EXPELLED, EXCELLS! IN SPITE OF NEMESIS
By Danzil Monk
News Christian View/AFJMNews
For those of you who rely solely on the mainstream media for your information, you may have missed the news about a great new film documentary that has the education and science institutions in a frenzy. If you did catch a blip on the news or if you have read any of the many scathing reviews in the press or on line, you may very well have been grossly misinformed.
The film is called “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed” and it is pulling the cover off of big science and education, exposing their tyrannical attitude towards any who would dare challenge their beloved Darwin and his theory of evolution. Released nation wide on April 18, 2008 the film is hosted by Ben Stein, a multi-talented personality, actor, comedian, columnist, Presidencial speechwriter and gameshow host, (who shares writing credit for this movie with Kevin Miller).
The documentary brilliantly follows Ben Stein as he travels around the world to discuss and document the crisis of free speech and thought concerning Intelligent Design within the education and science institutions. A crisis that amounts to an intentional attempt by institutional science and education and even the government, courts and media to oust any revealed rejection of Darwinian evolution. In the film Stein lists a number of scientist who’s crime of making their objection to Darwinism known has resulted in harsh retaliation from institution heads.
Although the movie was inspired by a number of events, during my interview with
co-Producer Walt Ruloff, who’s background is in software, and who was part of a successful software company that prided it self on thinking outside the box, he told me that one of the keys to the films inspiration was his experience talking to people in Biotech Research and other fields. Say’s Ruloff:
“What became apparent very quickly was that you were not allowed to ask a whole series of questions, and those questions revolved around the discovery of mechanisms that contradicted the mechanisms of Darwinian evolution within biology.
I thought this was ludicrous, I spoke to people from all corners of academia and also the research industry and they weren’t allowed to question it because of so called political pressure. So that was the original inspiration, we said we’ve got to make a film exposing this suppression.”
Among those interviewed were astro-biologist, Guillermo Gonzalez[1] and Caroline Crocker[2] and others who have had grants taken away, were removed from their teaching possitions and even lost academic tenure for daring to challenge Darwinian evolution. Dr. Richard Sternberg, a biologist and evolutionist, who has two PhDs, lost his position at the prestigious Smithsonian Institution after he published a peer-reviewed article that mentioned intelligent design. His is a well-known situation that I was pleased to see featured in the film.
Additionally Stein, who did his own narration in the film, interviews intelligent ID proponents Stephen C. Meyer of the Discovery Institute, Mathematician David Berlinski of Paris, (who by the way does not clain to be a Christian), and Oxford professor Alister McGrath, all whos comments clearly demonstrate the intellectual crediblilty of ID supports contrary to how they are often discribed by evolutionist in science institutions and colleges. Others were interviewed in silhouette, fearful of retaliation.
Striking graphics of the complexity of the DNA malecule is shown and intelligent arguments are presented in defence of Intelligent design.
Included in the film is footage of the death camps in Nazi Germany while the connection between Darwin’s teachings and Adolf Hitler and his legacy are made. A fact acknowledged in standard biographies of Hitler.
Also addressed is Darwin’s influence on the eugenics movement of the early 20th century when thousands of Americans were legally sterilized being considered unfit for society.
In contrast Stein also interviews proponents from the other side, including the world renowned atheist Richard Dawkins, evolutionist Michael Shermer, head of the Sceptics Society and Michael Ruse. I suspect that it is the poor job these and other pro-Darwinist did attempting to defend evolution and the mistreatment of Darwinism rejectors in the film that has contributed most to the outcry against it.
