""Expelled" seeks to propagandize evolution, to take a few Spencerian
misconceptions about the "fittest survival techniques." Though it
should be relatively easy to wade through the options this film
presents, it will no doubt appeal to the certain audience that will see
it.
One woman enthusiastically stopped me afterwards to sing the
film's praises. "Now, that was an honest take, don't you think?" she
said. "The other side of the story." Stories should be left for Disney
to tell.
Stein loses sight of his claim as the film wears on. It becomes
scarcely about academic freedom and more about Hitler. Stein's
storybook gets more elaborate as evolution is held responsible for
everything from eugenics and the Holocaust to the current unemployment
rate and the war in Iraq; mix around some disgruntled "scientists,"
sprinkle in few Nazis and you probably have an advanced copy of the
script.
So This Is What Ben Stein Did With His Money
A new film financed by former game show host and Nixon speech writer Ben Stein puts forth flimsy evidence connecting evolution with 20th century totalitarianism. Instead of Darwin, he argues, we should believe in intelligent design. Can he really be serious, or is this shameless conservative pandering?