Hollywood and Heaven may not always seem like the best of companions, but some local churches are trying their hand at movie promotion, and are excited about the results.

Friday, February 02, 2001

Hollywood and Heaven may not always seem like the best of companions, but some local churches are trying their hand at movie promotion, and are excited about the results.

The Albert Lea Assembly of God, Calvary Baptist, Crossroads Free Evangelical, First Baptist, First Presbyterian, United Methodist, Trinity Lutheran and Vineyard churches are promoting the movie &uot;Left Behind,&uot; which opens nationwide today.

The distributor, Cloud Ten Pictures, asked the churches to help, and provided coupons and other promotional materials for the project.

Congregants at Calvary Baptist Church have been promoting the event through word of mouth, inviting people to shows, and handing out coupons for an adult evening ticket at a matinee price, said the Rev. C. Douglas Smith.

&uot;It kind of gives us the exercise of getting out into the community, where God wants us to be,&uot; Smith said.

Calvary Baptist has tried to get together with other churches to bring Christian-oriented events to the community over the past few years, Smith said. The churches have sponsored concerts, workshops, and guest speakers.

&uot;Christian values that are important to our spiritual as well as our social health,&uot; he said.

&uot;Left Behind,&uot; touted as an action-adventure and science-fiction fantasy, is based on the the successful series of Christian novels written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins and stars Kirk Cameron, Brad Johnson, Chelsea Noble, Clarence Gilyard and Coli Fox.

&uot;I think it’s pretty well done,&uot; Smith said. &uot;It’s good entertainment, but it’s also thought provoking.&uot;

The movie is scripturally accurate and engaging, he said.

&uot;I’m kind of an action-adventure type of guy,&uot; Smith said.

&uot;Left Behind&uot; is rated PG-13 for violence. Smith agreed that while the movie is likely to appeal to youth, parental guidance was a good idea for younger children. Disappearances and their effects on children in the movie could be disturbing for children in the audience, he said.

&uot;It’s not violent, so to speak,&uot; he said. &uot;I think it’s more thought provoking.&uot;

&uot;Left Behind&uot; was originally released on videotape with the understanding that it would go to theaters, said Cinema 7 Manager Gary Jackson.

&uot;As I understand, this is an incredible movie,&uot; he said.

Cinema 7’s home office decided to carry the movie, and bring it to Albert Lea for the limited release opening, he said.

&uot;What they do is they take the movies that are best suited for this particular town and they send them here first,&uot; he said.

The movie will play this week for sure, he said. If it grosses well, it may stay longer.

Smith hopes the churches’ backing will ensure the movie’s success.

&uot;It’s certainly going to be the topic of my sermon this Sunday,&uot; he said.

&uot;Left Behind,&uot; rated PG-13, starts today at the Albert Lea Cinema 7 theater, Northbridge Mall. Shows are at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Shows Saturday and Sunday are at 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.