Posted on 04/23/2011 7:23:00 AM PDT by Kaslin
Very small audience in yesterday’s showing (understandable: Good Friday, holiday weekend, rush hour, poor locale for the above combination) — maybe a dozen or so, but there was still applause at the end.
Thanks for the spoiler alert. Heh, heh.
Rand lived through the Bolsheviks. She lived through FDR's New Deal. She saw the historical trends and what happens to societies over many years when their values are skewed and their respect for individual freedom is diminished. She wrote a story to highlight the value of individuality and the damage done by the Looter mentality. It's not "myth spinning" and it need not demand too much suspension of disbelief. She's being didactic -- in the novel this is a stylistic weak point; in the film, the droning didacticism is lessened.
The movie is a good representation of her novel. Her novel is a good representation of the forces that have damaged America.
People should see the film.
A rather odd attack
I was riveted.
I concur - people should see the film. The first movie captures what the book tries to convey and people ‘get it.’ I hope parts two and three do the same. We need to hear the ‘Atlas Shrugged’ message.
The far left statists seem to take Atlas as a blueprint for expanding government. The bad news for them is that the productive class is going Galt, and (in real life as in the book) the looters have no power to stop us.
Odd attack because the idiot missed the point. The movie isn’t about a motor. This unwillingness or inability to understand the underlying point only, for me, underscores my belief that many who claim to be Christian or conservative or a combination of both don’t really want smaller, less intrusive government. The only want a government that will advocate on behalf of their own personal, social or political agenda. They will never truly see big government as the problem.
I know folks here on FR will probably take this as heresy—but how many have actually read this over-long message book.
I found that after reading the same message over and over I got bored and wished the author had given me some credit for enough intelligence to “get it.” The same effect could have been obtained in about half the pages.
After a while, Atlas Shrugged and so did I.
I have read it twice and the only place i skip is the overly long speech John Galt gives towards the end of the book..
I agree with you it could have been shortened and still got it’s message across..
In 7 days, ‘Atlas Shrugged Part 1’ outgrossed ‘Che’s’ all time receipts. Capitalism trumps communism...again.
I have never read the book, but since the movie is not playing in my area, I am thinking of checking it out in our library
The author misses the point about human nature.
The Dems realize that people are emotional, not rational beings. They make their points by telling sob stories and appealing to people’s emotions. That’s why they have been so successful in the last couple of generations.
Conservatives need to accept this dynamic and find a way to work within it, not just talk facts and figures about how bad the economy is. Reagan understood this and appealed to people’s emotions — “It’s morning in America”. He understood that people need to be inspired. The GOP has no one with an ounce of inspiration, and that’s why they have trouble winning. The Tea Party at least has some inspiring people in the vanguard.
A fair and reasoned post. Dare I say, objective?
Ayn Rand was brilliant, but not omniscient. Her works have had far more influence than is generally acknowledged or even understood. Her flat out rejection by many conservative camps has always puzzled me. I note, however, that some of those camps have completely lost the plot and sunk into the swamps of various pools of hyphenated conservatism and compromise.
“This unwillingness or inability to understand the underlying point only, for me, underscores my belief that many who claim to be Christian or conservative or a combination of both don’t really want smaller, less intrusive government. The only want a government that will advocate on behalf of their own personal, social or political agenda. They will never truly see big government as the problem.”
****************************
You hit it right between the eyes. The tax code is a perfect expression of that Gadarene swine herd of personal, social and political agendas.
Ayn's works describe the state of existence under communism and it's affect on the people who live under it. She could write about it authoritatively, because she experienced it, and in some ways she herself is a testament as much as her writings. I don't think that gets it's due consideration in too many cases.
I have been conservative all my life. My wife was borderline. We watch current events together, which sparks interesting debate. I have read the book, she has not. We both saw the movie last night...
Needless to say, the ride home was quite quiet. When conversation was made, it was heavy. I found it appropriate that the time-line of the move was 2016. She has quietly watch me prepare for years, and now has a new appreciation for my efforts...
I am encouraging my (grown) children to also see the movie before it's gone (strangled by the looters to kill the message?). I encourage all of you to see it. We need to send a message to those who are watching this darkly that we hear, we see, and we know what's going on.
If ever there was a time to be focused, it is now. One second after is way too late....
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.