http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/atlas_shrugged_part_i/
So far the reviews, haven't been to good.
An example from the acclaimed Roger Ebert.
QuoteI feel like my arm is all warmed up and I don't have a game to pitch. I was primed to review "Atlas Shrugged." I figured it might provide a parable of Ayn Rand's philosophy that I could discuss. For me, that philosophy reduces itself to: "I'm on board; pull up the lifeline." There are however people who take Ayn Rand even more seriously than comic-book fans take "Watchmen." I expect to receive learned and sarcastic lectures on the pathetic failings of my review.
And now I am faced with this movie, the most anticlimactic non-event since Geraldo Rivera broke into Al Capone's vault. I suspect only someone very familiar with Rand's 1957 novel could understand the film at all, and I doubt they will be happy with it. For the rest of us, it involves a series of business meetings in luxurious retro leather-and-brass board rooms and offices, and restaurants and bedrooms that look borrowed from a hotel no doubt known as the Robber Baron Arms.
During these meetings, everybody drinks. More wine is poured and sipped in this film than at a convention of oenophiliacs. There are conversations in English after which I sometimes found myself asking, "What did they just say?" The dialogue seems to have been ripped throbbing with passion from the pages of Investors' Business Daily. Much of the excitement centers on the tensile strength of steel.
The story involves Dagny Taggart (Taylor Schilling), a young woman who controls a railroad company named Taggart Transcontinental (its motto: "Ocean to Ocean"). She is a fearless and visionary entrepreneur, who is determined to use a revolutionary new steel to repair her train tracks. Vast forces seem to conspire against her.
It's a few years in the future. America has become a state in which mediocrity is the goal, and high-achieving individuals the enemy. Laws have been passed prohibiting companies from owning other companies. Dagny's new steel, which is produced by her sometime lover, Hank Rearden (Grant Bowler), has been legislated against because it's better than other steels. The Union of Railroad Engineers has decided it will not operate Dagny's trains. Just to show you how bad things have become, a government minister announces "a tax will be applied to the state of Colorado, in order to equalize our national economy." So you see how governments and unions are the enemy of visionary entrepreneurs.
But you're thinking, railroads? Yes, although airplanes exist in this future, trains are where it's at. When I was 6, my Aunt Martha brought me to Chicago to attend the great Railroad Fair of 1948, at which the nation's rail companies celebrated the wonders that were on the way. They didn't quite foresee mass air transportation. "Atlas Shrugged" seems to buy into the fair's glowing vision of the future of trains. Rarely, perhaps never, has television news covered the laying of new railroad track with the breathless urgency of the news channels shown in this movie.
So OK. Let's say you know the novel, you agree with Ayn Rand, you're an objectivist or a libertarian, and you've been waiting eagerly for this movie. Man, are you going to get a letdown. It's not enough that a movie agree with you, in however an incoherent and murky fashion. It would help if it were like, you know, entertaining?
The movie is constructed of a few kinds of scenes: (1) People sipping their drinks in clubby surroundings and exchanging dialogue that sounds like corporate lingo; (2) railroads, and lots of 'em; (3) limousines driving through cities in ruin and arriving at ornate buildings; (4) city skylines; (5) the beauties of Colorado. There is also a love scene, which is shown not merely from the waist up but from the ears up. The man keeps his shirt on. This may be disappointing for libertarians, who I believe enjoy rumpy-pumpy as much as anyone.
Oh, and there is Wisconsin. Dagny and Hank ride blissfully in Taggart's new high-speed train, and then Hank suggests they take a trip to Wisconsin, where the state's policies caused the suppression of an engine that runs on the ozone in the air, or something (the film's detailed explanation won't clear this up). They decide to drive there. That's when you'll enjoy the beautiful landscape photography of the deserts of Wisconsin. My advice to the filmmakers: If you want to use a desert, why not just refer to Wisconsin as "New Mexico"?
"Atlas Shrugged" closes with a title card saying, "End of Part 1." Frequently throughout the film, characters repeat the phrase, "Who is John Galt?" Well they might ask. A man in black, always shot in shadow, is apparently John Galt. If you want to get a good look at him and find out why everybody is asking, I hope you can find out in Part 2. I don't think you can hold out for Part 3.
But what does he know? He doesn't even have a lower jaw.
That sounds rather eye gougingly bad.
I probably won't see it even though Princesca has been bugging me to go with her. I'll probably make her go with her rabidly-conservative friend Beth.
OTOH maybe I'll go, if only because Raz's extreme frothing whenever Rand and Rand-related subjects come up is amusing. If I do go, I'll say it was OSSUM even if I didn't think so. :)
Yeah, the trailer is so fucking unengaging it's ridiculous.