As a result of Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed’s excellent exposure of the big science and education’s fight against free speech and thought concerning ID or any anti-Darwinian view, Atheist-Darwinist have launched attacks not only to discredit the film but to shut it down. The National Center for Science Education and other education and science groups went after the film with a vengence. The most publicized attack came from John Lennon’s widow Yoko Ono Lennon and sons Sean and Julian along with EMI Blackwood Music, who Filed suit charging that Premise Media’s unauthorized use of “Imagine” violates copyright and trademark Law. Also charged in the suit were Premise Media Distribution LP and Rocky Mountain pictures for “Misappropriating the compostion in violation of the copyright act, the Lanham act and New York state Law. EMI Records Ltd. And Capital Records LLC also filed suit against them in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, claiming a violation of their rights in sound recording under New York State Law.
The film used a fifteen second or so segment of the song that suggested the world might be a better place without religion in connection with Ben Stein’s comment on a statement made by evolutionist P. Z. Myers and others about the place of religion. During this segment Stein states:
“Dr. Myers would like you to think that he’s being original but he’s merely lifting
A page out of John Lennon’s song book.”
The audio clip of Lennon’s Imagine is then briefly played. The clip clearly illuminated Ben Stein’s point and criticized the idea expressed in the song.
Premise Media maintained it had the right to use the song under the fair use doctrine which permits the use of copyrighted material for the purpose of comment, criticism and discussion. Stanford Law School’s Fair Use Project agreed with Premise Media and opted to represent filmmakers in the trial.
“These rights are under attack here, and we plan to defend them” said Anthony Falzone, executive director of the Fair Use Project who served as counsel on the case along with Stanford Law colleagues Julie A. Ahrens and Brandy Karl.
Their defence was well made and they won the case.
Atheist Richard Dawkins correctlly and honestly acknowledged in the film that there is a skirmish and a war going on in the origins debate. It is a war of ideas and world views.
Many in the media know this but they deny it. However, they are not so careful when revealing the side they are on.
THE MEDIA ATTACK
Although there has been some favorable media coverage the media attack on Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, has been relentless and unnecessarily mean. In addition to commonly touting Ben Stein’s Nixon connection while excluding any mention of his work for President Ford, the online press for instance has used harsh words which transends a mere review and amounts to somewhat of a smear campain. Mark Olsen’s special to the Times, referred to Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed as an attempt at deception, a sham, a tireson ideological bludgeon and a flimsy film.[3]
Marc Savlov called the film a loopy, facually befuddled documentary that should insult Christians, Jews and Muslims. He called the interviews in the film “bizzare” yet he felt that “Dawkins more than holds his own in the film”[4]. He obviouslly did not see the same film I saw. The New York Times Jeannette Catsoulis called the film “one of the sleasiest documentaries to arrive in a very long time”, “a conspiracy-theory rant masquerading as investigative inquiry. She refers to an aspect of the films technique as “Circus” and said the film is “an unprincipled propaganda piece that insults believers and unbelievers alike” and is an expulsion of reason itself.[5]Vadim Rizov of the Village Voice calls it an obvious propaganda “documentary” and calls Ben Stein a Propagandist.[6] TV Guide’s Ken Fox says it’s an obvious propaganda piece and refers to Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed as “Insulting”.[7]Entertainment Weekly’s Adam Markovitz calls it “Heavy-handed bias” and concludes his brief review by suggesting that leaving the theatre is more urgent than the debate itself.[8]
Why such vennom from education, big science and the press? I really believe that many are following the party line to maintain their exceptance and further their careers. Others are die-hard evolutionist who are persuing an agenda just as they accuse Ben Stein of doing. The problem is that on the average, those outside of science and education really know little or nothing about Intelligent Design and don’t care to know. They simply repeat the institutional montras that have now become the standard defence script. Their goal is to discredit anything that challenges Darwinism and their atheistic world view.
Many within education and science know that Evolution is a dead theory, but they fear the only alternative which is to acknowledge that there is a Designer. And that, to them is so objectionable that they are willing to defend a lie rather than face the moral implications of a designer.
