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7/10
Everyone should watch know this story
27 June 2012
As a film fan, I can find plenty wrong with the film. But honestly, all that says is that it is not a perfect movie. And very few, if any are.

The acting is a bit uneven, but overall strong. The production design shows the limitations of the budget. And the tone of the film visually can be a bit uneven.

Having said that, some have complained about the acting, but basically this misses the point. To a large degree it is the characters themselves which can leave people cold. This is because the characters are not your typical protagonists. They aren't overcoming personal flaws in order to succeed. They don't take the "Hero's Journey". Some people are unaccustomed to these kinds of characters, in same way they don't recognize the antagonists.

And this is the point, "Atlas Shrugged" is objectionable to some people because in it's own way it is an experimental film by the standards that most movies are made in the 21st century.

But the characters are Ayn Rand's.

Mostly however, I think some will be bothered by the fact that it challenges what so many these days consider to be the new progressive "good" as it relates to how economies work, and more over, how they think they should work.

Many viewers can't imagine their politicians doing things that seem so obviously right and fair to them, actually being unfair and decidedly wrong. And so, they are left with an uncomfortable dilemma. They much more closely identify with the antagonists, and so feel uneasy and believe this to be the fault of the film in some way.

This is exactly the point of the story. That governments effort to be "fair", can trespass on a much more significant moral rightness.

Despite it's flaws this movie does what the story of Atlas Shrug is designed to do. To challenge and dare the individual. The scale of the piece is large because large themes are easier to understand. As such this is a bit of a melodrama. Again this is intentional, not a flaw.

The quick short question of Atlas Shrug can be seen in the following question: "Should Michael Jordan and the Chicago bulls have played less then their best, so that other teams could be champions or so that other players could be stars?"

If you wouldn't ask it of them, why would you ask it of anybody.
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Push (2009)
7/10
Unexpected Gem
29 April 2012
This movie is definitely worth watching.

The character development proceeds in an unusual way. But it is difficult to explain without including spoilers.

I think the casting on this movie is one of it's strong points. Along with a story that is way better then average science fiction.

Visually I think this film is different, kind of a colorful drab, if that is even possible. It helps set the tone of movie in a way that seems to say that it is on the edge of getting bleak in the world, but not quite there yet.

The MacGuffin in this film, possession of some medicinal vial, isn't strong enough for all of the characters to care by itself, sort of because the other guys want it, we must want it too. And if you can just go with that, there are plenty of more immediate motivators to keep the story going.

As with any movie there are certain issues which may be more annoying to some then to myself, but overall I think this movie will entertain and challenge most viewers.
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Battle Planet (2008)
7/10
Original title "The Suit" more suited
29 April 2012
I have to say, that I find this movie interesting.

Good Science Fiction tells stories that are difficult to tell in traditional drama or action venues; the story in this film does that.

Understanding a bit of the history of this movie, such as that the original title was "The Suit", should give the viewers a better understanding of the story then the one that was chosen by the SciFi Channel (SyFy). SyFy presumably felt that they needed a "SciFi" title to sell the movie, and no doubt put the pressure on.

The story isn't about a planet with lots of battles, but rather the story of a guy who is encased in what is a protective space suit. But the suit is actually a character in the movie. And the real question is, whom is it really protecting?

Since more difficult and subtle plot points are not the forte of the typical SyFy "made for TV movie", this much more nuanced story isn't your typical SyFy fair.

Given budget constraints, the art is quite good and original.

The acting is mixed, with some good performances. There are inherent difficulties in a film where one of the major characters acts inside of space suit, and another major character is an alien in full prosthetic makeup. But they manage to build a believable relationship by the end.

So while this film is not perfect, it has its moments, and its twists. It should keep many Science Fiction fans happy. But if you are looking for elaborate space fighting sequences, or broad fantasy themes, you may not like it. That doesn't mean you shouldn't at least give it a try. It might surprise you.
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