Jet And Jackie Nudge Out Judd For No. 1; Ben Stein Shows He's No Michael Moore

154 Comments »

1. So Sarah Marshall was on the higher end of Uni’s predictions, decent enough.

   Worth noting: The star-less FSM opened bigger than star-powered disappointments like Heartbreak Kid, Drillbit Taylor, Semi-Pro and Fred Claus.

   Comment by 40yearoldstitzer — April 18, 2008 @ 11:34 pm

2. Not that we care about such things in a business blog, but I saw Forgetting Sarah Marshall today and I liked it.

   Comment by mheister — April 19, 2008 @ 12:59 am

3. Eh, still a bit disappointing. Considering FSM was more promoted everywhere and virally than Forbidden Kingdom. Now it depends of word of mouth if FSM can be considered to join Knocked Up and Superbad in the Apatow Blockbuster wing.

   Comment by Arrested Development Fan — April 19, 2008 @ 3:37 am

4. Worth noting: The star-less FSM opened bigger than star-powered disappointments like Heartbreak Kid, Drillbit Taylor, Semi-Pro and Fred Claus.

   And its budget was probably about 1/3 of what those other films cost because of its lack of “star power.” So a 17m opening weekend is pretty darn sweet.

   Of course most “stars” in Hollywood’s A-list couldn’t sell tickets to a bunker during a nuclear war. Their main gift is attracting media attention not audiences.

   Comment by Furious D — April 19, 2008 @ 6:44 am

5. Also of interest, Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden looks like it will only pull in an estimated $1300 in limited release (102 theaters) while Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed is looking at around a $3000 average.

   Comment by TheEndSA — April 19, 2008 @ 7:34 am

6. With rising gas (the $4 gallon arrived on Thursday) and food prices, expect audiences to only give big business to a select few (Iron Man, Batman, Indy, Hancock.) Make no mistake, people are saving their money and the evidence will be smaller numbers for Speed Racer, Hulk 2, and Get Smart.

   2008 will not be a year where people need to see “every” event film.

   Comment by 40yearoldstitzer — April 19, 2008 @ 10:22 am

7. Expelled’s numbers aren’t bad. Michael Moore’s films had some big studio backing. Expelled was distributed by Rocky Mountain Pictures (who?). Why bring up this film when there’s no mention of Spurlock’s film bombing.

   Comment by Leo — April 19, 2008 @ 10:43 am

8. Michael Moore’s films have been incorrectly classed as documentaries which everyone knows but the sub-intelligent Hollywood crowd refuses to acknowledge. Why? They would be admitting that they don’t have a clue as to what the real truth is even if it had a passenger jet fly into Universal Studios office building.

   Lets see, Gore’s Inconvenient Truth verses todays news of a record snow fall in Juneau Alaska!!!

   Comment by Don — April 19, 2008 @ 11:07 am

9. Your comparison of Expelled with some of Moore’s films does not seem valid as people today are more interested
   in fiction that real life.

   Comment by Frank — April 19, 2008 @ 11:11 am

10. “So much for the conservative argument that people would flock to films not representing the “agenda of liberal Hollywood”.

    Political conservatives may not consider themselves “creationists” and the advertisements didn’t go into much detail about what the film was about. Just from the ads it looked like a film about public school in general. The few unbiased reviews I read didn’t make it out to be a film supporting creationism but rather about how only one line of thinking is permitted to be discussed in some circles and what happens when you question that line of thinking. We need skeptics and we need contrarians because they keep science honest and nobel. Comparing Ben Stein to Moore is a joke. Moore jumps people and if the footage doesn’t fit the agenda then it gets edited until it does. For example, Moore met Roger Smith and interviewed him. But that didn’t work for his movie so he just forgot about that. The experts in Stein’s movie were invited to speak and were paid for it. That they haven’t heard themselves talk before is not his problem nor that this is probably the first time they have actually had to defend their arguments. Which again gets back to the real point the movie is making.

    Comment by Bill — April 19, 2008 @ 11:18 am

11. Nikki, you is one angry bitch. You be writin’ like a ignernt schoolchild.

    What you don’t understand is that we conservatives will not pay to see this movie; it was made for liberals to watch. Think about it.

