The movies so far have not been terribly well done, but for the limited budget I can't complain. The movies are probably better if you are familiar with the book so that you can understand where the movie departs from the book and where it replicates it. The main theme though still comes through. If you take freedom from people they become poor slaves and there will be a ruling class who live off the slavery of others.
Today Democrats and all Progressives see themselves as the ruling class. When the country first came into being the rulers felt they were the liberators. The Democrats and other Progressives now have had a taste of power and the taste of imperialism and they like it too much to give it up.
The movies are worth the time to watch especially if it convinces you to read or re-read the book.
I have always thought the concept of going Galt was the most unreasonable part of the book. There is not and never will be a hidden valley where everything works and energy is magically made from nothing. Everything else in the movie, the way society falls apart is pretty right on. If you come to think that the hidden valley is really just the reformation of society on sustainable principles then perhaps it makes a little sense.
We can't run away, it just doesn't work, there is no where to run to.
The nearest real life analogy to Rand's "Going Galt" is when the garbagemen go on strike. That's when the world panics.
“The Fountainhead” was very very long as well, but Ayn Rand managed to write a two-hour screenplay version of it.
I kind of felt the same way as you did about the first two parts.
I don’t think they are the kind of thing that is going to convert anyone, but...as someone who has read and listened to Atlas Shrugged many times, my mind could fill in the blanks.
Dagny? Is that you? ;-)