While generally a big fan of Ayn Rand, I have to admit I still haven’t quite made it through the gargantuan of a book that is Atlas Shrugged. I was pretty stoked to see the movie, though, when I heard that Atlas Shrugged Part I was being made. There couldn’t be a better time in history for the message.

As a very low budget film and reading the ultra negative mainstream entertainment media reviews, I lost interest pretty quickly. At the end of the day, however, I think it’s important to support efforts like this and hopefully see more successful and higher budget films get made, plus audience reviews were much more positive. So I finally decided to see it.

Is the film worth seeing? I’d say yes. It has all kinds of problems from a movie-making standpoint. Sometimes poor acting, uneven pacing, confusing scenery and wardrobe (it seems to jump from 1950s to 2012 styling back and forth) and some strange camera angles. But through all this the message shines pretty clearly. Who is John Galt? Despite all the issues, by the end you’ll want to know the answer to that question and understand why it is asked.

While no actor shines in their role (it was reported hollywood agents wouldn’t let their talent anywhere near the controversial film) the Dagney Taggart role stands out pretty well. Though feminists will shriek in terror at the thought of a woman who doesn’t derive her power via government social policy, Taggart will blow you back in her seat the way she slaps around all the males in the movie and drives the story. Seeing her tell multiple bureaucrats to “shutup” and letting other know she “will destroy” them was a breath of fresh air. Much more of a role model as a strong individual for young girls then any bitter bra burner. The sense of self-worth derived from achievement, individualism and optimism is a shot across the bow to today’s egalitarian push.

Mostly the film serves as a warning. Meddling in freedom, attacking the producers, corrupt, centralized government…what if the heroes and creators of our society decided to pack up and leave? Atlas Shrugged Part I (of a 3 part series) begins to answer that question and shows a society just past where we are this very day in history.

I encourage anyone to support this film. It isn’t an artistic masterpiece. But it does a fine job (and in a short running time) displaying the danger of the rhetoric that’s popular now. The populist creed of “evil” rich, redistribution of wealth, and demagoguery for a new generation to beat back once again. After a sluggish start it stays interesting and move pretty quickly. If the ability to generate conversation about the topics in a movie well after it is over are a sign of a good one, then this was a good one.

There are no specific plans for Part II unless this one makes any money. It looks like a labor of love. As flawed as it is, my hope is that this will be the beginning of a more perfect Part II that will begin to show what happens when Atlas finally shrugs.

Visit the Atlas Shrugged Part I official site to see local theater listings

2.5 out of 4 stars

Worth a watch.

But this particular one ticked me off more than others..and I think it was because on film you get to sit there and watch 5 or 6 cops just bulldoze a neighborhood’s basketball goals because of one complaint. And you get to see the helpless people have to act as if their private property is the government’s..the officials even say so much as they boss them around. The helpless feeling I saw is one that many are having these days as an administration gets their fingers in everything from what lightbulbs we use, to what we can eat. The European Union just floated the idea of outlawing cars in European cities by 2050. And that’s the model our upper class loves to follow.

But you’ll also see that this video is getting tons of hits. And in the age of YouTube, the news media can’t gloss over it anymore. People can see what’s going on if they want. And thankfully, they are.

Check it out. And don’t be afraid to be outraged. A basketball goal isn’t a big deal. A lightbulb isn’t a big deal. Let them by without a word and they’ll keep pressing until you can’t undo 40 years of nanny state rule.

Couldn’t have come at a better time…but is it the right movie? Filmed on a small budget but reportedly true to the original text, we’ll see. While it’s hard to tell with the just-released trailer, it is interesting to see the apparent current-day setting and the teasing as a high-stakes business drama, which may court new viewership to the Ayn Rand classic.

Looking forward to finding out “Who is John Galt” on the big screen, if nothing else. Opens in theaters April 15 (nice touch) 2011.

Atlas Shrugged, Part I Trailer

With the departure of Keith Olberman, Stewart broadcast this gem about the truly awkward lineup that MSNBC (which has since dropped to 3rd place behind CNN) is now living with.

For those who hate MSNBC, or those that non-stop rail how ludicrous Fox News is, it’s a must-watch.

What did bother me most, was at Obama’s speech during the Memorial Service for the fallen is that the Brander-in-Chief actually made a logo and gave out t-shirts at the event “Together We Thrive”! A hollow shell of an administration, they’ve always been defined by vague slogans, marketing, and pretty graphics, (it is widely said that the Dems lost in November because of bad messaging, not poor performance). but this is probably a new low. It is almost as if they don’t know what else to do.

The stand-up roaring applause for a politician with no connection to the victims at a memorial service was not something that our society has much known. And it’s also something I’m ok with us never seeing again.

So thus begins the 2012 Presidential re-election campaign. Not with a bang, but with a souvenir.

Yahoo! News Image

For anyone interested, obviously Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand is a must-read. For a short and sweet version of it, check out this clip by my favorite Milton Friedman on why it isn’t necessary to have good people in Congress, really. And it’s the beauty of our system (or what we used to do) it doesn’t rely on the good will of those elected to succeed. In fact, it assumes they won’t be good people (I think this has proven itself true enough) but the best system takes the imperfection and greed of humankind and uses it as a force for good.

Watch.

Having lost the battle of ideas and the failure of results, the American people look to make a sweep of government. But we need more than to replace Dems with Republicans again. We need a new kind of politician unlike any that we have now. Not just a lesser of too evils – they all have the same goals.

In JUST TODAY’S news, an avalanche of evidence of Dem voter fraud and corruption heading into the election begins to spill out. Here are the headlines (that is correct, you didn’t see this story on NPR or MSNBC for some odd reason).

Chicago Area – hundreds of thousands of disenfranchised voters possible due to “glitch.”

Harry Reid (Dem, Nevada) – Free Gift Cards, Free Food for your Vote! (yes, that’s illegal).

Voting Machine technicians in Nevada work for SEIU (the union bailed out by Obama). The machines are automatically checking Harry Reid’s (Dem) name before you even vote.

North Carolina machines automatically voting Democrat (even if you try to vote Republican).

New Teacher’s Unions Gone Wild Video Drops today from NJ (Again, why I heart Chris Christie)

Top Union Official Discusses Voter Fraud and How It Wins Elections (reminds me of the Godfather)