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Since his beloved mother died in childbirth, the enraged six-year-old Stone Alexander (Gavin
Fink) tries to burn his baby brother, David, making him ripe as Satan's choice for the future antichrist. In his anger, Stone's father ships him off to a military academy in
Europe. Many years later, Stone (Michael York) succeeds, via murder and deceit, in becoming Chancellor of the United World Union, while David (Michael Biehn) is elected Vice
President of the United States. Through a diabolical scheme, Stone causes David to become the new American President, hoping to get David to join him in his quest for global
dominion. Realizing that he cannot stand against Stone on his own as crisis upon crisis keep pummeling the earth, David seeks divine guidance. Stone ultimately gathers his
evil forces on the plains of Megiddo in Israel, where Stone's and David's destinies collide in the final "Battle of Armageddon" (the mount of Megiddo).
Based on 'Revelation,' the last chapter of the New Testament by John the Apostle, the movie is
wanting in plot, acting, and special effects. Though the plot is interesting and fast-paced in its earlier stage, its slowly dwindles, limping to a disappointing finale. With
the film's time frames jumping from six to ten, twenty and thirty years later, there is not much room for character development. The characters come out weak except for the
lead, York, yet his acting appears quite contrived, flamboyant in his satanic exaltation. Except for the subtle demonic presences and powers with the devil portrayed as
sinisterly huge, black and ugly which are great, the rest of the visuals are commonplace and no longer frightening to accustomed-to-hitech-effects moviegoers. After reading
the chapter on Revelation, one would expect a more horrifying end for the evil powers with the good forces triumphant in greater majesty and splendor.
Advertised as an apocalyptic thriller, it is more of a morality play, though not just the good vs. evil, but
rather good brother vs. evil brother. Despite the flaws that critics and viewers may discern, and in spite of man's limited capacities to fully comprehend and interpret this
difficult biblical chapter, this movie can still serve as a reminder of the inevitable apocalypse (end of the world) and the dreaded final judgment. While this film may appear
scary and heading toward a hopeless dark ending, it is not without hope for those who align themselves with the good forces, eventually sharing in the glory and grandeur of
God's victory. God will not permit evil if He does not know that in his great power He can draw good even from evil.
(Date reviewed: July 26, 2002)
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