Hopefully, the mods will delete this thread. Waaaaaaaay off topic for RYPN.

The above post suggests this thread is way off topic, but I think how the railroad industry is represented or perceived by authors, Hollywood and the general media is of interest. Whatever the case, Atlas Shrugged doesn't appear to be winning the hearts of reviewers. So far every review I have read has panned the movie. A typical example from Variety: "Part one of a trilogy that may never see completion, this hasty, low-budget adaptation would have Ayn Rand spinning in her grave." If you have your heart set on seeing it, opening week will probably be your only chance!

Another, review, by former Rolling Stone staffer turned conservative P.J. O'Rourke:

http://blogs.wsj.com/ideas-market/2011/ ... -so-did-i/

As I typed elsewhere, "I can trust a review written by someone who has actually read Adam Smith (and written a book about "The Wealth Of Nations" as well) and Ayn Rand. It's also nice to see a middle ground between fawning cult worship and condemnation for the sake of condemnation. It's too bad that this film will probably make railroad enthusiasts (like me) look even more like "kooks" than does 'The Big Bang Theory's' Sheldon Cooper........."

Evan,

It is of general interest, I agree. It would be appropriate for the general forums like Trainorders. The more general RYPN gets, the less value it has.

Just my opinion. Your mileage may vary.

Rob

To me the most important comment was O'Rourke's comment about rail "buffs" being over 50 - sadly he has noticed an age trend that many of us ignore.

I just came from the movie, and Mr. O'Rourke's criticism is not as warranted as I was expecting. His review really followed the mold of what many other entertainment critics have written. The perspective of what Hollywood would have done versus what was actually produced is flawed. The fidelity to the novel is very good, with the obvious recasting of the time period. Frankly, the updated time period turned out much better than expected. It really wasn't a railfan movie, though there are neat scenes of the massive all-in-one rebuild your railroad machines. The Acela-like John Galt train is at least plausible, if not based in reality. The criticism about how rail transportation has made a comeback is dealt with early on and centers around fuel efficiency and affordability.

The emotions that I felt were the same emotions evoked when I read Conquering Gotham, a magnificent account of Mr. Cassatt's dream finally being realized, the same thing I feel walking through places like Biltmore, Tippecanoe Place, 240 Summit Avenue, the same emotions evoked by seeing the many great cathedrals of industry in places like Gary, Indiana, the same feeling I get while wandering about the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia or the monuments of Washington - awe of the men and women who dreamed big dreams and were able to succeed making their dreams come true, longing for a time when those things were possible right here in our own backyard.

Not making any judgment on the man or his political ambitions, but Donald Trump said something the other night that really hit the nail on the head - In China, they are filling in parts of the ocean in building their cities, in America, you get the electric chair for dropping a pebble in the Hudson River. This is not an endorsement of China and centralized planning by any means, but simply a stark example of how bad things have become.

Who is John Galt?

Mike

So if the book was so-o-o long, how long was the movie? Did they serve meals?

Later!
Mr. Ed

The official title, as I recall, is Atlas Shrugged: Part One...........

Here is another review from the SomethingAwful.com site. Probably not everyone's cup of tea, but there are some hilarious movie reviews and other insane and satirical posts on this site as well.

http://www.somethingawful.com/d/current ... php?page=2

Possibly Enjoy, Taylor