I saw the movie with my son this past weekend and enjoyed it, finding it to be fairly close to the book, well-cast, and nicely directed. This is the first of three parts, so if you're wondering how the story ends, read the book or wait until the other two come out.

I read Rand's work way back in the early 70s and found them helpful. Yes, I know she's an atheist, but her writings on rational self-interest and capitalism helped me overcome severe codependent tendencies in the university setting where I was studying, and in the extremely liberal brand of Christianity I had come into contact with there. I don't think her novels are especially good works of fiction, however. Books like The Fountainhead (also a good movie, from several decades ago) and Atlas Shrugged seem more like philosophical parables making hyperbolic points about collectivism and capitalism. Rand's childhood in communist Russia strongly biased her against the former and in favor of the latter, which she found thriving in the U.S., but increasingly undermined by the socialist agendae of the press, universities, and Washington politicians (read: Democrats). Her work is still relevant in this regard (see this idiocy for an example of what I mean -- could be straight out of Atlas Shrugged).

I've only been to two movies where people stood up and cheered at the end. One was Remember the Titans, and, yes, it was very good. The other was this movie, which the critics don't especially like, but which the people attending do. Kinda tells you something about "movie critics," I'd say.
- see http://www.rottentomatoes.com/...las_shrugged_part_i/

I haven't read the book, but I'm familiar a bit with Rand's thought. There are some interesting youtube's clips where she's interviewed on TV talk-shows in 80s, I guess. She was a strange personality, powerful, but apparently not open to discussion. Although I like her libertarianist view on society and economics, I was surprised by the way she confronted people in the talk-show. She seemed absolutely, religiously convinced of her beliefs, which, philosophically, are sometimes quite narrow. Her view of rationalism as sensual empirism is rather limited version of philosophy. She seems to me more like a person telling her own testimony of her way of life, and not a great thinker.
A year ago I read a fantasy series "The Sword of Truth" by Terry Goodkind, which contains many Rand's ideas. The books are really good fiction, perhaps better than Rand's own things. Have your read it?

Rand's personality reminds me a lot of Bernadette Roberts.

You make some good points, and I don't go along with everything she wrote. As I noted above, it was her emphasis on "rational self-interest" that helped me make a distinction between self-love and selfishness. I also think her protest against some of the extremes of socialistic policies are helpful. Did you check out that link I posted? Here it is:
- http://blogs.forbes.com/garysh...al-economic-suicide/
That's the sort of thing "Atlas Shrugged" was warning against.

Dagny Taggart (Taylor Schilling) runs Taggart Transcontinental, the largest remaining railroad company in America, with intelligence, courage and integrity, despite the systematic More...

Showtimes 10:00am

Phil,

Told my husband about your heads up on movie. We decided it would be a good Sat. night date.
Um, not so much, as we found out.

Now who goes to the movies at 10:00 am. That is the only showing time. What??!!

Has anybody seen Atlas Shrugged II yet?

Does it make sense to see II if you've not read the book or seen I?

I'm planning on going tomorrow. You could probably read a synopsis of #1 and do OK with #2. You might also be able to check out the video of #1 somewhere and watch it first. Maybe they even have a short recap at the beginning of #2. I'll let you know.

Ah well, didn't get to make it as I had planned to go with my son, and he couldn't shake free at the right time. Maybe later this week, or next weekend.

Anyone see it?