Halls of the Dark Muse

That's too bad -- I haven't read any Rand, but it's a shame that such pressure would make the director back down from filming the other two parts.

Yes that is what makes me really mad that Hollywood and the media are attacking this movie to try and shut it down and essentially censor it because they don't like the message behind it.

Why not just allow the people decide for themselves if they want to pay to see this movie or not.

I think people are deciding for themselves. There are tons of really bad movies out there, after all, that have made plenty of money despite the negative reviews. It happens nearly every weekend.

Originally Posted by qimissung

I think people are deciding for themselves. There are tons of really bad movies out there, after all, that have made plenty of money despite the negative reviews. It happens nearly every weekend.

From what I understand the decision not to go through with making the other 2 movies is not driven purely by low attendance to the film, but becaue it has been slammed so badly by critics, and one of the concerns expressed about the making of the other movies is that becasue it had come under such heavy attack by critics, agents will advise thier clients against becoming involved in the movie thus it may prove difficult for the future movies to find people willing to work on it.

And personally I think the heavy assault that critics have launched against the movie have nothing to do with its quality as a movie, and everything to do with their ideological disagreement with the movie.

That is disappointing for you. So why exactly are you waiting to go see it? Even if I had to go alone, I would go and quickly.

I don't think the movie's bad box-office performance can be attributed to protests against it (were there really organized protests against it? I mean actual people marching with signs, not a Facebook group). I think it's probably due to marketing. Colbert mentioning it on his show was the first I'd ever heard about it. I would think that this is also why no sequels will be made. IMDb lists it's budget as being around $15,000,000. After 3 weeks it has grossed $3,947,827, which doesn't bode well, and it's making less every week, at least according to what [URL="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480239/business"]IMDb is showing[/URL]. This excuse by the director seems like a cop-out, especially seeing as how controversy usually [i]improves[/i] how a movie does.

I don't get protests when it comes from the left or right when it comes to movies, nor do I care what political slant a movie has--it's either a good movie or it isn't, and the only time I do let a political slant get in the way it's because it's so glaringly obvious it becomes a distraction.

I also don't get why conservatives are supporting this movie. From the clips I've seen, it makes rich guys look like greedy a-holes. Why would conservatives want to reinforce this stereotype? I mean, a "protagonist" who answers the question (and these aren't exact quotes, just the gist of what I remember from clips I've seen), "You really don't care about those less fortunate than you, do you?" with, "No, I don't," doesn't exactly make rich people look good. At all.

I haven't read any Rand books, and I don't agree with her philosophical ideas at all, but that wouldn't change whether or not I like the book (unless it just outright disgusts me). I want to read Rand, but her books are so darn long.

As for seeing a movie alone, I don't see why you wouldn't. I have before. I kind of like it. You can really focus all your attention on the movie.
[QUOTE=Dark Muse;bt55603]
And personally I think the heavy assault that critics have launched against the movie have nothing to do with its quality as a movie, and everything to do with their ideological disagreement with the movie.[/QUOTE]
Well, you can't really know that until you see it, right? It has a 6.1 on IMDb, which isn't too bad. Personally, I think the movie looks quite dull.

Perhaps the word "protest" was the wrong word to use here. As I did not mean actual physical protests, people holding up signs and marching around in front of the theater. But I meant the way it is being protested by Hollywood, and movie criticism in their scathing attack of the movie, and the fact that it has been given like 4 rotten tomatoes.

Rather refreshing to come back to the blogs and see old familiar faces and renewing acquaintances. The Dayton Daily barely reviewed the movie and their reviews are usually highly suspect. They dislike "popular" entertainment and wish movies were higher in culture. I took it that the movie probably bored them and to be honest I had no plans to see it. On the other hand when it comes to films the bottom line is always going to be about money and not artistic achievement. Believe it or not the original Star Wars was considered a gamble when it was released. NOT comparing the two just making an observation. AndaveYa likes Rand a LOT and her opinion carries some weight with me. Yours too for that matter. I have become accustmed to seeing films by myself and sparing the Long Suffering Wife certain brain cell damage.

Ron Paul, a perennial candidate for president, is again running in the Republican primary. He is a Rand devotee. He even named his son, Rand, the Rand Paul who is senator from Tennessee. I guess the father and son probably come the closest in government to actually advocating the Ayn Rand philosophy, which is roughly described as Libertarianism.

The problem with Libertarianism as a governing philosophy is that it dispels values as a driving impulse in people's lives. Well values are what formulate people's cores, either values of the Left or the Right. They can't be considered insignificant. I do wish that we were more Libertarian in our economic policies, but even there I could never be purely Libertarian.

I have not seen the movie, but if it were a good movie it would do relatively well no matter what the philosophy.

I used to be a Ron Paul fan. He's just gotten too nutty.