Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed... A movie review

[Frisbee]

Last night I saw the Ben Stein movie "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed". I give it 4 stars!

It's not about Intelligent Design as much as it is about the witch hunt against any and all scientists who are not neo-Darwinists. Here's a link for the trailers for the film...

http://www.expelledthemovie.com/playground.php

I have no idea why it isn't rated G, but I assure you that it is completely safe to take your family to see. No nudity, violence or questionable language. Perhaps the theme is a bit adult and children might be bored, but it's not inappropriate at all.

I suspect that two groups of people won’t like this movie...

1. Obviously neo-Darwinists who like things just the way they are and are happy to keep the monopoly they have currently right where it's at.
2. Young Earth Creationists will probably object because no attempt at all is made in the film to defend creationism when it is flung around like a dirty word.

The movie is about academic freedom, not Intelligent Design for the most part. In any case I give it only four stars because it's a documentary, not a movie per se. I thoroughly enjoyed it myself, but it is still documentary film.

Can't wait to here your opinions and reviews!

 

[BenAdam]

can't wait to see it

 

[ReformedChapin]

can't wait to see it

same here

 

[Frisbee]

The movie seems to draw "groups" of people, so if you're going with a group yourself I suggest arriving early enough so that you can sit together. I saw it on a Sunday evening in a town with a population of 7,000 and the theater was about half full. I would imagine that in larger cities that they are packing them in like sardines.

 

[JustAsIam77]

Yes I saw it Saturday. I thought it was very well done. Especially for a documentary.

I don't want to say too much about it for fear of ruining it for those who are yet to see it. One thing that stuck out to me was how none of the Darwin evolutionary theorists could adequately explain how life "began". It sure does expose the fact that free speech does not exist in the scientific community and educational institutions in this country. No other theory regarding the origins of life on earth can even be talked about except evolution. If ID(intelligent design) is even brought up...well, the movie documents very well what happens.

Well done documentary.

I don't want to hijack your thread but a quick side note observation. I usually go to IMDB (internet movie database) website before going to see a movie to see what the opinion of others are that have actually seen the film. I have always been amazed at how many people post absolutely vicious attacks about any movie even slightly related to anything Christian or about God or a creator in general. I'm talking atheist central there. According to religious demographics for the US, only .5 percent of the population is atheist and the same for agnostic. I'm guessing the vile, hostile posts on that website are at least 60-70 percent of the total.

 

[Frisbee]

Here's some more bias for you...

Wikipedia's reviews of two movies. Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" and Ben Stein's "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed".

An Inconvenient Truth is an American Academy Award-winning documentary film about global warming, presented by former United States Vice President Al Gore and directed by Davis Guggenheim.[2] The film premiered at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival and opened in New York and Los Angeles on May 24, 2006. The film was released on DVD by Paramount Home Entertainment on November 21, 2006. A companion book authored by Gore reached #1 on the paperback nonfiction New York Times bestseller list on July 2, 2006.[3]

Earning $49 million at the box office worldwide, An Inconvenient Truth is the fourth-highest-grossing documentary film to date in the United States, after Fahrenheit 9/11, March of the Penguins and Sicko.[4]

Now compare that to the opening blurb for Expelled...

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed is a controversial 2008 documentary film[1][2] which claims that American educators and scientists are being persecuted for their belief that there might be evidence of intelligent design in nature.[3] Hosted by Ben Stein, the film claims that what it calls "Big Science" suppresses dissent from the scientific theory of evolution,[4][5] and portrays the theory as having contributed to the rise of the Nazi Holocaust, Communism, atheism and Planned Parenthood.[6]

The film was released on April 18, 2008.[7] While the Christian media have given it favorable reviews, the general media response has been generally unfavorable, and the science community's response to it has been widely negative. The Chicago Tribune rated the film one star,[8] while the New York Times described it as "a conspiracy-theory rant masquerading as investigative inquiry."[9]

 

[flicka]

Visit expelledexposed.com so you will have a complete look at the issue. I know everyone likes seeing the whole story before deciding they know "the truth" and nobody wants to be played for a sucker.

 

[Frisbee]

Ah yes, the damage control smear machine kicking in to overdrive! They are absolutely frantic about this film. They been acting like fascists, and they were caught. What else would you expect but a smear campaign. Thanks for the link though, been there, read that... two thumbs from me.

