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wlsmith-1
Reviews
Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed (2008)
By recent standards, this film deserves an Oscar
By standards set for documentary making by folks like Al Gore and Michael Moore, this film certainly deserves an Oscar and much more. But it will likely receive little but loud ridicule because, after all, Ben Stein not only exposes academic and scientific hypocrites for what they are, he also exposes the complicity of the very media industry that enables that hypocrisy. The howling you hear over the film sounds to me like the shrieks of nocturnal creatures thrust into the light. There really is a valid connection between the blind and repressive methods of Hitler, the Communists and those who refuse to allow that intelligence might have entered into the creation of life. Unfortunately, it would also be fair to ascribe the same dangerous methods and thought control to some (not all, but some) religious folks on the other side of the debate. That is the one failing of the film -- that Stein does not equally expose the "world is flat" folks on the creationist side. Perhaps because those people are largely not the ones now in control of government, academic and scientific institutions. Really, the words of the films' antagonists are left to largely speak for themselves. Some complain that Stein was not entirely upfront with interviewees about what he was up to. The inference of those complaints--that interviewees might have offered a different set of facts had they known what the film would ultimately expose--only adds to Stein's case. Like America's "third rail of politics," Ben Stein touches the third rail of the academic/scientific community. There is bound to be plenty of noise over this one. I hope at least some of the noise comes to the rescue of scientists who unfairly suffer from ideological purges. Oh, and do see this film.
The Nativity Story (2006)
A compelling portrayal of the life and times
I entered the theater expecting to yawn my way through another well-intended but limp attempt at Bible story telling. I found the portrayal of the culture and living conditions of the times very interesting. As a Christian believer, the retelling of the old story was uplifting. While some will complain that the acting was weak and/or that the script was not riveting, I found the movie engrossing. I am really glad I went. Those who judge every film by its entertainment value will predictably pick it apart. Those who hate Christians will do the same. But judging this film for what it set out to do (neither entertain nor please those who reject the story), The Nativity Story is a big success.
Unidentified (2006)
This is a Sunday School movie
Calling this a "Sunday School" movie might be generous, because, even as a Christian, I found the religious message so one-dimensional that I wouldn't want to see it at my church. The message is, "Read your Bible, go to church and sign up for fire insurance, so you won't get left behind at the rapture." There was no love. I guess when you get right down to it, I don't believe in the god portrayed in this film. The guy who was supposed to have all of the spiritual answers came across like Count Dracula.
Aside from the spiritual/religious element, the script was tedious--saying the same thing over and over. That might have been to make up for some of the acting, which was unable to deliver a convincing line the first time, so they just said the same thing over and over.
I did enjoy the final scenes. I thought it made a point without hitting someone over the head or stooping to a Sunday School formula. The movie wasn't all bad, just most of it.
I am in favor of more clean movies that are well-done and that present truth in a non-preachy way. This wasn't one of those, I am sorry to say. I took my family to this film, wanting to support that kind of movie. Now I'd like my money back.