I was in fifth grade when I first heard about the Rapture, and I was riveted by the concept -- transporting those who believe in God instantly to heaven? How had I not heard of this before?

Years later, the Left Behind book series came out and told the story, set in present day. It became a best seller when my oldest son was in fifth grade. Still enthralled, I bought the whole series. I couldn’t wait to dig in with him.

Now, after more than a decade, audiences get the movie version with a starry and familiar cast: Nicolas Cage, Lea Thompson, Chad Michael Murray and Jordin Sparks. And really, the time is right. At the moment, disaster flicks, apocalyptic stories, dystopian governments and PG-13 horror movies are entertaining teens at the multiplex. We don’t need zombies… we’ve got something far more thrilling: the Bible. 

Left Behind tackles the Rapture head on. So when God brings all believers into his kingdom in an instant in the film, airplanes and cars suddenly go unmanned and the Earth is left in utter chaos, leaving a vulnerable planet open for corruption.

My son is now in college, so I brought my 13-year-old daughter and a friend to see the movie. They were just as eager as I was to watch the spectacle unfold. Despite top-notch special effects and solid acting from the stars, the movie proved a bit too talky for the girls. Still, they enjoyed and understood the film.

While they seemed just about the right age to handle it, the themes may be too mature and complex for younger kids. Plus, there are scenes that include a character held at gunpoint and incidences of adultery and drug use. Understandably, the movie brings up issues of religion and faith. And some parents may be asked to answer the same question posed in the film: “If God loves us, why would he leave some of us behind?”

Ultimately, it may not be the Greatest Story Ever Told, but it’s certainly the Most Compelling Story of the Apocalypse Ever Told – and one I’ll continue to be fascinated with and share with my kids every time there’s a new incarnation.

Here are three other films in theaters to see with your family.

The Good Lie. Also a faith-based film, it follows four of the Lost Boys of the Sudan who relocate to the United States following 9/11. It’s a story, honestly, we should all know and you’ll be shocked at seeing what raw survival looks like. That said, it’s a little much for kids, so I recommend it for mature teens only.

The Boxtrolls. Halloween gets started a little early with this dark film that’s a great Daddy and Me movie for seven to 10-year-olds.

The Maze Runner. Teens will jump out of their seats while watching this twisty-turny suspense film about kids being treated like mice in a labyrinth.

Read Tara’s parent reviews at ThatWasSomething.com. Find out what kids think about these films at KidsPickFlicks.com, where all kids are movie critics!