There's an Atlas Shrugged movie coming out today

[23skidoo]

I bet that was news to a lot of people: not only have they made a big-budget adaptation of Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged, but they're pulling a Hobbit with it and releasing it in two parts. And Part 1 comes out today:

http://blog.zap2it.com/pop2it/2011/04/atlas-shrugged-movie-what-are-critics-saying.html

Talk about a movie with zero buzz. The last I'd heard of this was about 3 years ago Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt announced they were making a movie of it. Obviously they didn't.

The sad part is while the trailer makes this look like an exciting, action-packed political thriller, odds are (based on what I've heard of the book) it's more likely going to be a pretty, but boring soap opera. Or at least Wall Street "3".

However, whereas we'd seen press coverage of Wall Street 2 a full year before it was released, and other major book adaptations such as The Hobbit and The Great Gatsby have gotten tons of press - this is honestly the very first I've heard of this particular production.

Before anyone flames me regarding my "boring soap opera" comment, I know Ayn Rand and her book have a lot of fans, and I'm not knocking the BOOK, but it's always been listed in the "unfilmable without major alterations" category mainly because of its rather heavy duty content is considered not very cinema-friendly; plus, the only other major non-SF/F film project released in two parts in recent years was the Che biography, which from what I've heard was an effective insomnia cure. It'll be interesting to hear how the film sits with fans of the book. Will it work, or will it be accused of dumbing down the book. Will people get upset over its politics?

Alex

 

[Greg Cox]

Roger Ebert thought that, politics aside, it was tedious.

 

[Goliath]

*Shrug*

 

[Nerys Myk]

We got a for that.

 

[auntiehill]

Hubby and I saw the trailer for it last weekend when we went to the movies. I leaned over to him and said, "OH MY GOD; they've made a movie of Altas Shrugged! They'll never be able to capture that book on screen."

Hubby responded, "I always wondered what was so great about that book. So, it's about trains, right?"

*facepalm*

 

[Rush Limborg]

They're splitting the book into three films, to match the 3 parts Rand divides the book into.

BTW...Armin Shimmerman makes a cameo appearance in this baby! (He's a government bureaucrat who tries to harrass one of the heroes...basically, a human Brunt, FCA.)

As for the zero buzz...well, the movie makers kinda figured trying to get it through the normal channels would be an uphill battle. It's an independant film, after all. They're basically getting the word out through the Conservative and Libertatian Movements--the Tea Parties, CPAC, Sean Hannity, John Stossel, Drudge, etc.--a better road in this scenario. I guess they're learing somewhat from the marketing mistakes of An American Carol. Don't bother struggling against the establishment media--go through the back door.

Think of how "Facing The Giants", "Fireproof", etc. got so big--they got the word out among the Christian community.

I have the link to the film's website in my sig, down there.

 

[Professor Zoom]

I don't know if I would call this "big budget." More than a couple thousand, sure, but, this isn't like a 50 million dollar picture-- which is a low budget by Hollywood standards.

I saw the trailer a while ago--I started a thread in the place that shall not be named--and looks AWFUL.

And, come on, TRAINS, what the hell? Who cares about TRAINS anymore? When was the last time someone outside of the NorthEast took a TRAIN? I can't think of anything more out of touch with modern day economics.

I think the Free Market will speak.... this movie will crash and burn.

 

[Rush Limborg]

On the trains: the premise is that, with gas prices shooting up like mad in the near future (due to a crisis in the Middle East...), airplane travel becomes too expensive, and high-speed rail becomes the norm....

As to it crashing and burning...well, let's see.

 

[Spot's Meow]

There were only two books we had to read in school that I was never able to finish. Those were Moby Dick and Atlas Shrugged, for the sheer boredom factor. So I don't think I'll be seeing the movie.

 

[Roger Wilco]

Wow, it's up to 6% on RT, when I checked this morning it was still at a solid 0. I guess they found one Murdoch newspaper reviewer willing to give it a thumbs up afterall.

 

[Professor Zoom]

On the trains: the premise is that, with gas prices shooting up like mad in the near future (due to a crisis in the Middle East...), airplane travel becomes too expensive, and high-speed rail becomes the norm....

As to it crashing and burning...well, let's see.

Yeah, I'm sure it's a well thought out premise: who would want to travel across the country in 5 hours, when they could do it in 2 days?

