Atlas Shrugged 2 the movie
- Thread starter bobwg
- Start date
I didn't see the first movie either. I didn't even know there was a first movie until a few minutes ago. I find it a bit ironic that in a movie about government out of control, based on a book about government out of control contains no scenes where people are smoking. In the book everyone smoked. John Gault's people even made their own cigarettes with a gold $ on the paper.
I hope some theaters will play them back to back, with an intermission. That would give me time to empty out and then refill my drink and popcorn. I just watched both trailers, they look like great movies. The new one is a bit scary in that its what I see coming in the not too distant future. I think that would be an interesting afternoon.
Those who revere Ayn Rand in the same manner that the fanboys revere X-Men, Spiderman and Green Lantern, and the same way that Appleheads revere all things Apple, will love both movies. Those expecting the movies to be anything like the book, however, will be disappointed. And those expecting an evening of actual entertainment will be likewise disappointed.
BTW, all that smoking from the book is still there in the movie, except its called drinking wine.
BTW, all that smoking from the book is still there in the movie, except its called drinking wine.
Humble2drive
Expert Expediter
Unless they really look into the source??
If they just view the movie and take away the general theme then some fence sitters could shift conservative. But . . .
If they are inspired by Ayn Rand and the details of her ideology then things get muddled and they could run the other way. Her devout commitment to individualism and the fact that she was an atheist leads to the support of many things liberal.
Ryan ( a big Rand fan) has been forced to distance himself for just that reason. He has denounced many of her thoughts and ideas and it is probable that she would have denounced his:
Although Reagan was able to be a Rand fan and still enjoyed support from the religious right, the Republican Party of today fears being associated with anything born from an atheistic view point which could send some of the church goers running.
I have NO idea what this movie is about, but getting rid of the bad guys is a GREAT idea!
My comment was based on the general theme of the book and the possibility that some of that general theme may find its way into the movie.
The only writing of Rand's that I have read is Atlas Shrugged, a work of fiction. Somewhere I read her brief bio. I know she was an atheist but I'm having a hard time making the connection to how atheism "leads to the support of many things liberal", at least by today's definition of liberal. The general theme I got from Atlas Shrugged was one of pro-capitalism, pro-individualism and anti-big government and anti-socialism all wrapped up in a book that is part philosophy and social studies textbook, part prophecy, part romance novel and part rubbish.
The Republican Party of today also fears being associated with anything born from an Islamic view point which could send some of the church goers running. Come November, I guess we will see which way they run.
Another reason for Ryan to distance himself: Ms Rand, the fierce denouncer of government, ended her days collecting welfare from the government.
I read both Atlas Shrugged and the Fountainhead many years ago, and thought them both awful books, which wouldn't matter, [there's a lot of awful books that I like] but they weren't even very interesting, IMO.
I read both Atlas Shrugged and the Fountainhead many years ago, and thought them both awful books, which wouldn't matter, [there's a lot of awful books that I like] but they weren't even very interesting, IMO.
Welfare... specifically social security and medicare. Was she not "forced" to pay into it?
Humble2drive
Expert Expediter
What's the problem? I made it clear as mud.
Let me try to clear it up, wish me luck:
Her hope was to use fiction to paint a picture of were America was heading and to give her philosophy regarding how to stop it. Fiction to illustrate non fiction.
It was mostly about her belief in strong individualism and objectivism vs the guilt induced altruistic values that religion teaches. Altruism guilts people into allowing their Government to take a portion of their money and redistribute it to those less fortunate. It also allows regulations and controls to grow taking away individual freedoms.
Individualism stresses self interest and gives people the right to pursue happiness without interference from the government. That along with the separation of church and state leads to the support of "many things liberal" :
Right to abortion
Legalize drugs like marijuana
Allow gay marriage*
Right to die
You are right. Most people will just take away those things you listed as you would need to investigate her philosophy to get the bigger picture of the lessons that she was attempting to teach.
No problem. If I had to label her I'd tag her as more of a conservative.What's the problem? I made it clear as mud.
In that regard she did an excellent job! Since Atlas Shrugs was published this country has seen; LBJ's "Great Society", the creation of the D.O.E., as a result of a "national emergency" and more recently the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and the automotive and banking industry bailouts, again the result of a "national emergency" and of course "looters" like Al Gore!
Altruism is a giving of one's own volition. Coercion and taxation is the government's method of taking money.
You kinda lost me here.
Humble2drive
Expert Expediter
Much more so than what our Republican party has become.
Don't forget the BIG one!
Exactly. She believed that altruism can be a destructive force in our society. Those people that are successful in a capitalistic system see the poor and hungry on the streets and IF they are altruistic they feel guilt and a need to help the less fortunate. They may not be motivated to help out directly; however, this makes them susceptible to allow the Government to take a percentage of their money as a tax and give it to help the poor through social programs. That explains her connection of altruism to socialism. The same type of correlation can be drawn between altruism and the never ending regulations that are passed under the guise of protecting businesses and the consumer.
The regulations quickly grow beyond the altruistic reason of helping to protect individuals and businesses. They become a tool for government to control Individuals and businesses. Throw some cronyism into the mix and you have a partnership between big business and government to control a society.
Those things listed are individuals rights and the republican party wants them regulated. They do not fit into her idea of laissez-faire capitalism and are examples of the affiliation of church and politics.
Check out the documentary "Ayn Rand, the prophecy of Atlas Shrugged". It is on netflix. Interesting stuff.