Review of Atlas Shrugged: Part II (2012) by David J — 12 Oct 2012

Full disclosure: I am a huge fan of the book. However, 90% of the time when a beloved book is made into a movie, it disappoints. Part 1 was respectful to source material but lacked a punch. Part 2 is everything I wanted it to be, as a fan of the book, but also a well paced movie with good acting.

It brought the characters to life and made them more human. Even with the need to condense a huge amount of material into a trilogy of relatively short movies, we get enough moments away from action and politics to see the characters in their private moments.

Dagny in the office alone, fighting tears at the thought of her life's work falling apart; Rearden relaxing after a business meeting; Francisco choking down frustration for failing to recruit Rearden to the cause.

This for me made the movie valuable, these extra small visuals that only a movie can provide. I have no idea how someone unfamiliar with a book will see the movie, but I think it's best to see it as a visual representation of the book and its ideas rather than a stand alone.

See the movie, but also PLEASE read the book. You owe it to yourself to at least have a first hand opinion on the subject.