ejonp

If I read one more review for this movie that says "If you don't like it, you clearly don't *understand* it" - as if Ayn Rand were somehow subtle or complex. Whether or not you agree with Rand's philosophy and politics, this movie is *objectively* awful (pun intended). Once more, they've switched casts, and some of their choices are really strange. Francisco is now clearly old enough to be Dagny's father, making their previous relationship really creepy, and possibly illegal. It struck me as comical miscasting to have Rob Morrow play Hank Rearden, so I was really curious to see how that worked out. Unfortunately, they cut him almost entirely out, having him only appear briefly in some of the narrated montages (more about those in a minute). Most of the new actors do the best with what they've been given. I really liked Mark Moses (Desperate Housewives) as Midas Mulligan, and even though he doesn't look the part, Kristoffer Polaha does a good job with John Galt. In fact, he gives him significantly more personality that the book's character has. Unfortunately, the script is so laughably bad that good acting can't save it. As for the rest, the movie screams low budget at every turn. They try to save money by filming much of it outdoors and in national parks - specifically Sequoia National park! I don't mean that you occasionally catch a glimpse of a sequoia, I mean they rely heavily on them, even driving through the famous tunnel in the fallen tree - twice - just to remind you were it was really filmed. I honestly think Aglialoro might not realize there are no sequoias in Colorado. Don't get me wrong, these parts are beautifully filmed, and definitely the highlight of the movie, but the fact that an Ayn Rand movie relies so heavily on national parts is an irony that can only be lost on her true believers. The parts that aren't in the woods are comically cheap. Large parts are narrated over montages and even stock footage. The sets and props they do use are strictly amateur hour. I literally laughed out loud when they unveiled "Project F". I'm assuming that everyone who sees this movie has read the book, which is good because there are some really glaring plot holes that wouldn't make sense otherwise. Neither of the first movies was very good, but this one finally rises to the level of campy fun that makes it "so bad its good", and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that RiffTrax decides to take it on.