April 25, 2008
Movie review: Ben Stein's, "EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed"
By Stan Dyer
Forget the part about, "No intelligence allowed". After all, they let me in with no questions. Besides, it did not take long to realize that viewers will require at least an open mind, (if not some advanced education), to fully grasp the entire message of this film. If you decide to take in this movie, get ready for an elaborate hour and a half lecture debating the controversy surrounding the Intelligent Design Theory VS Darwin's Origin of the Species.
In 1925, James Thomas Scopes challenged a Tennessee law that forbade teaching Darwin's theory of evolution in the classroom. At that time, it was near heresy to consider such a thing. Now, 88 years later, Ben Stein would have us believe society has gone full circle and it is now almost a sacrilege to claim a Supreme Being, instead, created life. Although he does not clearly take sides on the issue, he does present a number of
experts from both sides of the fence, and, in the end, very little is decided. The intent of this movie is not to decide the issue, but, rather, to open up intelligent discussion of the matter and "tear down the wall".
Stein claims that in much the same manner there used to be a wall dividing East Berlin from West Berlin, there is a wall dividing opposing theories on the matter and that people have lost both jobs and careers for just suggesting there might be some Intelligent Design behind the creation of the Universe. As Stein points out the strong polarity on this issue, I could not help but recall other follies from the history. There was a time when scholarly minds believed the world was flat and that the Sun revolved around the Earth. There was a time when Galenic Tradition, balancing the four humors, was the state of the art in medicine. There was a time when every electrical device required wire hook-ups. The point is that no matter how much society advances, we still think in absolute terms about things and it is difficult for even the most advanced thinkers to consider the abstract. I was on Mr. Stein's side all through the movie, but the one part that really grabbed me was something I prefer to forget. He compared Darwinism to Nazism.
It is true. Hitler did use much of the Darwin's theory to support his concept of a "Master Race', genocide and a quest for world dominance. Stein takes us to the hospital in Germany where 15,000 Germans were "euthanized" simply because they were handicapped, mentally inferior, or considered useless because they ate more than they worked. The real shocking part about that is the quote that comes directly from Darwin. In analogizing humans to animals, Darwin said, "...no farmer would let sick animals breed". Then, before we Americans can claim no guilt in the matter, Stein reminds us of a theory popular in the 1920's called "Eugenics" that promoted much the same idea of "designed survival of the fittest". Eugenics developed into the more modern "Planned Parenthood", which, after all, is largely devoted to keeping poor people from having babies. Stein claims this is what happens when people take such theories too seriously. To me, it is just another example of "elitism", as if the only people in the world who matter are those who are rich, famous, gifted and educated.
Stein calls on the audience to open discussion on the matter, stop persecuting people who think differently, and to reconsider the freedoms that make America the great country it is. In many ways, his argument can apply to any number of subjects. People tend to think too much in terms of absolutes because it is easier than considering differing points of view. For a good example, look at the presidential elections going on now. How many people are really considering the candidates on their true merit instead of on other factors such as political affiliation, popularity, or one's own baseless beliefs? It is now and always has been easier for people to follow the crowd than to exercise their freedom and think for themselves. Stein just asks us to consider "tearing down" those walls of ignorance and open our minds to fresh thought whether it be about Darwin, a Supreme Being, or anything at all that we take for granted as absolutely the truth.
I give the movie an "A". There is nothing new or exciting about the movie. In fact, parts are rather boring and I heard audience members snoring. What is good about this movie is that it challenges us to challenge ourselves. I do not see the movie as the argument of Darwin VS Creationism or "Scopes Monkey Trial 2008". Rather, I see that argument as an allegory for many of the problems the world faces today. It is easy to change the subject, insert a new one, and make a similar argument. The real point of the movie is to remind us all of the freedoms we possess and what can happen when we voluntarily give up those freedoms to follow the herd.
Title: EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed
Director: Nathan Frankowski
Genre: Philosophical Documentary, Run Time: 1 hour 30 minutes, Rating: PG
Cast: Ben Stein, The Theories of Charles Darwin, The Creator of the Universe, Numerous writers, professors, doctors, modern thinkers, historical references and a lot of black and white footage, both from the past and more recently manufactured.