    Comment by Happy Man — April 19, 2008 @ 11:19 am

12. Per Nikki’s sources Expelled is pulling in less than $1200 per screen. Not $3000. Estimates put it pretty close to even with Osama if I understand correctly. I don’t know how to read that, should Spurlock be favored to do better, considering his Super-Size Me doc and his TV show? Thus, would a draw between these films be a de facto victory for Stein? Should Stein’s experiment be seen as a failure because it did not capture the attention of the supposed silent conservative majority? Or should they both be dismissed as not terribly successful, but interesting, attempts to target nonmainstream markets? I don’t know, and I don’t speak from a position of preference for one film or the other. Personally, I’d like to get out to see both films… righty after I catch Zombie Strippers.

    Comment by Did you even read the post? — April 19, 2008 @ 11:22 am

13. Why would you even mention Expelled, and not mention Spulock’s bomb, which averaged far less? And what “agressive” advertising campaign? I haven’t heard of this movie. Why don’t you report the performances, and keep your liberal ajenda to your self.

    Comment by Ehan Edwards — April 19, 2008 @ 11:27 am

14. 88 minutes is a good show. Pacino is great!!!! i went to a matinee and there were 7 very happy customers!

    Comment by Dave — April 19, 2008 @ 12:10 pm

15. I am amazed at how quickly you shunned your supposed objectivity and proclaimed, “So much for the conservative argument that people would flock to films not representing the “agenda of liberal Hollywood”.” How pathetic of you to say so based on this. I for one, will not pay to watch these liberal propaganda films (i.e. the plethora of current anti-war movies, any mockumentary from Moore, or the ultimate hypocrite - the almighty Al Gore, et al) and CANNOT WAIT FOR MORE CONSERVATIVE PROPAGANDA FILMS to come and compete in the open marketplace. Perhaps then your conservative-a-phobia fears might come true and you can go back to whining about equal time or some other such nonsense.

    Comment by Jim — April 19, 2008 @ 12:19 pm

16. Pacino should be at the point in his illustrious career where he doesn’t need to work just for the sake of working anymore and should therefore only reserve himself for worthy projects that will make honorable use of his tremendous abilities which is why it’s disconcerting to see him appear in boondoggling tripe such as the abovementioned that justifiably tanked even in the face of nonexistent competition within the adult demographic. Maybe he had to pay off a yacht or something so he just blindfolded himself and sifted randomly through a screenplay pile and settled on whichever stack he came up with.

    I saw FSM yesterday evening and felt it was somewhat “eh” though I should probably note that Walk Hard was the only output from the Apatow canon that I was enthusiastic about. With most of these movies if you strip away the envelope-pushing sauciness all you’re really left with is hackneyed material filtered through a banal t.v. sitcom prism of reality. I’m tired of hearing about the big to-do over the guy showing his hog too because it’s used as pure gimmickry in an attempt to make something out of nothing in a ho-hum breakup scene that propels the story in motion. It got a thunderous initial laugh from the audience I saw it with and then the subsequent shots got nervous perfunctory chuckles when it began to dawn on everybody that it was a one trick pony scene. I also think it’s silly that people are lauding this disrobing for balancing the gender scales of onscreen nudity in this day and age when virtually no starlets of high stature bare all anymore for fear of having the unclothed imagery disseminated on the stupid internet. And when an actor is sporting six soft it’s more a display of bragging than an act of daring to don the birthday suit onscreen; Harvey Keitel was more courageous back in the early 90’s when a succession of films prominently showcased his signature acorn. The only thing that really killed me about the movie was something completely separated from the dopey lovelorn schlep storyline: the recurring gag of the CSI send-up where Billy Baldwin apes David Caruso’s mannerisms to hilarious effect.

    Note to political zealots within DHD faithful nation: cut to the chase already if you please and start compiling hundreds upon hundreds of heated replies about the expulsion of Expelled from the b.o. charts. I’ve got a big vat of buttered popcorn in tow and I’m ready to see the sparks fly.

