ASp3 Themes

Posted by Hiraghm 12 years, 4 months ago to The Gulch: General
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I don't regard the Atlas Shrugged movie project as an attempt to release a piece of entertainment. I regard it as a propaganda campaign. (remember, propaganda can be true).

As such, I think some themes need to be emphasized that were glossed over a bit in the first two movies, either because the dialog was cut, or was delivered too briefly.

Obviously ASp3 will deal with Dagny's time in the Gulch. As Galt is showing her around, he could once again reiterate why he left the 20th Century Motor Company.
But I think it's important to show how life in the Gulch differs from the outside world. The class-less-ness. (such as a successful banker running a hog farm). Also, a clarification of the oath might help. Without a context, the oath can easily be taken as a declaration of selfishness. I think Dagny put it best in ASp2; "I won't be a slave; and I won't be a slave driver". That's the oath, IMO, in a nutshell. I swear upon my life not to use people, nor to let people use me.

A minor nit; as things run down, cell service will become spotty in the outside world. Clothes will become shabbier, food more scarce.

I think another important thing to make sure makes it into the 3rd movie is how railroad shipments are being manipulated based upon political considerations, not actual needs or financial considerations.

In "Go Tell the Spartans", there's a scene with a staged riot. The story explains how the rioters attempt to manipulate the media by giving themselves razor cuts and provoking the milice and then cowering in front of the cameras when the milice try to drive them back.

I think something similar might be useful during the "riot" at the Rearden factory. The schism between his actual workers and the imported rioters would be important, too, IMO.

I think the whole of Project X could be dealt with briefly, providing more time for more important topics. It might even be eliminated, except for references in the narrative.
Likewise, I hope any porn scenes are left out of the 3rd movie. They serve no purpose.
In the olden days, in ASp1, they would have shown Dagny and Hank go into the same bedroom together, and either the light would go out, or the door close, and then it would be the next morning and they were having breakfast. This saves precious seconds from a story already crushed for time, and allows the imagination to work on the details of their sexual exploits (for those minds that would care).
Likewise, the entire scene after the Taggart wedding could be cut. It's irrelevant. They could cut right to the scene where Lillian confronts Hank. The fact that he was with Dagny the night before could be easily inferred from him walking in in the am, Lillian asking her questions and saying, "You have her all over you".
Again, precious seconds saved, narrative tightened, and modern immature idiots are not pandered-to, something of which I approve.

I don't need to tell anyone that Galt's speech will have to be carefully edited. It's going to have to be modified to fit within the movie schedule, yet still hit all of the important points. I think it can be done, because much of his speech can be made redundant.


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  • Posted by khalling 12 years, 4 months ago in reply to this comment.
    in addition, lionel, it shows that the government will use science to create weapons instead of productive products. This has important analogies to the global warming hoax and the NSA revelations.
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  • Posted by Lucky 12 years, 4 months ago
    I like and agree with a lot of these comments but for different reasons.
    In Rand's writing, sex is important, often it is rough stuff, this an area where I have problems, I am still a 'fan boy' though. In Part II these scenes are authentic, softened even.
    I would go more for the erotic and emotion and less of the grunting and humping.
    The bottom line is, this an American film, not French or Japanese. I trust the directors to know what the public wants.
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  • Posted by LionelHutz 12 years, 4 months ago
    It might be too late for this to make it into part 3, given they ignored this element in the earlier parts. However, I think it would be good to explain that the extremely high fuel rates seen ($400 to fill your car) are due to taxes, and this tax money is being collected not to solve any problems in America, but instead to ship goods to the Peoples States of Europe. You've got to work Ragnar into this story. Explain the motivation for his piracy. The gold bar scene with him and Rearden, and the Robin Hood speech are important to me.
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  • Posted by LionelHutz 12 years, 4 months ago
    Project X is important not only because they needed Reardon Metal to build it, but primarily because it demonstrates the government, when in total control and running everything to the ground, will choose to turn weapons on its own people to stay in power rather than step aside and let a change of direction occur that would improve the situation.
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  • Posted by Rozar 12 years, 4 months ago
    I agree with most of what you said but even propaganda has to be attractive. You have to have an emotional side of the movie, some kind of love story to keep more people interested. It has to have a good entertainment value.
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  • Posted by $ johnrobert2 12 years, 4 months ago
    Right on . I felt the bedroom scenes were superfluous, also. As I remember, they were not in the book. AR gave the hint but no graphic detail. The story would have moved just as well, if not better, without it.
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