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DaleM
DaleM's stats
- Review count2
- Helpfulness votes2
- First reviewDecember 4, 2009
- Last reviewApril 17, 2011
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.5
DaleM's Reviews
Overall rating
4
/
5
Must-see - and give it a break.
PostedApril 17, 2011
DaleM
from Seattle, WA
Having recently read the book (actually still working through part three) I was disappointed (not shocked) to see the result of the simplification required to bring to the big screen the rich and multi-layered magnum opus that is "Atlas Shrugged." Although I quite enjoyed it I was concerned that that this "trimmed" version would leave the uninitiated confused, lost in this production which to me resembled a montage, even a collage of the original.
Perhaps I misjudged, blinded by overexposure to a tome that could never be presented fully within the confines of our current notion of video production regardless of the size of the budget or the length of the movie. My son, who had not read or even heard of the book, not only liked the film but grasped the core themes to a degree that I would not have predicted given my preconceptions.
On the other hand, I've read with disbelief some of the clueless reviews by those who are allegedly familiar with Rand's work.
To those who would have "modernized" the story by refocusing the plot on a technology other than railroads: one of the more charming aspects of the show, as I read repeatedly in these reviews, is its recreation of dialog and scenes from the book. How could this have been possible by making Dagny a webmaster or Hank a manufacturer of curly light bulbs?
To the foul-mouthed cretin who speculates that Rand would have been as derisive toward the Tea Party activists as he is (for no other reason than his hate-blinded "feeling" that they are stupid): congratulations! You've managed to read a book of over 1,000 pages (if you really did) and completely miss one of its major themes. The industrialists in the story lost everything they had built to a creeping socialistic (and atheistic) political movement by simply abdicating the socio-political part of their personal responsibility for a lack of interest, as did the general populace. Whatever else you may think of them, the Tea Parties are sufficiently socially aware to not be lulled into somnolence by kumbaya political assurances, and they are motivated to attempt to intervene in our current parallel to "Atlas Shrugged" by their hope for the future of our country (and to a lesser extent, the world). They are far more suitable and effective as ambassadors of Rand's message than any number of bigoted, hateful and arrogant atheistic blowhards. Anyone who fears Rand's vision of our immediate future should know that we need far more of the former and far fewer of the latter.
I believe the greatest value of this movie is what we need the most right now: exposure to Rand's clarity of vision by the largest possible numbers of people. A better production would have been more effective toward that end, but I'll take whatever we can get for now.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
5
/
5
Better than last year
PostedDecember 4, 2009
DaleM
from Seattle, WA
I was at the live Seattle performance of The Christmas Sweater last year. I enjoyed the show, but I got a lot more out of the encore this year. It just hit me where it's supposed to a lot harder. Also, the stories of people who have been helped by the book, and the testimony of their family and friends, are heartwarming.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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