The "bad guys" in The Incredibles are like typical socialists.
Rand was THE anti-Marx. Writers like F.A. Hayek provided the economic arguments for capitalism, essentially proving that socialism can't work, and will spread misery wherever it is tried. These were fine and dandy, but it took Ayn Rand and a novel called 'Atlas Shrugged' to lay out the MORAL justifications for a society based on capitalism and freedom, rather than state control in the name of "equality".
Together, Rand (morality) and Hayek (economics) offer very powerful intellectual ammo against the left.
I read most of Ayn Rand's works 20 plus years ago. Like most theorists, her strength was her extremism in her views. I take from her like I take from most thinkers, that which makes sense to me, and reject that which contradicts my own sense or faith. In the case of Rand, I celebrate, along with her, the talents and abilities of the gifted. To a lesser extent I agree with her rejection of altruism, but only to the extent that it leads to a sense of entitlement among those who are its beneficiaries. Altruism makes ME feel good, and so has value to me, and so by helping others I am, in a sense, being selfish, as Rand champions. I also favor giving enough assistance to others so as to encourage them to become productive, or more productive, which benefits them directly, and the rest of us indirectly. She would disagree with my religious faith, but the use of my ability to reason, coupled with a level of human intuition, provides me with no honest alternative.
Sorry for the rant, just my initial reaction to this post. And I HAVE to go see The Incredibles.
Both of these great author's masterpieces are in arms reach of where I sit now. I reread them about once every year or two.
Two of Sowell's books are on the same shelf as well as de Soto's masterwork.
I can't read them enough it seems.