Movie Review: "Revelation Road 2: The Sea of Glass and Fire"

Rated: Not Rated (Dove approved for ages twelve and up)
Starring: David A. R. White, Eric Roberts, and Andrea Logan White
Released: 2013

Synopsis
After the mass disappearances in the first film, towns everywhere have lost power, and the world is in a state of mass confusion.  Josh (David A. R. White) is still on the run from the motorcycle gang whose murderous plans he thwarted.  With Beth (Eliza Roberts), his departed friends' granddaughter, as his sidekick, his combat abilities are all that he can rely to defeat the thugs...but even that may not be enough.
Produced by Pure Flix, the makers of God's Not Dead, Jerusalem Countdown, and The Encounter.

The Good
The title makes this movie seem like a sequel, and it is one...but it also serves as a prequel, as many of the scenes depict what happened six or seven years prior to the first film's events.  That storytelling device can be annoying at times, but it works very well here.  As with the first film, the production values are amazing, especially when it comes to the action sequences; when a character was shot dead by a villain, it broke my heart.  Positive elements also abound; one character learns that violence doesn't really solve problems, whereas others seek out Jesus and realize the errors of their ways.  Also, the closed captioning was relatively well-done and didn't lag behind; too many films from this studio have had big issues with their SDHs, so, for this one not to is good news, especially for those who rely on them.

The Bad
The ending is a bit anticlimactic; maybe that's because a third installment, which just released recently, was already on the way.  Also, some people may be bothered by scenes where living people see Jesus in person; that may seem like something out of a parable or allegory than a more realistic film such as this one.  Of course, Rapture theology is present; it was in the first one, as well.

Conclusion
This second installment of this "end times" trilogy definitely ramps things up, in more ways than one.  Though this may be a sequel, the opening explains enough of the first film's plot for new viewers to follow along.  It's definitely an improvement to the original; if you liked the original, you'll love the sequel.

Score: 4/5