    Comment by Gerald — April 19, 2008 @ 12:29 pm

17. Nikke stop shilling for hollywood’s left.

    your still cryin in your spiked latte that Brokeback didnt get the oscar for best flick, and you think its all the conservatives fault.

    Expelled did pretty d*mn well considering its from “left field” in today’s hollywood climate.

    so how much did MMoore make on his first documentary release????

    feh….please be a bit more objective will you. its so unbecoming of you.

    PS
    I luv u still though. but you get under my skin everyone now and then, and this is one of those times :p

    Comment by lu-ee — April 19, 2008 @ 12:50 pm

18. Ditto on the obvious conservative bashing in regards to Expelled, Nikke. That was totally gratuitous.

    But then again, that’s what we’ve come to expect from Hollywood liberal types: nothing but scorn.

    Comment by Jimmyshine — April 19, 2008 @ 12:58 pm

19. The poor performance of Expelled may have more to do with Ben Stien’s lack luster media media popularity combined with is monotone speaking style than with the content of movie. Oh my! Ben Stien can’t fill a in theater seats to make a blockbuster movie, where’s the surprise? Ferris Bueller’s teacher is not going to sell no matter what he says.

    Comment by Egfrow — April 19, 2008 @ 12:59 pm

20. What is worth noting is that the movie experience has finally transcended into the living room, with turn arounds averaging a few months I’ll just wait. I am not a crank but spending 18 dollars (for 2) at a bargain matinee vs $4 for a rental (including NOT leaving my house with online downloads, leaving $14 for….?)be afraid Kirkorian, Regal, Lowes, AMC, et. al. be very afraid! Way back when Lord of the Rings I use to see 45 movies per year, this year ZERO.

    Comment by bp — April 19, 2008 @ 1:12 pm

21. If Ben Stein is no Michael Moore, he should take that as a compliment.

    Comment by Judd — April 19, 2008 @ 1:56 pm

22. Nikki,

    What’s the name of the Conservative who claims people will flock to see films not representing the “agenda of liberal Hollywood?” [your quotes]

    I read the Con Blogs every day.

    Conservatives do point out that many Hard Left films, especially the anti-war films, have failed badly.

    But claiming Conservative films would succeed?

    Get real. If we thought Con Films could make a profit, we’d have our own studios.

    And, “…..aggressive publicity campaign?”

    I heard about this film the first time a few days ago. Since I’m not a creationist, I don’t plan on seeing it before it’s released on TV.

    Comment by Steve — April 19, 2008 @ 1:59 pm

23. Agree with Leo. Are you just unable to resist taking a cheap shot at Stein?

    Comment by William Beers — April 19, 2008 @ 2:15 pm

24. “Expelled” has been advertised all over the place. It’s just that Stein’s movie is, like, four years too late. Everyone but the nutjobs are sick of the so-called “debate”.

    Comment by Alexander — April 19, 2008 @ 2:25 pm

25. Spurlock’s movie isn’t in the top ten and it had a lot more mainstream media exposure than Expelled. Ben Stein’s was talked about a fair bit on the right-wing radio shows and websites, but didn’t reach the mass audiences that the networks gave Michael Moore when he was promoting his films. I’m surprised Expelled made as much as it did, it just doesn’t look like a theatrical release documentary. I’m on the right but not on the ID bandwagon at all so this holds no interest for me.

    Comment by Joe Melnick — April 19, 2008 @ 2:31 pm

26. I wish I had never seen Bowling for Columbine, it showed that people in Hollywood will screw over their own legends and make money off a national tragedy without blaming whomever did it. It really destroyed the movie-going experience for me.

    Comment by Alrog — April 19, 2008 @ 2:45 pm

27. Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed should have made 3.5 million, who they f’ing kidding?? The fact the movie made over a million is a miracle in an of itself.

    BS biased people are so lame,. its so old

    Comment by JJ — April 19, 2008 @ 2:51 pm

28. “Expelled” was terrific. Everyone should see it! It was thought provoking and telling. I wish our school children could get such an honest presentation of scientific inquiry. And, the connection between Darwinism and Hitler’s motivation to exterminate “weaker” populations is frighteningly revealing. We should all be wary of that worldview. Also, the eugenics of Darwinism is rampant in the U.S., particularly among abortionists. Everyone should see this movie and take heed!

