstances."
Various groups
Those participating range from local community churches to schools and campus organizations. The film's interactive Web site, www.leftbehind-worldatwar.com, allows individuals to look at a U.S. map, click on their state and then find the city and site nearest them that will be hosting the movie. Churches have the ability to show the movie as many times as they wish over the weekend and to locally make a decision of whether to charge an admission.
"There is an enormous difference between marketing Hollywood films to the Christian audience and making Christian films. Since "The Passion of the Christ," there has been a tremendous push toward the marketing side. There has been very little done on actually producing Christian films," said Peter Lalonde, who co-founded Cloud Ten Pictures in 1996 with his brother Paul. "The difference with 'Left Behind: World at War' is that we are a Christian film company, making Christian movies with a true Christian message -- that is what we are here to do."
"Left Behind: The Movie" was named the "Best Selling Title of the Year by an Independent Studio" and the next film debuted on DVD second only to Spiderman.