November 18, 2008
Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed (2008)
Should I see it?
Nope.
Nope.
This documentary/propaganda piece tackles the subject of the suppression of Intelligent Design. The fact is that if you’re against the concept of Intelligent Design, you’re not going to like this film. If you are a proponent, you’ll enjoy it. I don't think there’s much wiggle room on this one. I liken it to Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11. The bed-wetting left ate it up while those who are a little sensitive about bashing our troops while they’re overseas fighting on our behalf thought it was beyond the pale.
Ben Stein is a humorous host but not an effective debater. He’s really little more than a useful prop in the film, waddling from one interview to the next in his bright white sneakers. He’s a bright man, but his intelligence isn’t on display here and he doesn’t really argue the case for Intelligent Design on its own merits. The film breaks from the subject’s strongest points and concentrates on what the filmmakers believe are the results of Darwinist thinking, Nazi Germany and atheism. The film pulls out the Hitler card big time and plays it against the Darwinists. While I am completely sympathetic to the idea that atheist thought naturally leads to fascism and large groups of “undesirables” being shoved into slaughter houses, Darwinism doesn’t necessarily lead that direction. Bringing out the Holocaust in case is gratuitous.
Do not be fooled, this is right-wing propaganda through and though. There is no denying this. This is too bad, because many on the right will watch this film and think they’re seeing a fair display of the arguments and they are not. If the filmmakers would have stuck to the arguments, allowed the atheists and Darwinists to vigorously defend their ultimately ridiculous position, the film would have been far superior.
Related Reviews:
Documentaries
Fahrenhype 9/11 (2004)
The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara (2003)
Other Critic's Reviews:
Jeff Burton's Guest Review
Minneapolis Star Tribune
Labels: Ben Stein, documentary, film, movie review
posted by Michelle Obama's Left Nut at 9:00 AM
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2 Comments:
While I am completely sympathetic to the idea that atheist thought naturally leads to fascism and large groups of “undesirables” being shoved into slaughter houses, Darwinism doesn’t necessarily lead that direction. Bringing out the Holocaust in case is gratuitous.I re-watched the movie today. I'd recommend you do the same. The actual line from the movie was that Darwinism isn't a necessary condition for Hitlerism, but it is a sufficient one. You can't have hitlerism without Darwinism, a significant point with wide applicability. That doesn't mean (and this is explicitly stated) that being a Darwinist means you're a Nazi or likely to turn into one.
The point using the Nazi analog was to counter the point of the atheists: that corrupting science with religion is a sufficient condition for a theocracy. The response, and it is certainly a valid one, is that you can get something much worse with darwinian based atheism, so tell us again why it can't be questioned?
The big punch line, somewhat obscured, of the documentary is that big science is being driven by the scientist's world view, not by science. And the institution of big science is now so monolithic that it's emulating it's own religeous boggyman. This is the most important point of the movie and relates to such diverse areas as climate science, cell genetics and military technology.
One of the dictionary definitions of propaganda is: Ideas, facts, or allegations spread deliberately to further one's cause or to damage an opposing cause.
Is "Expeled" propaganda? You bet and so, by that reckoning is the bible.
Full disclosure: I have no problems with evolution per se, but lots of problems with big science's adventures with metaphysical dogmas. I also hold a Phd in physics and have published in the field.
Correction, was: The actual line from the movie was that Darwinism isn't a necessary condition for Hitlerism, but it is a sufficient one.
Should have been: The actual line from the movie was that Darwinism isn't a sufficient condition for Hitlerism, but it is a necessary one.
oi.
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