"Atlas Shrugged" movie opens April 15

[CowboyEngineer]

I saw it yesterday and thought it was very good. Highly recommend it. For something written decades ago, the book is almost a prophecy for our times. I thought the movie was very true to the book. The only bad thing, since the movie is being made in three parts, the first part leaves everything unresolved.

[baldeagle]

Apparently the box office has exceeded expectations. The biggest roadblock seems to be a lack of copies to get to the theaters. Apparently they only had about 400 copies early on.

[hangfour]

My wife and I just got back from seeing the movie. We both enjoyed it a lot! We have both read the book (several times). I was surprised that the movie did such a good job of capturing the complex characters and the 'radical' (by today's standards) themes of self reliance, evils of big government, and the determination of the human spirit that are conveyed in the book. Well worth the price of admission. Though I must say that it is no substitute for reading the book.

[chasfm11]

Chicago Sun-Times
April 25, 2011

By Paul Bond

http://www.suntimes.com/4935704-417/box ... iders.html

Kaslow said. “When we started, exhibitors were not embracing the film like we thought they would. Now, we can pretty much go into as many theaters as we want. It’s just a matter of logistics.”........

On Wednesday, the website atlasshruggedpart1.com was sold out of its most expensive item: a $159 bracelet made of “Rearden Metal,” a replica of the one heroine Dagny Taggart (Taylor Schilling) wears in the film.

The article talks about how the marketing plan that was panned so badly is working beyond belief. Little advertising was done outside of the Internet yet people are coming in droves to the theaters. Considering that this approach took advertising dollars away from the Liberal media who has been panning it, I think that movie's success makes it a "two-fer"

My wife and I saw it last Monday. We both loved it. I felt like there were parts were the "meat" was cut out (Dagny's previous relationship with the copper mine playboy) and the credibility stretch about how commercial aviation in the film's world failed that didn't do justice to the book but overall it was a great film and Rand's message came through loud and clear. I thought that character development was good, too.

One of Ebert's critiques of the film was the love scene wasn't spicy enough. To me, that pretty much sums up why I don't see many Hollywood films. I don't need "in your face" displays of flesh or wall to wall gutter language to get a point. It will be interesting to see how others react. The PG-13 rating surprised me. I sure didn't see anything that warranted it for me. The TV soap operas are more "realistic". (I'm trying to stay in the forum rules.)

[Jasonw560]

We're not getting it down in the Valley.

I'll just have to wait to see if we get to SA any time soon.

[chasfm11]

We're not getting it down in the Valley.

I'll just have to wait to see if we get to SA any time soon.

Perhaps a call or two to the local theaters might change your situation. I believe that there was an initial boycott, though noone specifically called it that by some of the theater changes. They will try to stand on their Liberal principals if they can. On the other hand, the popularity of the film seems to be taking off and the theaters may be ready to trade principal for revenue.

[baldeagle]

Check the list of theaters that are carrying the movie now. There should be twice that many within the next week or two.

[baldeagle]

The critics are scathing which means the movie should do well and frustrate the daylights out of the likes of Roger Ebert.

[tfrazier]

My review from opening night: http://4fraziers.com/wp/2011/04/15/atla ... -1-review/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Wife, who hasn't read the book, gave it four out of five stars. I have read the book, and rated it five out of five, two thumbs up, etc.

[MasterOfNone]

The critics are scathing which means the movie should do well and frustrate the daylights out of the likes of Roger Ebert.

Ebert's review ready like Michael Moore wrote it. It is clear that he had no interest in reviewing the film; he just followed the line to squash the evil capitalist message.

[TxD]

It's not looking good for part 2.

'Atlas Shrugged' producer: 'Critics, you won.' He's going 'on strike.'

EXCLUSIVE: Twelve days after opening "Atlas Shrugged: Part 1," the producer of the Ayn Rand adaptation said Tuesday that he is reconsidering his plans to make Parts 2 and 3 because of scathing reviews and flagging box office returns for the film.


http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/ ... ts/page/2/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[MasterOfNone]

It's not looking good for part 2.

'Atlas Shrugged' producer: 'Critics, you won.' He's going 'on strike.'

EXCLUSIVE: Twelve days after opening "Atlas Shrugged: Part 1," the producer of the Ayn Rand adaptation said Tuesday that he is reconsidering his plans to make Parts 2 and 3 because of scathing reviews and flagging box office returns for the film.


http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/ ... ts/page/2/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Maybe he's saying it in the spirit of the characters who "went on strike" in the book. The his plight mirrors theirs - you produce something worthwhile, and the politically-driven establishment detracts from it wherever they can.

[chasfm11]

Maybe he's saying it in the spirit of the characters who "went on strike" in the book. The his plight mirrors theirs - you produce something worthwhile, and the politically-driven establishment detracts from it wherever they can.

I think that Rand actually made this point better in "The Fountainhead." Roark takes a constant beating because he is good and his competition is terrible but has supporters who work hard a championing mediocrity.

I hope that Atlas Shurgged works out. I'd really like to see the other two parts. He can always take them straight to DVD/Blu Ray.

[tfrazier]

Headline: 'Atlas Shrugged' Producer Promises Two Sequels Despite Terrible Reviews, Poor Box Office

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/a ... two-182714" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[b322da]

Should I read the book first?

By all means, WildBill, read the book. Do not be tempted to learn about the book, much less about Ayn Rand, by reading the fairly unanimous comments of others here, whether they have read the whole book or not. A Conservative? A Liberal? A Fascist? A Progressive? Read the book, Bill, and make up your own mind.

As said by Dagny Taggart, Ayn Rand's leading character in Atlas Shrugged, [Page numbers from original text]

"You don't have to see through the eyes of others, hold onto yours, stand on your own judgment, you know that what is, is-say it aloud, like the holiest of prayers, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise." Dagny Taggart (p. 892)

"If ever the pleasure of one has to be bought by the pain of the other, there better be no trade. A trade by which one gains and the other loses is a fraud." (p. 425)

As for Ayn Rand herself, here is the author on individual rights:

"Individual rights are not subject to a public vote; a majority has no right to vote away the rights of a minority; the political function of rights is precisely to protect minorities from oppression by majorities (and the smallest minority on earth is the individual)."

"Racism is the lowest, most crudely primitive form of collectivism. It is the notion of ascribing moral, social or political significance to a man's genetic lineage--the notion that a man's intellectual and characterological traits are produced and transmitted by his internal body chemistry. Which means, in practice, that a man is to be judged, not by his own character and actions, but by the characters and actions of a collective of ancestors."

"The policy of the Southern states toward Negroes was and is a shameful contradiction of this country's basic principles. Racial discrimination, imposed and enforced by law, is so blatantly inexcusable an infringement of individual rights that the racist statutes of the South should have been declared unconstitutional long ago."

And for a look from the other side,

"There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs." -- Paul Krugman

[Credit to Michael Shermer]

Elmo