Go to the link on the bottom of that page and it takes you to a website (the sponsor for the front that you posted) whose heading reads...

National Center for Science Education

Defending the Teaching of Evolution in the Public Schools

Welcome!
The National Center for Science Education (NCSE) defends the teaching of evolution in public schools. We are a nationally-recognized clearinghouse for information and advice to keep evolution in the science classroom and "scientific creationism" out.

Nothing personal flicka, just the facts

This is precisely who and what Expelled, exposes.

 

[Cabal]

They are absolutely frantic about this film.

No, the only reason scientists are worried is because there are enough people out there that are unenlightened enough to believe this crockumentary.

Regardless of Ben Stein's insistence that this film is not about ID/evo and that evolution has nothing to do with Nazism (although I wouldn't call you entirely impartial of that one if you string together an entire montage of concentration camps etc in your film), there are enough people out there who WILL take it as such, e.g:

http://richarddawkins.net/article,2...f-Ben-Steins-lying-propaganda,Richard-Dawkins

ID is not a scientific theory - it is poorly disguised religious politics, see the Wedge Strategy for more info. Goodness, I'd rather that YECs made a film rather than IDists, at least they're honest. ID is essentially a giant argument from ignorance against evolution - in all my time spent discussing and debating cre/evo noone has ever posted scientific data that independently supports ID. All that happens is people bang on and on about how they can't believe evolution happened, which isn't scientific evidence.

As ID is not scientific, it will not be accepted until it gets something that can be vaguely construed as evidence, and rightly so. We didn't get to where we were today scientifically and technologically by playing a popularity contest. Evolutionary theory has practical modern day uses for new times of medicines and therapy - wasting scientists' time with this kind of nonsense is just going to delay that. Oh well, yet another nail in the coffin for science in the US (given that Dubya has effectively crippled many of the US's finest labs to fund whatever crazed war he wants to start next). Not to mention being "un-American," it'll effectively cripple progress in future generations if this kind of mindset keeps insisting upon science.

Honestly, what do the ID crowd expect to get out of this film? They aren't really happy to just "teach the controversy" - the sort of people behind this film want evolution done away with altogether - so why do they expect evolutionary biologists to shoot themselves in the foot by giving ID equal weight academically? And yet in response ID proponents are going to keep on complaining about how they're being oppressed.

It's not surprising that ID isn't taken seriously, if this kind of playground tactics is all they can come up with in response to criticism.

P.S: Might want to take a look at this as well.

http://www.sunclipse.org/?p=626

 

[Frisbee]

Tell you what Cabal...

First read this...

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080421/32048_'Expelled'_Explodes_into_Top_10_Box_Office.htm

Quick Quote in case you don't read the article above... "The outrage expressed by the atheistic community at Ben Stein's movie, ‘Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed’ has been so palpable you could bottle it up and sell it as an energy drink. They are practically foaming at the mouth,"

Then... please watch the film, then I'll consider what you said!

The part that is absolutely knee slapping hillarious to me is that the comments I'm seeing by folks who oppose this film are all coming from people who haven't seen the film AND they are exactly what Ben Stein was talking about! You'd have to see the film to fully understand who ironic this is, but then again I'm just repeating myself... see the film!!! LOL

You know I would love to have a simple card table and a chair in the corner of the anti-ID convention in Pickplace, USA. You can have the other 375 booths with all the bells whistles, everything. All the advantages, andme crammed into the corner. I just want to be there. You know why?

Because I know that if I just tell the truth, that I will do a fantastic job at getting the truth out! Problem with the anti-ID folks is that they want to silence any voice but that of neo-Darwinists. It was the point that Ben Stein made, and the point you just made.

Thanks for the opportunity to point that out!!!

Me...

Anti-ID peeps...

 

[JustAsIam77]

I didn't think opinions about the movie and subject would take such a negative turn so quickly.

Am I at the IMDB website board for the Ben Stein documentary "Expelled, No Intelligence Allowed"?

Nope. I just checked and I'm at Christian forums.

If I was a betting person, I'd bet this is going to be a long thread.

P.S. Starting my counter for how many times a poster in favor of no other theory for the origins of life except evolution calls someone who believes in ID or creationism an "idiot".