They might make their money back--easy to do when you spend 10 million (which was the budget of their (Rocky Mountain Pictures) highest grossing picture... which brought in 11 million, five years ago.) There's no other budget data on their other movies... Rocky Mountain Pictures.

This movie will be a blip. Most people don't know this movie is coming out. And those who do know, don't care.

This movie was rushed into production because the guy was losing the rights and to make a quick buck.

But if anyone thinks this will suddenly capture the imagination of the country, is sadly deluded.

It'll probably be successful like Hubbard novels are, the true believers buying multiple copies.

 

[Christopher]

On the trains: the premise is that, with gas prices shooting up like mad in the near future (due to a crisis in the Middle East...), airplane travel becomes too expensive, and high-speed rail becomes the norm....

Yeah, I'm sure it's a well thought out premise: who would want to travel across the country in 5 hours, when they could do it in 2 days?

I'm going from Cincinnati to Seattle soon, and I seriously considered going by train because I don't like flying. The main reason I ultimately didn't is that by the time I tried booking a seat, there were no longer any available that would get me to Seattle in time.

But I think you missed the reference in the quoted passage to high-speed rail. I don't know much about this movie, but I'd assume that's a reference to something like the bullet trains they have in Japan, Europe, and elsewhere, which travel at several hundred kilometers per hour. Such a train could cross the United States in under ten hours, not much longer than a plane flight.

 

[Professor Zoom]

On the trains: the premise is that, with gas prices shooting up like mad in the near future (due to a crisis in the Middle East...), airplane travel becomes too expensive, and high-speed rail becomes the norm....

Yeah, I'm sure it's a well thought out premise: who would want to travel across the country in 5 hours, when they could do it in 2 days?

I'm going from Cincinnati to Seattle soon, and I seriously considered going by train because I don't like flying. The main reason I ultimately didn't is that by the time I tried booking a seat, there were no longer any available that would get me to Seattle in time.

I've thought about doing a train, because it might be fun...

But I think you missed the reference in the quoted passage to high-speed rail. I don't know much about this movie, but I'd assume that's a reference to something like the bullet trains they have in Japan, Europe, and elsewhere, which travel at several hundred kilometers per hour. Such a train could cross the United States in under ten hours, not much longer than a plane flight.

That's if those trains never STOPPED--which is unlike the business model of any train. Is there a passenger train that goes for ten hours without stopping to pick up passengers or drop some off?

Europe is a much smaller region of territory than the US.

And even then, most people would rather spend 5 hours on a plane than 10 hours on a train.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Most people also want affordable transportation. The premise is that air travel is no longer affordable.

 

[ToddPence]

"Atlas Shrugged" was supposed to have been made into a miniseries back in 1979. A complete script was written and casting was begun. However, the project was abruptly scratched and shelved.

 

[Greg Cox]

And even then, most people would rather spend 5 hours on a plane than 10 hours on a train.

Depends. If you have the time, I've usually found trains to be much more relaxing and enjoyable than the ordeal air-travel has become.

Yeah, if you're in a hurry to get to NYC for business, a plane is your best option, but I have fond memories of leisurely railway excursions to Bath and Niagara Falls . . . .

Not that I have any interest in this movie.

 

[Pink Skin]

There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.

 

[Captaindemotion]

There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.

I heard that one before, but it still makes me laugh. I was actually trying to remember it so I could quote it!

 

[Professor Zoom]

Most people also want affordable transportation. The premise is that air travel is no longer affordable.

Time is money.

And of course, buses are the cheapest way to get across the country, but, I don't see a lot of people taking those, not in the numbers who take airplanes.

My point is, it is such a huge premise to swallow....

And even then, most people would rather spend 5 hours on a plane than 10 hours on a train.

Depends. If you have the time, I've usually found trains to be much more relaxing and enjoyable than the ordeal air-travel has become.

Absolutely, I agree.

Yeah, if you're in a hurry to get to NYC for business, a plane is your best option, but I have fond memories of leisurely railway excursions to Bath and Niagara Falls . . . .

Not that I have any interest in this movie.

I would much rather do a three hour train ride than a three hour plane ride. However, most of the traveling I do, I'm either seeing family or business, a train ride would be feasible. Most of the time would be spent on the train.

Now, if I was traveling to Europe, once I got there, I would be mostly on the rails.

 

[Christopher]

My point is, it is such a huge premise to swallow....

Says the guy who named himself after a superhumanly fast, time-travelling villain in yellow tights.