    Comment by Joseph Drake — April 19, 2008 @ 2:53 pm

29. No comparison needed Nikki. I am amazed that it was able to break through the fascist liberal media. Quite happy it was released theatrically and I will be checking it out this weekend.

    Comment by Aaron Schneiderman — April 19, 2008 @ 3:03 pm

30. What the “Expelled” numbers tell me, is that people go to the movies to escape, not to be told what others think, or expect me to think.Hence the poor numbers of some of the recent propaganda movies.
    The fact that this reporter has refused to make note of this, shows me that he has no clue. At some point he has forgotten that movies theaters are entertainment centers, not social reconstrutction centers.
    I WILL watch Expelled, when it comes out on dvd, But I wont pay $8.00 bucks to see it.
    We evil conservatives have those big 50″ flat screens, and surround sound, primarily so we dont have to go stand in line and tolerate you lower life working class people.

    Or so I have been told,

    Comment by spasticjack — April 19, 2008 @ 3:10 pm

31. once again, the conservatives have lost.

    you Drudge clowns bombarded this website last time, laughing about George Clooney’s “failure.” And you all said that “if Hollywood would make conservative movies, we’d go out to see them.”

    WRONG. YOU CONSERVATIVE CAVEMEN LOSE AGAIN.

    And now, you’re reduced to complaining like little babies. Asking Nikke to compare slop like “Expelled” to Michael Moore’s first documentary!!! LOL

    You guys have nothing. We liberals run Hollywood, Broadway, the music industry, all of the arts, Silicon Valley, and Wall Street. All the best ideas come from liberals - including the Internet.

    We liberals have New York and California and Chicago and all the American cities that matter.

    If the US had a civil war, and separated into Red states vs. Blue states, you clowns would HAVE A THIRD WORLD ECONOMY. YOU’D HAVE ALABAMA AND THE REST OF THE BACKWARD SOUTH.

    What have you Cons accomplished in the last 8 years? What have you gained for this country? Name one thing, other than “tax cuts.”

    You cons are too thick headed to realize that your “tax cut” is actually a tax hike because wages have been going DOWN since Clinton left office. Prices for everything are HIGHER, since you dolts believe in deficits and debt.

    Fools. The stock market is exactly where it was when Bill Clinton left office.

    Gas prices, oil prices, and food prices are at all time highs. The dollar is at historical lows. We are in two wars and we aren’t winning.

    No matter what you say about evolution or global warming, OTHER COUNTRIES LIKE CHINA are already working on scientific projects that will expand green energy and create jobs. They also teach real science, like evolution, and they will gain knowledge on fighting disease by working with stem cells.

    Once again, we liberals will drag you CONS, kicking and screaming, into the 21st century.

    You fought us during the Enlightenment. You fought us during the Civil War. You fought against women’s rights. You fought against civil rights. You fought against worker’s rights. You fought Galileo. You fought MLK. And you fight us today.

    There is a lot of proof out there for evolution. Where is the scientific proof for your side? (And btw, I believe in God.)

    Humans began in Africa. Darwin predicted this. Where is your proof that they did not?

    What have you CONS accomplished, ever? I will give $50 via Paypal to any CON who can name ONE GREAT CONSERVATIVE MAN OF THE PEOPLE. NAME ONE GREAT CONSERVATIVE ARTIST, OR LOVER, OR PHILOSOPHER. NAME JUST FIVE GREAT CONSERVATIVE PAINTERS OR PLAYWRIGHTS OR SCREENWRITERS OR DIRECTORS OR POETS.

    Heck, name me one great CONSERVATIVE ACTOR! (John Wayne doesn’t count; I mean a critically acclaimed actor.)

    All the greats of history were LIBERALS of their time - Amadeus, Michelangelo, daVinci, Pollack, Dali, Spielberg, MLK, JFK, RFK, Gandhi, Chaplin, Sir Thomas More.

