.jeri.

Ric and the Agadonis and I went to an event at the university where Expelled was supposedly going to be screened, only to find out that it was Ben Stein in person talking about the movie. It ended up being an interesting event, but we were all disappointed that we would have to shell out another $10 to see the movie. Oh well.

The documentary is about how people in the scientific world of academia who even mention or consider the idea of intelligent design as an explanation for the origin of life are basically being blacklisted. Ben Stein interviews several people who have experienced unfair treatment. He goes on to interview experts in the field of ID and also experts in the field of evolution. He then explores the arguments of both sides.

Overall, I thought the movie was thought-provoking. I didn't care for the old footage (there are several clips of old movies) at all and worry that the movie's exploration of the Darwinian extremes (Hitler, communism) will come across as fanatical. I think that's probably why the movie is receiving poor marks from the critics.

Oh yeah, did I mention there's a scene of Ben Stein on our campus, walking in front of the 50 foot Jesus? That whole scene was like one big advertisement for our school.

I think Ben Stein's intentions were better revealed to us at the event we went to at the university, and Expelled actually meanders more than I would like. Personally, I didn't think the movie needed to be about Intelligent Design vs. Darwinism. A film is far too short a forum for discussing such big topics, although I admit that Stein addressed more than I thought he would. If he, like he did at the university event, had focused solely on the idea of people being Expelled because of their own academic inquiry, I think it would resonate more with audiences and make a bigger impact as well.

Even so, it was interesting and sometimes amusing, and a good conversation starter, to say the least.