In an interview with Tim Woods of the Tribune-Herald, Associate producer Mark Mathis points out:
“…if there is design, then who or what is the designer? This is what makes the Darwinists so uncomfortable, because that designer for most people in America is either the Christian or Jewish god. And that is very appropriately addressed in the film. The thing that doesn’t get the attention that it needs to is that a Darwinian philosophy, which is taught in our schools and our universities, also comes with a metaphysical implication: If there is no design, then therefore there is no designer. Therefore, atheism rules the day. So this is the part of the debate that I wish got a little more attention. America is predominantly a very religious country, and yet we’re allowing elitist academics tell our students in high school and college that there’s really only one way of looking at life, from a materialist philosophy, and that if they have any religious sensibilities, those really aren’t science. And so we’re teaching, by default, an atheistic philosophy and the evidence that would support that kind of structure in our educational system is, at the very least, greatly lacking. What we are advocating for is freedom: Freedom of inquiry, freedom of speech, freedom of ideas, and not allowing a singular philosophy to have a monopoly in the academic world in this area, because it is not justified.”
Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed is a well done documentary that clearly reveals to the public, their weak arguments and harsh treatment of all who challenge them, through a medium that they cannot control. Through this film, the other side is being heard and this is sure to force the issue beyond their controled environment. This understandably concerns them. We must support this film and show them that we will not be expelled from the discussion.
Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed has recieded wide acclaime and exceptance inspite of the onslought of negative attention. Among the many prominents voices supporting the film are Ken Smitherman, President of Association of Christian Schools International,
Sister Rose Pacatte, FSP Director of Pauline Certer for Media Studies, Dr. D. Ellis, Ph.D., President of California Baptist University, Wendy Wright, President of Concerned Women for America, Ted Baehr, Editor of Movieguide, Dr. James Dobson, Ph.D., Chairman of the Board of Focus on the Family, Joseph Farah, Editor & CEO, WorldNet.com, Michael Medved, national syndicated radio host, American Family Association, Denny Rydberg, President of Young Life, Ken Ham, President of Answers In Genesis, Luis Palau, President of Luis Palau Association, Curtis Martin, President-Fellowship of the Catholic University Students.
Grossing over eight million at the box office, Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed has taken the number 10 spot among all time best grossing documentaries.
Premise Media is now making Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed available for private showing through the church community this summer. Churches interested in booking a private showing at a theatre near them can call in New York 516-810-9949 outside New York call 678-546-5580 for details.
Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
A Rocky Mountain Pictures release of a Premise Media presentation of a Rampant Films production. Produced by Logan Craft, Walt Ruloff, John Sullivan. Directed by Nathan Frankowski. Written by Kevin Miller, Ben Stein.
With: Ben Stein, Richard Sternberg, Mark Souder, Guillermo Gonzalez, Caroline Crocker, Richard Dawkins, P.Z. Myers, Eugenie Scott, Christopher Hitchens, Michael Shermer, John Lennox, David Berlinski, Alister McGrath, Stephen C. Meyer.
Camera (color/B&W), Frankowski; editor, Simon Tondeur; music, Andy Hunter, Robbie Bronnimann; sound (Dolby Digital), Patrick Tittmar; supervising sound editor, Tittmar; re-recording mixers, Ewan Deane, Robert Hunter; lead animator, Joseph Condeelis; animation, Light Prods., Out of Our Mind Studios; associate producer, Mark Mathis; second unit camera, Ben Huddleston, Kevin Nowicki. Reviewed at Wilshire screening room, Los Angeles, March 28, 2008. MPAA Rating: PG. Running time: 97 MIN.
[1]Denied tenure at Iowa State University
[2]Who lost her professorship at George Mason University.
[3] Calendarline.com special to the Times April 18, 2008. See my review of this and other Expelled reviews at expelled reviewer reviewed.com.
[4]The Austin Chronicle 4-25-08
[5] The New York Times April 21, 2008
[6] The Village Voice April 15, 2008
[7] TV Guide.com
[8]Posted April 17, 2008. I have so far been unsuccessful in contacting these and other reviewer to decuss their reviews.