Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed (2008) Jeff’s Review

Ben Stein’s new documentary Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, hopes to expose the Scientific community as being close minded to the slightest idea that God could have played a role in the creation of humanity.

Stein doesn’t not preach or try and convince anyone that Intelligent Design is superior to Darwin’s theory of evolution. His main thesis is, science is not science when it close out all debate on any one subject. And he does a magnificent job showing the bitterness and distain they have towards anyone in the scientific community who even mentions a creationists theory.

I was somewhat sad they didn’t touch on anyone who believes in theist evolution. The idea that God could have used evolution in the creation of man. This theory is much more widely believed then a straight seven day creation theory held by many Protestants in the United States.

It’s interesting to note this documentary is getting distorted by many mainstream critics who called it propaganda. These same critics praised and lauded Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11. Claudia Puig of the USA today called Expelled, “propaganda, a political rant disguised as a serious commentary on stifled freedom of inquire,” but raved about Moore’s film as “informative, provocative, frightening, compelling, funny, manipulative and, most of all, entertaining.”

If you are liked me and like a balanced of view on all perspectives, this is a film you don’t want to miss. It has extremely well production value and Ben Stein is very witty and personable. Three out of four stars.

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

As any Stephan King fan knows, his books sometimes have trouble translating to film. King has even gone so far as to sue certain film makers after the fact, because they made such horrible representation of his works. However because Stephan King, is such a brilliant writer, when his films do succeed they are usually masterpieces.

Such is the case with the Shawshank Redemption. Frank Darabont took this short story about a man falsely imprisoned for murder and turned it into the greatest movie ever made!

Set in the late forties, Tim Robins plays, Andy Dufresne, a successful banker, who is tried and convicted of the murder of his wife and her lover. He is sentenced to two life terms in prison, without the possibility of parole. Once there he is confronted with the harsh reality, that will be his life from this day on.

He eventually meets a man named Red, played wonderfully by Morgan Freeman. Red is everyone’s go to guy, if there is something you want, he is the guy that can get it for you. Andy asks Red if he could get him a rock hammer, because Andy is making a chess board and would like the hammer to make the pieces.  And so begins one of the strongest friendships ever portrayed in film. Robins and Freeman are such amazing actors, you feel as if each line of dialogue is being spoken directly to you.

Obviously in a prison movie, you are bound to get themes like hope and freedom. But with the Shawshank Redemption it is more then just clever story telling.  You actually share the same hopefulness with Andy as he longs for his freedom once again.  

As movies go, you don’t get better then the Shawshank Redemption! The only other movie that is in the same league is the Green Mile. Which also happens to be a Stephan King movie adapted for screen, by Frank Darabont. As Andy says, “Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and good things never die.” Neither will the Shawshank Redemption. Four out of four stars.

Drew and Mike - News and Celebrity Numbers

101.1 FM WRIF - From August 2, 2006 - Drew and Mike talk about how the news is going crazy over the heat. Also, Drew and Mike call celebrity phone numbers (and speak to Vice President Al Gore). Which leads to him playing an hilarious interview Harvey Levin has with Paris Hilton.