- This is clearly a trilogy aimed at fans of the book and no one else. A few reasons why will be encountered below in other thoughts.
- Three movies simply isn't enough to fit the book in. You need at least 6. Maybe 8. Atlas Shrugged has a level of content of the entire Lost television show. I suspect is better purposed as a multi-season TV show.
- While I really like seeing Ron Paul in there, it jolted me out of the movie and back into reality. It is just too startling to use political figures in the movie. Which brings me to ......
- It is super douchey to put Glenn Beck or Sean Hannity in there. ESPECIALLY HANNITY. While the head of Freedomworks and Grover Norquist were in there playing bit parts ... they too were just too startling and brought you out of the movie. It was a bit funny seeing Grover play a government baddie though.
- Huge meaty chunks of important elements of the book simply aren't there owing to time. This includes Francisco and Dagney's relationship. Dagney and Hank's relationship. Hank and his wife's relationship. James and his wife's relationship. The full monologue between Hank and the government goon wanting Rearden Steel. The full monologue between Hank and Francisco. The monologue by John Galt is there, and powerful, but paired down from like 30+ pages to maybe half of one. While I'll be the first to cheer shortening that monologue ... that is wayyyyyy too short. Ragnar is only mentioned briefly in passing. The economics of The Gulch are utterly absent, particularly as they tie into the Income Tax and Midas and Ragnar.
- Given the huge gaping chunks of the book not there, I don't think you can coherently follow the movies at times if you haven't read the book. They can, and frequently do, jump 50 ... 100 ... 150 pages worth of book material.
- Having a new cast for each and every part is deeply jarring to keeping the experience going. And I mean new. There are, AFAIK, ZERO people who make it into more than just one movie.
- Having said all that, I really liked John Galt's final monologue. It is a V for Vendetta "good evening London" kind of moment. Outstanding.
So .... make it a multi-season TV show. It would need to be somewhere behind a pay wall like Netflix or HBO to have the total creative freedom necessary. This will give it the proper time to delve into such a complex and deeply multi-faceted story. Keep the cast in lockstep throughout production. NO CURRENT POLITICAL FIGURES. Even ones I like such as Ron Paul. It cheapens it, takes you out of the moment, and dates the production. Not bad given that they made three movies with half a typical Hollywood budget for one movie. But they can and should do much, much, MUCH better.
I haven't seen the movies. I've read the book several times now and get something new out of it each time. If it's missing all you say then it really is a waste of time to see as a movie. I like the mini-series concept.
(09-22-2014 10:58 AM)Fitbud Wrote: I had to read this book in college as part of my endoctrenization. Lol The movies are horrible.
Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App
You don't have to agree with the message of a book to get something out of it. In fact it's beneficial to read books that you won't agree with. I think most people would get a lot out of reading The Grapes of Wrath, The Fountainhead (much better than Atlas Shrugged imo) and Nineteen Eighty-Four. I'm not really a fan of novels, but I'm glad that I read those books.
(This post was last modified: 09-22-2014 11:48 AM by ODUgradstudent.)
watched it finally with the lady. outside of traveling, the love of this book was what drew us together. we've seen all three movies and hated all of them, but we loved them as well. this one in particular, gts, i agree with all of your points. this thing was mismanaged from the get go. even in hollywood there are actors who believe in her message. and to have to have this thing kickstarted is a real headscratcher. we'll the third one was, but the other two seemed like they were as well. is this sh!t seemed toxic? why cannot ayn's magnum opus be realized?
I read the book and thought it was okay but took too long to make it's points, and I didn't necessarily agree with all of it, a bit too preachy. I had no interest in seeing a movie based on it.
(This post was last modified: 02-18-2015 02:33 PM by NIU007.)
(02-18-2015 02:32 PM)NIU007 Wrote: I read the book and thought it was okay but took too long to make it's points, and I didn't necessarily agree with all of it, a bit too preachy. I had no interest in seeing a movie based on it.
(02-18-2015 02:32 PM)NIU007 Wrote: I read the book and thought it was okay but took too long to make it's points, and I didn't necessarily agree with all of it, a bit too preachy. I had no interest in seeing a movie based on it.
(02-18-2015 02:32 PM)NIU007 Wrote: I read the book and thought it was okay but took too long to make it's points, and I didn't necessarily agree with all of it, a bit too preachy. I had no interest in seeing a movie based on it.
(09-22-2014 10:58 AM)Fitbud Wrote: I had to read this book in college as part of my endoctrenization. Lol The movies are horrible.
Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App
You don't have to agree with the message of a book to get something out of it. In fact it's beneficial to read books that you won't agree with. I think most people would get a lot out of reading The Grapes of Wrath, The Fountainhead (much better than Atlas Shrugged imo) and Nineteen Eighty-Four. I'm not really a fan of novels, but I'm glad that I read those books.
(09-22-2014 10:58 AM)Fitbud Wrote: I had to read this book in college as part of my endoctrenization. Lol The movies are horrible.
Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App
You don't have to agree with the message of a book to get something out of it. In fact it's beneficial to read books that you won't agree with. I think most people would get a lot out of reading The Grapes of Wrath, The Fountainhead (much better than Atlas Shrugged imo) and Nineteen Eighty-Four. I'm not really a fan of novels, but I'm glad that I read those books.
easily the best statement in this thread.....
Who said I didn't get anything out of it? In fact, I liked it and actually bought into the philosophy for a time.
(09-22-2014 10:58 AM)Fitbud Wrote: I had to read this book in college as part of my endoctrenization. Lol The movies are horrible.
Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App
You don't have to agree with the message of a book to get something out of it. In fact it's beneficial to read books that you won't agree with. I think most people would get a lot out of reading The Grapes of Wrath, The Fountainhead (much better than Atlas Shrugged imo) and Nineteen Eighty-Four. I'm not really a fan of novels, but I'm glad that I read those books.
easily the best statement in this thread.....
Who said I didn't get anything out of it? In fact, I liked it and actually bought into the philosophy for a time.
I was only referencing 'in general'....but I get your fact/philosophy point