    The great villains of history - from Hitler to Mussolini to yes, Pol Pot and Stalin and Mao - were all social and cultural conservatives. They shut down the arts, shut down the vote, and shut down those “who were different.” They all saw things in black and white, like you CONS do. They all put fealty to the state as priority #1. Like you cons do. Hitler wrote in his book about how he “hated liberals.”

    liberal gifts to the world: 8 hour work day, social security, medicaid, medicare, equal rights, no child labor, paid vacations, maternity leave, unleaded gas, stem cell research that will lead to cures, women’s rights, college loans, unemployment compensation, movies, rock and roll, jazz, impressionism, the idea of liberty, product and worker safety measures, the idea of regulation (something you cons hate) and on and on and on.

    You cons live in a free and somewhat fair society because of us. You live in a culture that has some “Culture” because of us. If you don’t believe me, go to an art gallery in SoHo for a day. Then the next day, go visit Alabama or Mississippi for a day.

    We are talking 2 different types of people here. And that is why you CONS lose, and will always be on the wrong side of history.

    Goodbye.

    Comment by Bob — April 19, 2008 @ 3:15 pm

32. I do not think you can compare Ben Stein’s film with Michael Moore’s. After all, All of Moore’s films are fiction.

    Comment by Dennis in Memphis — April 19, 2008 @ 3:20 pm

33. I just saw “Expelled” in St. Louis and the theatre was packed at the 2:30 showing - I had to sit in the first few rows and the steady-cam footage was killing me…

    Comment by barlow — April 19, 2008 @ 3:26 pm

34. Actually Expelled is very much like a Michael Moore documentary, although Ben Stein staged more events then even Michael Moore has. Using extras at a university and saying they were students? Not telling the truth about why certain people are no longer holding certain jobs but saying it was because they believe in ID. C’mon. Yeah he will probably fool people who are completely ignorant of evolution and science in general, but not everyone is that stupid Mr Stein.

    Isn’t this where all you conservatives who have been complaining about celebrities needing to shut up and act should be saying the same thing about celebrity Ben Stein? Or are you a bunch of hypocrites?

    Comment by Boris — April 19, 2008 @ 3:36 pm

35. 40yearoldstitzer I agree with you 100%
    I’ve been really cutting back and I’ll be doing the matinees

    Comment by alnbravo — April 19, 2008 @ 4:00 pm

36. I consider myself fairly conservative. I saw the TV ads for Expelled and had no idea afterward that it was about the so-called “theory” of Intelligent Design. The reason it appears not to have done well is that most people didn’t get a clear idea of what it’s about, and even the vast majority of conservatives don’t buy into the Intelligent Design “theory” any more than they believe in the Global Warming hoax.

    The idea of Ben Stein in shorts ain’t exactly a big box office draw either…

    Comment by Dalton — April 19, 2008 @ 4:11 pm

37. “Expelled” is not a documentary, it is a propaganda screed.

    -jcr

    Comment by John C. Randolph — April 19, 2008 @ 4:18 pm

38. Yeah, Ben Stein is half the man Michael Moore is…

    Comment by Mike — April 19, 2008 @ 4:26 pm

39. Anyone know when the Ed movie will be out?

    Comment by Morrie Schwartz — April 19, 2008 @ 4:41 pm

40. Ehan Edwards that was a great comment.

    All I can do is, second it!

    Comment by AL — April 19, 2008 @ 4:45 pm

41. Hey, everyone! Let’s put words in Nikki’s mouth and then make fun of them! Then, we can posture the opposite of what she actually said as true! Fun!

    —

    So, just so we’re clear, we agree with her that Expelled is a miserably failure, but we really dislike that she claimed it was trying not to fail and failed at that. Good. That’s clear.

    Comment by Chad — April 19, 2008 @ 4:46 pm

42. Thank God Ben’s no Michael Moore! He didn’t fabricate most of the content as Michael Moore does. You also have to take into account that it was released in a very limited number of theaters.

    Comment by Timmeh — April 19, 2008 @ 4:47 pm

43. Hilarious how these conservative goons cannot spell.

    Any film coming from Fox/Rupert Murdoch, Walden Media, etc. does not service the “liberal Hollywood agenda” as the simpletons call it.