 

[Cabal]

You watch the film, then I'll consider what you said!

Total and utter cop-out. This is exactly the kind of playground tactics I'm talking about.

The part that is absolutely knee slapping hillarious to me is that the comments I'm seeing by folks who oppose this film are all coming from people who haven't seen the film

Forgive me, I live in a small Scottish university town. New releases take a while to get here.

Of course, with this one, I'm expecting it won't. You see, over here, intelligence IS allowed.

But I've heard enough about the film, especially one as notorious as this one (breaking copyright laws, tut tut tut) to at least discuss some of its aspects.

Because I know that if I just tell the truth, that I will do a fantastic job at getting the truth out!

Really? And what truth would that be? Check my faith icon. It's possible to believe evolution and remain a Christian. I've yet to be convinced otherwise.

Problem with the anti-ID folks is that they want to silence any voice but that of neo-Darwinists.

How would you like being completely and unfairly generalised and compared to Nazis? I could say that all members of Calvary Church Chapel are paedophiles, and it would uncalled for, and totally inaccurate.

Also, think about how illogical silencing ALL voices but ours would be. If we were so concerned about being right, we'd leave a few people around so they could realise how great we were. But, of course, it's far from that.

It was the point that Ben Stein made, and the point you just made.

*facepalm*

How about you actually answer my points, rather than put words in my mouth? Nowhere did I say I wanted everyone who disagreed with me silenced.

 

[Frisbee]

I've learned the hard way, which of course means I've learned it well, not to play that particular game with neo-Darwinists. If I start answering questions like "Do you still beat your wife", we just get off track and that is precisely what anti-ID proponents typically are specifically aiming for.

The topic is the film, a review of the film in particular. You haven't seen it, and said you wont. What's left to discuss? You said I was copping out by asking you to see the film in a thread about a movie review for a film. Are you aware of how ridiculous that sounds?

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed is about academic freedom, not a debate on the merits of competing theories to an age old question that Richard Dawkins himself admits can not be answered. Of course if you saw the film, you'd know that.

There was one part in the film where Dawkins reads from his book "The God Delusion"...

"The Hebrew god is arguably the most unpleasant character in fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully."

This is who you're defending Cabal. You mentioned that you are a believer, so thought it was relevant to bring up, wouldn't you agree?

What do you have to say about that comment? Ben Stein started to quote him and Dawkins actually stopped him and read it himself! He seemed very proud of the quote.

 

[Cabal]

The topic is the film, a review of the film in particular. You haven't seen it, and said you wont. What's left to discuss? You said I was copping out by asking you to see the film in a thread about a movie review for a film. Are you aware of how ridiculous that sounds?

I didn't say I won't. Just that it's not scheduled for release over here. And we'd prefer not to send our nation's science down the tubes, so I hope it receives a lot less press over here.

I said you were copping out by refusing to answer my questions. And you quite clearly are.

And you wouldn't believe how often other Christians pull the "I don't need to read Harry Potter / listen to rock music / verb the noun to know that it's bad" line.

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed is about academic freedom, not a debate on the merits of competing theories to an age old question that Richard Dawkins himself admits can not be answered. Of course if you saw the film, you'd know that.

And yet again you fail to understand - you can't separate merit of theory from academic freedom because ID DOES NOT PRESENT EVIDENCE. A theory gains its freedom in the academic arena BY its merit as a theory at explaining observations. Science isn't a matter of going "ooh I like that theory, let's say that's right." If people want to believe in ID, that is totally fine. However, it does not yet have what it takes to even be discussed in the same arena as evolution. Evolution is tried and tested, in realms beyond mere palaeontology etc. If ID was made falsifiable and could make ONE testable and repeatable observation based on its theory, ONE! Then it would be a step in the right direction. Because these things are inextricable, I always ask ID proponents for some actual scientific theory based on ID. Every time I have gotten back rebuttals to evolution. Granted, rebuttal is part of science, but then new, solid theory needs to be put in its place. ID has failed at both steps.

This is who you're defending Cabal. You mentioned that you are a believer, so thought it was relevant to bring up, wouldn't you agree? What do you have to say about that comment? Ben Stein started to quote him and Dawkins actually stopped him and read it himself! He seemed very proud of the quote.

