Review of Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed (2008) by Chris M — 27 Jun 2008

A movie that, like anything Michael Moore has ever done, will never get a fair review based on merit. It's not as compelling or as sensationalist as Moore's work, but it has an argument to make, and Ben Stein makes it. As someone who, I regret to say, sits on the fence far too often on these issues, I try to see both sides. Stein makes a very strong case that I've been aware of for quite awhile.

Since the beginning of time, there has been one pervasive idea represented by an establishment, and there will always be a struggle to protect free speech in the western world. People would much rather blindly come up with their own ideas and then figure out how to support and defend them later... if at all - and these are the people who have always run things.

That's true of religious and non-religious people. Stein isn't as brash or rude or aggressive as Michael Moore, and I prefer that as a viewer. Many will not. And many will simply call him names as a way of avoiding questioning their own belief system. I don't see why we have to get so worked up about this. He's just a guy with an idea. As a movie, it's nicely done, but it isn't going to change popular culture.