    Comment by hilarious hicks — April 19, 2008 @ 4:53 pm

44. Nikki, shouldn’t there be some kind of an award to Gerald for most metaphors packed into a comment on this article, and most male nudity metaphors packed into a comment, perhaps ever? I mean, if he’s packin’ all those just for your regular early weekend box office report, just think he could pull out for your report if, say, one of the major studios decided to blow-off the A-listers completely and pull their next movie stars straight from the porn industry?

    Comment by Wannabe Industry Analyst — April 19, 2008 @ 4:53 pm

45. Wow, that Bob has some pent up anger. I thought we were discussing movies here.
    I am surprised how well Expelled is doing at the theaters considering…1) Very little advertising and near zero media coverage. 2) Its a documentary.

    Bob…”you Drudge clowns bombarded this website last time, laughing about George Clooney’s “failure.” And you all said that “if Hollywood would make conservative movies, we’d go out to see them.”

    WRONG. YOU CONSERVATIVE CAVEMEN LOSE AGAIN.”

    Hey Bob, there’s a BIG difference between a blockbuster movie filled with Hollywood big names and a litte advertised documentary. How about “The Passion”? Now there’s a flocking…

    Anyway, I saw the movie with my wife and I thought it was great. It was very thought provoking. This website got it wrong when it says its a movie that makes the intelligent design argument. All it does it say that the scientific community should be a place where ideas and theories are scrutinized, not expelled.

    Comment by Matt — April 19, 2008 @ 5:02 pm

46. Someone asked about how much money Michael Moore’s first film made. “Roger & Me” grossed $80,000… on 4 screens. Ended up grossing 6 million in the U.S. and was never released to anymore than 265 screens. Now let’s count for inflation too… BOO YAH!

    Comment by Shannon — April 19, 2008 @ 5:06 pm

47. Nice way to name call, Bob (posted at 3:15 p.m., April 15). Would it be possible for you to have an argument that isn’t littered with wrath. Having little control over your emotions while dealing with rational debate shows a very small-minded, backwoods ignorance. Good luck in your life of mediocrity and herd mentality. And as an aside, please contemplate that Einstein, Newton, and a good portion of Enlightenment scientists believed in God. Even Thomas Jefferson wrote that we were endowed by our Creator with inalienable rights. So, conservatives shouldn’t be allowed the freedom of speech or inquiry because they disagree with you? Hmmm… sounds more like you think like Stalin than like John Locke. Or perhaps more like Hobbes than Adam Smith. Try keeping an open mind, someday an idea might actually reach through what appears to be a rather thick skull and your life might not continue to be nasty, poor, brutish and short (a reference to Hobbes in case you do not wish to look it up.)

    Comment by Miko — April 19, 2008 @ 5:09 pm

48. link from drudge = army of knuckle-draggers at your doorstep.

    Comment by karl_marx — April 19, 2008 @ 5:11 pm

49. Well let’s look at the scoreboard:
    Rendition
    Redacted
    Lions for Lambs
    Valley of Elah

    Not exactly packing them in lately. Conservatives have got a lot of failing to do to match those bombs (but then conservative movies are rarer than unicorns). So I await Nikki’s prediction for the imminent demise of the noble liberal cause based on their REPEATED poor showing. You know, because she’s so intellectually honest and all.

    And when you talk about the “agenda of liberal Hollywood” I think you can take off the quotes. It’s not like they hide it.

    Comment by kyleb — April 19, 2008 @ 5:13 pm

50. I am an ultra-conservative and wouldn’t walk across the street to watch a movie like that.

    However, I will buy the Indoctinaion U movie.

    Comment by Greg — April 19, 2008 @ 5:17 pm

51. It’s sooo easy to get the right wingers frothing at the mouth.

    Although it’s the same with the Obama-zombies.

    We should lock the frothing right wingers in a room with the Obama-zombies and watch the show.

    Meanwhile, the winner in these box office postings? Nikki. Great page clicks as the defensive loonies swarm on board.

