EXPELLED: NO INTELLIGENCE ALLOWED (No Stars) Rating: PG Length: 90 minutes Director: Nathan Frankowski Writers: Ben Stein, Kevin Miller (After…) and Walt Ruloff Starring: Ben Stein, Richard Dawkins, Caroline Crocker
Wow. I don’t even know where to start. For all of you Michael Moore haters out there that believe he makes completely biased one sided documentaries, nothing he has made comes even remotely close to how close minded and bullying “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed” is. I had a conversation with my buddy Keith about the film prior to it opening. We are both interested in how the world came to be and our opinions slightly differ when it comes to evolution, so we both thought that this film would do a decent job of providing both sides of the story when it comes to evolution vs. intelligent design. Nope. Not even close. Instead, the movie has Ben Stein- a man that is famous solely for his bit part in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (Don’t worry, he cashes in on his catch phrase before the movie is over)- bullying and ridiculing anyone that disagrees with his opinion on how man came to be. He compares Darwin to Hitler- even adding in archival footage of the Holocaust to boot! Stein, in turn, due to his “brave” attempts to spread the word of intelligent design compares himself to Ronald Regan destroying the Berlin Wall- also complete with archival footage that cuts back and forth between him and Regan. What kind of ego trip is this guy on? If he hadn’t have had a monotone minute and a half clip in a 1980’s John Hughes comedy, he wouldn’t even have been lucky enough to land those Clear Eyes commercials. The movie does start off like it wants to be on equal footing. I went into it expecting the movie to lean more towards intelligent design- after all most docs are one sided whether they want to admit it or not, but none have ever been more so than this. After a few scenes where Stein claims religion has nothing to do with it and that he just wants believers in intelligent design to be heard and understood, he starts to interview intellectuals and bash them and humiliate them because they favor Darwinism. When famed philosopher Richard Dawkins is interviewed and Stein asks him what he believes the chances of the Christian God existing are, Dawkins says he believes “in his opinion” that there is a “99% percent” chance that there is none. Stein laughs in his face and retorts with the highly clever, “Why not forty nine percent?” Dawkins squirms uncomfortably in his chair and Stein gives him a smarmy look that basically says “you’re a moron for not believing in what I believe in” (this after Dawkins admits that “intelligent design” is a possible theory in a very kind manner). I’ve read the Bible from cover to cover and I can tell you that the point of Christianity is not to belittle others. The biggest problem with the film is that it doesn’t even explain it’s case properly. It’s so worried with the push back intelligent design is getting, that it fails to inform us why we should believe in it to begin with (at least adequately in my opinion). I can’t remember the last time I saw a film that made me so mad. “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed” is the cinematic equivalent of the bully at school that dips the heads of the “nerds” in the toilet for being all “good at math and stuff”. It should also be noted that the majority of the pro-Darwinism interviewers were lied to about what the film was about and the film was edited to make them sound exactly how the filmmakers wanted them to. The crowd that Stein lectures to at the beginning and ending of the film (the ones that stand up and clap and holler like Stein just gave the Gettysburg Address) were also paid to do so- having no idea or strong belief on why they were there to begin with. The filmmakers also went on to make a fuss when it wasn’t reviewed on critic Richard Roeper’s syndicated movie review program (the one that features Roger Ebert when he’s healthy). Roeper’s response after finally seeing it “What a load of crap”. I couldn’t agree more. I’ll sit and listen to intelligent design theories all day and have a mature and gentlemanly debate with anyone. I won’t, however, smile and look on as someone compares someone else to Hitler for differing in a belief on how man was created and changed throughout the times. If you stand behind what you believe in then what’s wrong with presenting in it in an honest and adult like fashion? Save the name calling and mud slinging for the schoolyard.
To say "nothing he has made comes even remotely close to how close minded and bullying" it is, when referring to Michael Moore movies shows that you are probably biased toward this movie in your review. The reason for this is because Michael Moore movies are completely close minded and bullying. So, this movie may have been biased, but I wouldn't say any more or less than a Michael Moore movie. It is just that Michael Moore may be a little closer to some of your views than this movie.
Movies like this one and MM movies are made to sway peoples' opinions. To give this no stars I believe is a reflection of you personal feelings toward the subject. Because, as a conservative, I believe MM movies like “Fahrenheit 911” are so biased and designed to make his opposition look stupid, using your standards, I feel that should be a no star movie as well. Almost every one of his points can be refuted, and no conservative I know has watched that movie and said, “Wow, he really made some great points!” On the contrary, they find him to be a close minded bully. Heck, when he appeared on Bill O’Reilly, I couldn’t tell which one was more obnoxious. So the question is, would you give that movie no stars? If so, then you are using fair judgment, you probably do not like these types of movies, and you give them low entertainment value. That would be okay.
Anyhow, a little off topic, I would say that “Roger and Me’ was brilliant.
This was another music blog, but let's face it- there are enough of those to go around at the moment and the web is becoming a bit too crowded for them (except for the bomb ass ones like "Fight Test", "Fluxblog", etc...). So, I decided to make this a movie review blog where I'll post reviews of the movies I watch. I'll include MP3s from the movie soundtracks to download when I can find them. Keep in mind these are just my OPINIONS, so you could very well love a movie I hate or vice versa- so please, don't bother posting comments on what an idiot I am for not liking a movie you like (or for confusing a slight fact- no need to call someone a dumbass for not knowing a remake was originally Thai and not Japanese. There are some rude people out there) It is pointless and I'd rather you just not come to the site if that's the case. Also, the MP3s posted are to help encourage you to either purchase the soundtrack and/or the individual group or artist's album(s). If you are the owner of any of the songs posted and want them removed- please let me know and it will be done ASAP. Thank you for stopping by!
EXPELLED: NO INTELLIGENCE ALLOWED
1 comment:
To say "nothing he has made comes even remotely close to how close minded and bullying" it is, when referring to Michael Moore movies shows that you are probably biased toward this movie in your review. The reason for this is because Michael Moore movies are completely close minded and bullying. So, this movie may have been biased, but I wouldn't say any more or less than a Michael Moore movie. It is just that Michael Moore may be a little closer to some of your views than this movie.
Movies like this one and MM movies are made to sway peoples' opinions. To give this no stars I believe is a reflection of you personal feelings toward the subject. Because, as a conservative, I believe MM movies like “Fahrenheit 911” are so biased and designed to make his opposition look stupid, using your standards, I feel that should be a no star movie as well. Almost every one of his points can be refuted, and no conservative I know has watched that movie and said, “Wow, he really made some great points!” On the contrary, they find him to be a close minded bully. Heck, when he appeared on Bill O’Reilly, I couldn’t tell which one was more obnoxious. So the question is, would you give that movie no stars? If so, then you are using fair judgment, you probably do not like these types of movies, and you give them low entertainment value. That would be okay.
Anyhow, a little off topic, I would say that “Roger and Me’ was brilliant.
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