It's not like I can't enjoy a movie that doesn't appeal to me ideologically; I loved the shit out of almost every frame of The Passion of the Christ, for example (I felt the part where Jesus came back to life was a grave misstep--Christians already know, and it undoes the meaning of the suffering, but yeah, it's a story about the Christian myth of Yeshua, fine.)
But I can't imagine this movie being remotely good.
I had a thread about this months ago.
I watched the trailer, too, and went "bleeech".
Quote from: Caliga on April 14, 2011, 06:23:58 PM
I watched the trailer, too, and went "bleeech".
It was pretty dull.
Quote from: Caliga on April 14, 2011, 06:09:19 PM
OTOH maybe I'll go, if only because Raz's extreme frothing whenever Rand and Rand-related subjects come up is amusing. If I do go, I'll say it was OSSUM even if I didn't think so. :)
By all means, bore yourself to death for my benefit. It really bothers me when people shove forks in their eyeballs as well. Just so you know, in case you really want to annoy me.
I'll report back shortly. :)
We're all better off listening to Rush's 2112.
RON PAUL 2012
Princesca made me sign a petition for some Libertarian guy to run for Kentucky State Treasurer. I forgot his real name but I always refer to him as Hans Moleman. :)
I'm dreading the 2012 election season. The Ron Paul tards, the foreign LaRouchies and tea party faggits will be out in force.
That makes me sad.
It's a trilogy, I expect part two to come in time for the 2014 election and part three in time for the 2016 election.
Quote from: Razgovory on April 14, 2011, 06:30:55 PM
By all means, bore yourself to death for my benefit. It really bothers me when people shove forks in their eyeballs as well. Just so you know, in case you really want to annoy me.
I saw this movie. It was Incredible. Fantastic. Wonderful. Spectacular. etc.
Quote from: Josephus on April 14, 2011, 06:33:17 PM
We're all better off listening to Rush's 2112.
Isn't that almost always the case?
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on April 14, 2011, 06:46:06 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on April 14, 2011, 06:30:55 PM
By all means, bore yourself to death for my benefit. It really bothers me when people shove forks in their eyeballs as well. Just so you know, in case you really want to annoy me.
I saw this movie. It was Incredible. Fantastic. Wonderful. Spectacular. etc.
I saw it as well. Wow! If it doesn't get best Picture at the Oscars, that will be a crime.
Quote from: Ed Anger on April 14, 2011, 06:37:02 PM
I'm dreading the 2012 election season. The Ron Paul tards, the foreign LaRouchies and tea party faggits will be out in force.
That makes me sad.
That's your America, man. Dumbfuckistan Rising.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on April 15, 2011, 06:21:24 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on April 14, 2011, 06:37:02 PM
I'm dreading the 2012 election season. The Ron Paul tards, the foreign LaRouchies and tea party faggits will be out in force.
That makes me sad.
That's your America, man. Dumbfuckistan Rising.
Problem is, everybody else is even stupider.
Quote from: grumbler on April 15, 2011, 06:18:47 AM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on April 14, 2011, 06:46:06 PM
I saw this movie. It was Incredible. Fantastic. Wonderful. Spectacular. etc.
I saw it as well. Wow! If it doesn't get best Picture at the Oscars, that will be a crime.
:hug:
Quote from: Caliga on April 14, 2011, 06:09:19 PM
I probably won't see it even though Princesca has been bugging me to go with her. I'll probably make her go with her rabidly-conservative friend Beth.
Someone is more rabidly conservative/libertarian than Princesca? What the fuck? Is she Genghis Khan?
Quote from: Martinus on April 15, 2011, 03:47:35 PM
Someone is more rabidly conservative/libertarian than Princesca? What the fuck? Is she Genghis Khan?
Genghis Khan was a Libertarian?
Quote from: Valmy on April 15, 2011, 03:56:25 PM
Quote from: Martinus on April 15, 2011, 03:47:35 PM
Someone is more rabidly conservative/libertarian than Princesca? What the fuck? Is she Genghis Khan?
Genghis Khan was a Libertarian?
A society in which the strong can plunder and rape the weak and build a throne from their skulls is a libertarian utopia.
Quote from: Valmy on April 15, 2011, 03:56:25 PM
Quote from: Martinus on April 15, 2011, 03:47:35 PM
Someone is more rabidly conservative/libertarian than Princesca? What the fuck? Is she Genghis Khan?
Genghis Khan was a Libertarian?
Well, now you know the answer to "Who is John Galt?" :D
To be absolutely pedantic, Ayn Rand already hit the big screens in 1949 with The Fountainhead. :yuk:
Quote from: grumbler on April 15, 2011, 06:18:47 AM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on April 14, 2011, 06:46:06 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on April 14, 2011, 06:30:55 PM
By all means, bore yourself to death for my benefit. It really bothers me when people shove forks in their eyeballs as well. Just so you know, in case you really want to annoy me.