    Comment by loonies v. zombies — April 19, 2008 @ 5:26 pm

52. You said:

    The only other newcomer in the Top 10 was conservative c showing there wasn’t any pent-up demand for the film despite an aggressive publicity campaign. So much for the conservative argument that people would flock to films not representing the “agenda of liberal Hollywood”. (Just for comparison purposes: Michael Moore’s most recent Sicko did $4.4 mil its opening weekend from only 441 theaters, and his Fahrenheit 9/11 did $23.9M its opening weekend from 868 venues.)

    First. Ben Stien is not conservative. He is a part of the liberal agenda.

    Secondly. Teachers were bringing students to see Sicko as part of field trips. Hence making a ton of their money and spending the taxpayers money on that stupid flick.

    Thirdly. Most conservatives gave up on movies. Hence, no sales to Blockbuster, Theaters and Plays. So just stay as liberal as you want. We are not going anymore. Do what ever you want you liberal pieces of junk. I’m not watching. I’ve got TV, Books and the Internet. Thats all I need. I refuse to watch junk with a liberal agenda. I also refuse to let my son watch liberal propaganda disguised as entertainment. The same thing the Nazi’s did.

    By the way, I hope Hollywood starves on its own agenda and greed.

    Comment by E.S. — April 19, 2008 @ 5:48 pm

53. It’s difficult to get up for one conservative movie every five years, conservatives have lost the habit of going to movies. The Ben Stein movie has not had the massive 60 Minutes, Katie Couric main stream media treatment. But I am pleased that you feel so threatened by the idea of a movie with a conservative point of view. By the way how do you explain The Last Temptation which had a gigantic negative onslaught by the MSM?

    Comment by pat gig — April 19, 2008 @ 6:07 pm

54. If Michael Moore’s films are fiction, then Expelled is sci-fi.

    Comment by Fred — April 19, 2008 @ 6:13 pm

55. Wannabe Industry Analyst at 4:53

    We completely agree with you about “Gerald” and his abundance of annoying terms for penis. The guy is clearly uncomfortable with male nudity.

    We saw FSM for the male nudity and loved it. There should be more male nudity in films, except not as humor. So weird how men are sooo threatened by male nudity - this only got filmed because it was done in “humor.”

    And, Gerald, we women are sick and tired of the saturation of female nudity everywhere you look. It does still exist in abundance and, like it or not, women want more male nudity.

    If the studio execs want to bring more women into the theaters, show nude hot male actors. It’s simple.

    Comment by more male nudity — April 19, 2008 @ 6:19 pm

56. 8 hour work days? What the hell is that?

    Comment by uggha — April 19, 2008 @ 6:49 pm

57. I just wanna say, well said BOB (at 3:36pm). You done nailed it in every conceivable way. If you don’t mind, I’m gonna copy/paste that around a bit. Nice to be reminded these days that almost everything positive in the realm of arts, creativity, tech innovation, science and social justice has been brought about by what would today be called “liberals”, and conservatives have mostly done nothing but fight these changes tooth and nail. Except for cutting taxes on the rich, gutting regulation and starting wars, I’d say the conservatives don’t have much to show for the last 30 years or so…

    But hey, at least Bush, Cheney and their sainted Reagan and Wm. Buckley weren’t members of “The Elite.” Thank gawd for that…

    “Expelled”? If only!

    Comment by TSM — April 19, 2008 @ 6:52 pm

58. Expelled was a good movie. Very enjoyable. It is not all what you expect or think. It was well done, with the focus on free speech. It portrays Richard Dawkins (”The God Delusion”) as an honest broker of his own position. All the critics who wish to bash the film need to watch the film first then critcize. I enjoy the work of people I do not agree with, and I judge each person based upon the merit of their work. To Bob, who wishes to criticize all Southerners. I will be glad to put my academic credentials (Post-PhD) against your education any day.

    Comment by JC — April 19, 2008 @ 7:11 pm

59. I would have to say that the lack of or poor turn out of a movie on its opening weekend, such as Expelled does not necessarily mean that it has a poor reception among the conservative and/or ID acceptant crowd (the two are not automatically linked contrary to assumption, nor is it the realm of purely “Fundamentalist” Christians). I would not be surprised at all if the movie does quite well in the rental market and perhaps DVD sales.

    My wife and I are interested in seeing Expelled, but after finding a babysitter and shelling out $20 or more for tickets, it makes more budgetary sense to wait until I can rent it at Redbox or Netflix.

