Earlier on, people were wondering why now, unlike in the past, only the poorer artistic talents agree to approach overtly religious subjects. I think I may have the beginning of an answer.
One reason Michaelangelo, Raphael and co. created religious art, is because that’s what interested them, and that’s what the public wanted. If Raphael wanted to portary “motherhood”, he’d paint a picture of the Virgin - religion was deeply ingrained into society at the time, far more than today, and it was part of the common language. Besides, if a wealthy Florentine family was willing to pay good money for a pieta, then Michaelangelo would sculpt a pieta, because being an artist is, after all, in many ways just another job. But how many people today would pay well to own a sculptue of Moses? Or to see one that is less than 400 years old?
The other reason was, I believe, in many cases true faith in the divine. However, they saw it as their duty to express their own feelings of love of God; to glorify His name; to add some small piece of beauty into His world. They were not trying to convert anyone, and the only people they were trying to save were themselves.
They were artists, not salesmen.
And that, I believe, is the problem with products like Left Behind. They are a form of commercial art, and their sole purpose is to push a product. Watching a film like LB is a bit like watching a The Transformer Movie; and while its goal is to save souls, instead of selling toys (a loftier, if less attainable endeavor), it is essentialy the same thing - i.e., garbage.
If I want good, modern Christian art, I can always read C.S. Lewis.
And FTR, I’m Jewish, and quite happy at it. I just happen to respect good art and powerful convictions.