I saw this movie. It was Incredible. Fantastic. Wonderful. Spectacular. etc.
I saw it as well. Wow! If it doesn't get best Picture at the Oscars, that will be a crime.
Ooh, you make me mad. What ever you do, don't stick forks in your eyeballs! I don't think I could take it and would have to leave.
Quote from: Martinus on April 15, 2011, 03:47:35 PM
Someone is more rabidly conservative/libertarian than Princesca? What the fuck? Is she Genghis Khan?
Princesca supports gay marriage and is pro-choice, ya goof. :)
Quote from: Caliga on April 15, 2011, 04:19:13 PM
Quote from: Martinus on April 15, 2011, 03:47:35 PM
Someone is more rabidly conservative/libertarian than Princesca? What the fuck? Is she Genghis Khan?
Princesca supports gay marriage and is pro-choice, ya goof. :)
Genghis loved gay marriage, stopped the guys bitching about him taking all the women.
And pro-choice? He was fond of indulging in a bit of abortion on weekends. :P
Quote from: Caliga on April 15, 2011, 04:19:13 PM
Princesca supports gay marriage and is pro-choice, ya goof. :)
I'm not sure about gay marriage, but Ayn Rand was definitely pro-choice.
The point is that an ultra conservative in the US wouldn't support either of those positions.
I wonder why Genghis Khan is associated with conservatism.
Quote from: Razgovory on April 15, 2011, 04:12:29 PM
Ooh, you make me mad. What ever you do, don't stick forks in your eyeballs! I don't think I could take it and would have to leave.
:bleeding:
Quote from: Razgovory on April 15, 2011, 07:07:14 PM
I wonder why Genghis Khan is associated with conservatism.
He was actually fairly liberal in some ways. Freedom of religion was allowed throughout his empire, as was free trade.
Now Tamerlane, he was a conqueror with few, if any, redeeming qualities.
Quote from: HisMajestyBOB on April 15, 2011, 09:01:07 PM
Now Tamerlane, he was a conqueror with few, if any, redeeming qualities.
He gave the Byzanteens another chance had they not squandered the opportunity.
Quote from: HisMajestyBOB on April 15, 2011, 09:01:07 PM
He was actually fairly liberal in some ways. Freedom of religion was allowed throughout his empire, as was free trade.
Freedom of religion was a Mongol (and Turkic really) cultural trait. It would have been bizarre and politically impossible for him to try to do otherwise as the Mongols themselves were pretty varied in that respect.
It has a 6% review rating on rottentomatos. Jesus fucking christ. I tend to see most movies, but this is going to be painful.
I love Roger Ebert's quote:
"Let's say you know the novel, you agree with Ayn Rand, you're an objectivist or a libertarian, and you've been waiting eagerly for this movie. Man, are you going to get a letdown..." :lmfao:
Quote from: Fate on April 15, 2011, 11:15:08 PM
I tend to see most movies,
No you don't. India alone produces 800 a year.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on April 15, 2011, 11:40:16 PM
Quote from: Fate on April 15, 2011, 11:15:08 PM
I tend to see most movies,
No you don't. India alone produces 800 a year.
Okay. Most movies that end up in Lubbock, Texas. :bleeding:
When did you go to Lubbock? You going to TT now?
Isn't medical school supposed to be time-consuming? :huh:
Quote from: Martinus on April 15, 2011, 03:57:20 PM
A society in which the strong can plunder and rape the weak and build a throne from their skulls is a libertarian utopia.
Now, now, that's harsh.
A librarytarian utopia has a law stating that the weak's objection to the strong's plunder and rape and building skull thrones is infringement of property rights and hinders free enterprise.
Quote from: Fate on April 15, 2011, 11:15:08 PM
It has a 6% review rating on rottentomatos. Jesus fucking christ. I tend to see most movies, but this is going to be painful.
I love Roger Ebert's quote:
"Let's say you know the novel, you agree with Ayn Rand, you're an objectivist or a libertarian, and you've been waiting eagerly for this movie. Man, are you going to get a letdown..." :lmfao:
The only good review seems to come from the New York Post. :lol:
Quotea state in which mediocrity is the goal, and high-achieving individuals the enemy
they own some copyright money to Hungary, I think.
Oh and btw, I think it is very archetypical who are the two socialist-leaning posters at the end of this thread:
Marty, member of the new aristocracy, and Norgy, a low-income guy in a welfare state.
Which shows what socialism is: the rich taking the middle class' money to pay off the poor, in order to keep them quiet.
Since "libertarian" is associated with fundamentalist bullshit like this Ryand woman, I wonder if "liberal" will ever recover it's more classical meaning. Because nowadays it is associated with social liberalism, which is of course socialists with no balls.
