Review of Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed (2008) by Dave W — 08 Feb 2009

OK, so like most "documentaires", I use the term loosely because I haven't seen a completely objective one in recent years, the film makers' views on the subject come through in the film. I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the movie and the interviews throughout the film. Unlike most reviews I've read on the internet, I don't see this as being anti-evolution or pro-intelligent design. The film is trying to show the lack of free speech and free thinking allowed in the scientific community with regards to how life began and evolved.

As my understanding of evolution goes, or as this film is trying to get to the heart of, the ORIGIN of life, no one knows how it came to be. During my experience with science in my life, I was taught that ideas are just theories or hypotheses until they can be duplicated in a controlled environment. In regards to the origin of life and the theory about that derived from evolution, it has NOT been recreated in a lab. Now, that being said, if evolution in regards to the creation of life can't be proven (using repeatable scientific results) then how can another theory be dispelled whole heartedly.

Now I did not feel the film came off as pro-creationism, and the reason is that intelligent design does not have to involve God. I know, many people will say that it's just another term for creationism, but intelligent design isn't deity exclusive. Nature is always trying to balance itself out (and there are quite a few scientists that will agree with that) and it has nothing to do with any deity. So could the creation of life have been caused by nature, or even universal forces, trying to balance things out? I don't know, I'm not a scientist, but with as little we understand about the universe, how can we begin to deny theories that try to solve this mystery.

Sorry about the long-winded rant, but most of the reviews I've read haven't focused on the movie at all, but the views expressed therein. I feel the makers of Expelled have done a great job arguing the point that until how life was created can be proven, no theory should be cast aside. The film was entertaining, funny, poignant, and thought provoking. It raised a very good question... why should anyone be silenced or punished for having views that are unpopular in their community. Like Ben Stein, I look forward to the day when this scientific field is more open minded. In the grand scheme of things it wasn't that long ago when people thought Mars was a planet. Our understanding of the universe and our own world is changing every day. This film wants people to realize that the only way for scientific discoveries to happen, scientists need to be open to all possible outcomes, and people should not be persecuted for their beliefs.

OH, and it has a GREAT soundtrack.