Another Point For Roger Ebert

[grunion]

Ever since a Russ Meyer film festival I screened with friends in the mid-70's, Roger Ebert has held a special place in my heart. Having co-written both big-boob classics Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls and Beneath The Valley Of The Ultra-Vixens, he could have rested on his considerable laurels and be assured a place on my own personal Walk Of Fame.

But no, he had to persist, and became one of the most literate film critics of our time. I love reading his reviews - though I don't always agree (and I quite often do), he always seems to find the most interesting thing to say about each movie he reviews.

Well, he's done it again with his latest treatment of Ben Stein's erudite documentary, eXpelled. Have a look.

Ben Stein is only getting warmed up. He takes a field trip to visit one "result" of Darwinism: Nazi concentration camps. "As a Jew," he says, "I wanted to see for myself." We see footage of gaunt, skeletal prisoners. Pathetic children. A mound of naked Jewish corpses. "It's difficult to describe how it felt to walk through such a haunting place," he says. Oh, go ahead, Ben Stein. Describe. It filled you with hatred for Charles Darwin and his followers, who represent the overwhelming majority of educated people in every nation on earth. It is not difficult for me to describe how you made me feel by exploiting the deaths of millions of Jews in support of your argument for a peripheral Christian belief. It fills me with contempt.

 

[CFLarsen]

"Expelled" is a pile of dung. Truly a bad, bad movie.

Not only does pander to the lowest instincts, it does so in an incredibly crude manner.

Yes, I've seen it. Ebert is absolutely spot on.

 

[Kthulhut Fhtagn]

Once more I find myself mentally applauding Roger Ebert. I'd love to shake that man's hand or buy him a round of whatever it is he drinks (if he drinks). I'm glad that he pointed out the blatant hypocrisy that many Creationists use; the fallacy of assuming that a middle ground doesn't exist. That there are only secular atheists who believe in evolution or God-fearing folk who believe in Creationism. The idea that there are no secular atheists who don't regard evolution as a fact and a valid theory and there are no Theists who do regard evolution as a fact and a valid theory is just inane and illogical. It's deceit at it's worst or otherwise they're simply stating that a person cannot be a part of their religion and regard evolution as perfectly valid.

 

[Kooz]

I had no idea until his recent book that he was sucha skeptic--I guess I've never paid any attention to him. I've since read some of his work--reviews and other things--what a guy! Let's get him at a TAM!

 

[boloboffin]

I had no idea until his recent book that he was sucha skeptic--I guess I've never paid any attention to him. I've since read some of his work--reviews and other things--what a guy! Let's get him at a TAM!

He'd be great to have there, but he can no longer speak unassisted, from what I understand.

 

[NobbyNobbs]

He'd be great to have there, but he can no longer speak unassisted, from what I understand.

Neither can I, but it doesn't stop me from communicating. If he needs assistance, that shouldn't stop us from getting him there.

 

[boloboffin]

Oh, I'm all for it! I'd be happy to meet the guy, if only to share my memory of coming across the last 40 minutes of Beyond the Valley of the Dolls on cable one day, with no idea of what it was supposed to be. I had to remind myself that I had never taken acid and so couldn't be flashing back.