Quote from: Tamas on April 16, 2011, 06:45:52 AM
Oh and btw, I think it is very archetypical who are the two socialist-leaning posters at the end of this thread:
Marty, member of the new aristocracy, and Norgy, a low-income guy in a welfare state.
:hmm:
Granted, last year I didn't exactly make a lot of money, but even copywriting in rural Norway probably pays better than doing anything at all in Hungary.
I am sorry if I touched a nerve, but it's really not my fault that you're an idiot.
Everybody pile on the gypsy!
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on April 16, 2011, 01:09:20 AM
When did you go to Lubbock? You going to TT now?
I remember in 1983 my father interviewed for Chief of Police for Lubbock, TX. Thank Christ for rejection letters.
Quote from: Fate on April 15, 2011, 11:15:08 PM
I love Roger Ebert's quote:
"Let's say you know the novel, you agree with Ayn Rand, you're an objectivist or a libertarian, and you've been waiting eagerly for this movie. Man, are you going to get a letdown..." :lmfao:
Don't worry, they're all still going to jizz in their Alan Greenspan jammies and matching bedsheets.
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on April 16, 2011, 01:09:20 AM
When did you go to Lubbock? You going to TT now?
Last year.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on April 16, 2011, 01:12:05 AM
Isn't medical school supposed to be time-consuming? :huh:
You definitely have less free time than in undergrad but the first year isn't too bad.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on April 16, 2011, 07:07:17 AM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on April 16, 2011, 01:09:20 AM
When did you go to Lubbock? You going to TT now?
I remember in 1983 my father interviewed for Chief of Police for Lubbock, TX. Thank Christ for rejection letters.
I remember in 1989 my father and mother were both offered jobs at both U Hawaii in Honalulu and NTH in Trondheim.
I blame my parents.
Quote from: Viking on April 16, 2011, 10:23:26 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on April 16, 2011, 07:07:17 AM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on April 16, 2011, 01:09:20 AM
When did you go to Lubbock? You going to TT now?
I remember in 1983 my father interviewed for Chief of Police for Lubbock, TX. Thank Christ for rejection letters.
I remember in 1989 my father and mother were both offered jobs at both U Hawaii in Honalulu and NTH in Trondheim.
I blame my parents.
In 1992, my dad was offered a VP position for a medium-sized multinational where he would have been operating out of Michigan. Thank heavens for his foresight.
My dad almost took a job in Pittsburgh when I was in high school.
My dad was basically ordered to transfer to Orlando when I was like 14 or 15 and he wanted to go, but my mom refused to move, so he got laid off. I was so mad at her. :mad:
Quote from: Caliga on April 16, 2011, 02:32:13 PM
My dad was basically ordered to transfer to Orlando when I was like 14 or 15 and he wanted to go, but my mom refused to move, so he got laid off. I was so mad at her. :mad:
I thought Orlando was supposed to be a dump.
Quote from: sbr on April 16, 2011, 11:31:15 AM
My dad almost took a job in Pittsburgh when I was in high school.
My dad almost took a job on the moon when I was in High School. The moon is a harsh mistress.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on April 16, 2011, 06:11:39 PM
Quote from: Caliga on April 16, 2011, 02:32:13 PM
My dad was basically ordered to transfer to Orlando when I was like 14 or 15 and he wanted to go, but my mom refused to move, so he got laid off. I was so mad at her. :mad:
I thought Orlando was supposed to be a dump.
Shitload of amusement parks though.
Quote from: grumbler on April 16, 2011, 06:27:04 PM
Quote from: sbr on April 16, 2011, 11:31:15 AM
My dad almost took a job in Pittsburgh when I was in high school.
My dad almost took a job on the moon when I was in High School. The moon is a harsh mistress.
You are older then I thought, presumably this would have happened in the Hadean period when the Earth and Moon where still one body. It's a good thing you didn't go, otherwise you wouldn't have been able to get back till 1969, several Billion years later.
Quote from: Razgovory on April 16, 2011, 06:35:00 PM
Quote from: grumbler on April 16, 2011, 06:27:04 PM
Quote from: sbr on April 16, 2011, 11:31:15 AM
My dad almost took a job in Pittsburgh when I was in high school.
My dad almost took a job on the moon when I was in High School. The moon is a harsh mistress.
You are older then I thought, presumably this would have happened in the Hadean period when the Earth and Moon where still one body.
You presume... poorly.
Quote from: grumbler on April 16, 2011, 06:27:04 PM
My dad almost took a job on the moon when I was in High School. The moon is a harsh mistress.
:lol:
Quote from: Admiral Yi on April 16, 2011, 06:11:39 PM
I thought Orlando was supposed to be a dump.
That may be but... it's in Florida. Endless summer. I hate the winter.