Irrelevant - I think Dawkins has as much of a chip on his shoulder as do most YEC/ID proponents, but at least he's honest about what he believes. He doesn't make films that violate multiple copyrights. He doesn't insinuate that his opponents are sociopathic, while insisting that that's exactly the opposite of what he's saying.

If you're going to make those kind of insinuations, I may as well compare you to the geocentrists who oppressed Copernicus and Galileo. Again, totally unjustified. I endorse the same theory - I do not by extension support Dawkin's atheist worldview.

Maybe you'd now like to answer my question - how would you feel if you and everyone in your denomination were compared to something completely outrageously, like paedophilia?

You wanna talk about being a believer? What about "do unto others as you would have them do unto you"? What about "not bearing false testimony"? What about "encourage one another and build each other up?"

 

[Frisbee]

Your child molestation comparison is highly offensive Cabal. But I will tell you that most of the folks I go to church with disagree with me on this. Almost to the one they are Young Earth Creationists, but you know what? Nobody attacks my beliefs. We politely agree to disagree.

 

[JustAsIam77]

Just remembered another scene from the movie towards the end when Stein is interviewing the grand high pubah professor of the Darwinian evolutionists Dawkins.

This revered professor in the scientific community could not explain how the very first living cell on earth could have been formed from the elements present.

It is so complex that it would take millions and millions of simultaneous highly unlikely combinations of things to happen,(which Darwin would not have had knowledge of in the 19th century) for the proteins to be formed to even begin the assimillation necessary.

One theory that was very revealing from Dawkins,(and other so called renowned scientists), was that HIGHLY INTELLIGENT LIFE from somewhere else planted a seed on earth.

Is not that the whole discussion? The possibility from the current established scientific community that ID could be another theory and worthy of AT LEAST discussion? Not total rejection?

Bottom line: All the scientists interviewed supporting evolution were atheists. Some were not so before adopting their positions siding with Darwin. (If I'm wrong about this please correct me from those who have seen the film). They are mortified that if ID is ever entertained in the scientific community, there will follow a discussion about a creator/supreme being in the firmament. That cannot be allowed in any way, shape or form in their atheistic mindset. IMO

 

[Cabal]

Your child molestation comparison is highly offensive Cabal.

Now you begin to understand. This is how this film treats scientists who accept evolution - to compare us all to Nazis - this is how hurt and angry we feel. As a Christian scientist, who believes in evolution, having a large proportion of my brothers and sisters in Christ so blithely accept this film and reject any critique of it (even from a fellow-believer) with total smugness and arrogance is a bit of a slap in the face to say the least.

But I will tell you that most of the folks I go to church with disagree with me on this. Almost to the one they are Young Earth Creationists, but you know what? Nobody attacks my beliefs. We politely agree to disagree.

If you believe ID, that's fine - I have no problem with you doing that. And I am truly sorry for coming on the attack to begin with. But please be aware of how endorsing a film like this may have an affect on your brother in Christ. Even if you think your brother is crazy to believe in evolution - do not be a stumbling block to him by comparing him to a Nazi!

 

[Frisbee]

Wrong answer Cabal. It's not what the film did. It showed the historical fact surrounding the excuses that Hitler used to put people who were mentally retarded into gas chambers. I have a very dear that has Down Syndrome so I can tell you from personal feelings and experience that I also find that repulsive. Not because someone told the truth Cabal. Because it happened.

The attacks were on the people who were fired denied tenure and ostracized by their peers in the scientific community. Why is it that when people embrace views that cozy up to folks who do and say unbelievably out of line, repulsive and offensive things, that they continue along getting everything exactly backwards? Not a little backwards. Exactly backwards.

And I agree JustAsIam77, Dawkins was speechless when asked a very simple question... "Okay smartee pants, then how did life begin from a bunch or elements?". As we just saw from Cabal, the reaction seems to be to feign disbelief and to mistreat you. Dawkins couldn't answer the question. Of course.

 

[JustAsIam77]

If we evolved from apes, why are there still apes?

The whole scenario is ridiculous. Once one can get by the prospect of the formation/creation of a single solitary living cell from the primitive elements available...OK, now take the giant leap to a human being from a single living cell thru the process of evolution?

 

[Frisbee]

I don't know, I was sitting here jammin out to Cat Scratch fever and I kinda felt like an ape