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Saw the movie yesterday. Really liked it, though I had some problems with certain things. I got goosebumps during the Galt Line run, but it could have been so much better (a scene with the men bypassing union orders and showing up at Dagny's office to volunteer for the first run, tons of people lining the tracks as the train went by). Loved the actor playing Rearden, Lillian was spot-on perfect. Took me a while to warm up to Dagny and see her grit, but about halfway through it started to show up. I really wish there had been more of Francisco, even though I think the actor looked more like the head of a Columbian drug cartel than the elegant and intelligent Francisco d'Andonia of the book. I didn't like his look, but his delivery was okay... would be interested to see his version of the "money speech."

I do not understand this complaint about drinking (which originated in Roger Ebert's review, BTW). I didn't even notice it. I noticed maybe three swear words, the most apparent being Dagny throwing the word "bullsh**" towards her brother, James. I did leave the movie thinking it was nice to see a film for a change and not be cringing at the word F***! being said every sentence. In fact, it wasn't used a single time. I would definitely take my 70-year-old mom to see it.

Ebert also made a lot of snide remarks about the love scene, saying it was "shot from the ears up" and that Grant Bowler never even took his shirt off. Not true. Big lie, in fact. And just because we didn't have a camera angle up someone's orifice didn't take anything away from the scene. But I guess that's what Ebert likes, and no surprise. I did have a problem with the scene; it did seem like a casual fling rather than an expression of the intense spiritual importance it had in the book. I do think that Grant Bowler should do the entire Part 2 with his shirt off. That would make me very happy. :-)

I made three attempts to see the film. First was Friday night, when I already had a ticket, couldn't leave work on time and drove down to Tempe only to get hung up in traffic, so I bagged it. Second attempt was with two friends - this time we took Janet Napolitano's $3 billion toy train down to Tempe. (The Tillman run was going on and I didn't want to even attempt to deal with parking near Mill Ave.) We got there for the 1:30 and it was sold out. So I bought a 4:00 ticket. My friends couldn't stick around that long, so they left and I saw the 4 pm show myself. I will say there were quite a few disappointed college kids who were turned away at the 1:30 showing. The 4:00 was a much older crowd. More like a Tea party rally. And when I showed up at 4, there was a small, disappointed gathering standing outside and I heard someone say the 4:00 was sold out as well. I did hear the theater manager come outside to talk to people and tell them the movie would only be showing in Tempe for one week, so make sure you go see it while you can.