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10,000 B.C. Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.
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Alexandra Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.
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Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
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MPAA RATING: PG for thematic material, some disturbing images and brief smoking
Starring Ben Stein, and Jason Collett
Ben Stein travels the world on his quest and learns an awe-inspiring truth that bewilders him, then angers him, and then spurs him to action! His heroic and at times shocking journey confronting the world's top scientists, educators, and philosophers underscores the persecution of the many by an elite few regarding the rejection of Darwinism. Ben realizes that he has been "expelled," and that educators and scientists are being ridiculed, denied tenure, and even fired--for the "crime" of merely believing that there might be evidence of "design" in nature, and that perhaps life is not just the result of accidental, random chance. (Rocky Mountain Pictures)
| GENRE(S): | Documentary |
| WRITTEN BY: |
Kevin Miller
Walt Ruloff Ben Stein |
| DIRECTED BY: | Nathan Frankowski |
| RELEASE DATE: | Theatrical: April 18, 2008 |
| RUNNING TIME: | 90 minutes, Color |
| ORIGIN: | USA |
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
The average user rating for this movie is 3.6 (out of 10) based on 132 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Alex T. gave it a0:
I love the use of the term "liberal" to refer to anyone who takes umbrage with the anti-academic crusade of the Christian fundamentalists who made this schlock. If academic discourse, critical thought, and intellectual nuance are left wing, then you can start making my uniform for Team Liberal today.
Marco A gave it a0:
There are some good arguments in favor of ID. This film doesn't make them. There are tactful ways to argue in favor of God's role in moral thought. This film is incredibly crass when doing so (Darwin = Auschwitz? Come on!). I suppose we got the movie we'd expect from an average to mediocre game show host with delusions of grandeur.
Josh P. gave it a10:
Amazing how pissy you guys get when you're the ones under the microscope!
Andrew P. gave it an8:
Not an easy film to watch, but important. And Stein is quite correct; it's hard to understand why so many people cannot see it. One does not have to agree with ID's claims to see that free inquiry is widely squelched. The emotions this brings out (evidenced by, for example, the people who give the film a "0" rating) leave me scratching my head.
b marsh gave it a10:
I think this show justs points out how liberally biased the critics on metacritc are. Michael Medved, one of the most famous movie critics of all time, and yes, a conservative, gave this movie 4 out of 5 stars, which would equate to about a 90 score on metacritic. But the HIGHEST score on metacritic is 50! Metacritic, if your business model is to appeal only to liberals then you are right on track.
Christian gave it a0:
I am an activist for ID and I thought this movie was a bit distasteful and if people really take this movie and think that it represents all people who want to debate about ID then I fear we have been set back. It was such obvious propaganda. *Sigh*
Lori G. gave it a1:
So I take it Yesman that you'd give high marks to Leni Riefenstahl's films even though they were blatant Nazi propaganda (though well edited, shot, written, etc.)? For me the message is part of the overall package. If it doesn't entertain or inform, but rather obfuscates, it's a bad film. So 9s and 10s, this is about free speech (not evolution)? What gave you the idea we have free speech in this country? There are words you can't say on TV. You can't yell "fire" in a crowded theater, and you can't say libelous things. Speech is free in its appropriate context, and rightfully so. Who's preventing the filmmakers from releasing this film? Or you from commenting about it? I don't imagine it will be used in a biology class, though, except to point out the inanity of the non-scientific opinion. (But I can certainly anticipate that many right-wing churches will buy hundreds of copies of the DVD to indoctrinate their children). A scientist who continues to espouse an unsupported view SHOULD be fired, let go, denied tenure, or in the case of some of the "injured" interviewees in this film, simply not have their volunteer status renewed. Just as someone teaching a comparative religion class who continued to insist that there was no creation story in Christian religions, despite any historical or literary evidence, should be let go. That's not stifling free speech, that simply framing the view correctly in its context. And to those who argue that ID is not creationism (another point this film adds confusion to), you're right. They're not exactly the same thing. They're simply very nearly the same thing. ID is just a straightforward extension of creationism (and the term was substituted for "creationism" in the IDers own literature, so even they thought of them as remarkably similar). So, it could be space aliens in addition to "God"? Then where is your evidence for space aliens, or flying spaghetti monsters, etc.? ID is fundamentally similar to creationism in that it is a religious point of view (i.e. relies on belief, not hard data). It is therefore not science, and doesn't belong in the context of a science class. Period. This movie sheds no new light (data) on that view and therefore doesn't have a leg to stand on. Therefore a "1" from my perspective (yeah, at least they tried - probably not the cameraman's fault this is a fundamentally flawed piece of tripe).
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