    Expelled may well get a good return on its investment as well as be seen by a sizeable portion of society.

    There are a plethora of good and bad movies I’ve shelled out money to see in the theater and there are many more good and bad movies I’ve waited until they came out for rent and saved a lot of hassle. The cinema “experience” quite often doesn’t “do” it for me. Many of the new action flicks are just annoying on the big screen, while more palatable on my tv for all the blur and speed. A documentary will often find better and more reception in a home environment then in a theater where the size of the screen is wasted.

    Comment by Logus — April 19, 2008 @ 7:24 pm

60. The main reason why Expelled is doing poorly is not because it is “conservative”, but because it is bloody nonsense. Millions of science-savvy conservatives and libertarians understand that “Intelligent Design” is NOT science, and cannot BE science, because (like Freud) ID explains everything but can predict nothing specifically testable. Darwin himself said that if certain phenomena were observed, his theory would be disproved. What observation or experiment can ID offer that falsifies it?

    Billions of people living today are alive because Darwinian principles led to pharmaceuticals and new varieties of plants and animals that have improved crop yields and nutrition. What has ID ever produced? Nada zip rien rei nil nul squat bupkis …..

    Stein’s cheese slipped off its cracker years ago, when he (like Al Franken) stopped being a funnyman and tried to be “serious”.

    But don’t be smug, libs: if you believe Algore’s bloody nonsense about Global Warming you are NO DIFFERENT than the scientific illiterates who believe in ID! Just what testable hypothesis has Gore offered, hmmmm….

    Comment by John Link — April 19, 2008 @ 7:36 pm

61. “link from drudge = army of knuckle-draggers at your doorstep.”

    Oooh!very cute remark Mr. Marx.

    Comment by Bob Roberts — April 19, 2008 @ 7:44 pm

62. “liberal gifts to the world: 8 hour work day, social security, medicaid, medicare, equal rights, no child labor, paid vacations, maternity leave, unleaded gas, stem cell research that will lead to cures, women’s rights, college loans, unemployment compensation, movies, rock and roll, jazz, impressionism, the idea of liberty, product and worker safety measures, the idea of regulation (something you cons hate) and on and on and on.”

    Ever lived in France? You will find all this and more! A 30 hour work week, free college, laws which PREVENT you from going into the office on weekends, about 6 weeks vacation a year, etc… Also ever heard the phrase “libertie, equalitie, fraternitie”? Old French phrase; I think they thought of it first. Also isn’t Impressionism French?

    But… they are not exactly setting the pace in world leadership now, are they? Nor do they begin to equal the USA in productivity. So while France has a great & lovely civilization; I am not so sure liberals should either be claiming France’s contributions as their own or emulating France.

    Comment by Lived in Many countries — April 19, 2008 @ 7:47 pm

63. What a lame crack on conservatives. Oddly, I was enjoying your little take on the movie biz until you had to throw that out there. Why would you? Please cite your source on “So much for the conservative argument that people would flock to films not representing the “agenda of liberal Hollywood”.” Really, CITE YOUR SOURCE, or are you making up $h!t? What conservative made that argument? The only ‘argument’ I know of is conservatives voting with their pocket book, and that seems to be working rather well considering the recent ‘boom’ and crash of the anti-military movies.

    Some ‘conservatives’ believe in creationism, not all, so you have shown not only that you make up stuff, but that you are extremely closed minded to those that you disagree with, in-group/out-group mentality.

    Sad.

    Comment by TaraCole — April 19, 2008 @ 7:49 pm

64. Ben Stein is no Michael Moore…….Thank God

    Comment by Hugh Jass — April 19, 2008 @ 7:51 pm

65. Expelled was a truthful documentary film. Nikki Finke (appropriate name) is a liberal with political bias in her reporting. And of course, most documentaries are boring. They are meant to inform close minded people. Oh, and I made sure my spelling is correct so it wouldn’t give the liberals cause to nick pick.

    Comment by Eyeball — April 19, 2008 @ 7:55 pm

66. Nikki who? Hey Nik babe, I went to Expelled last night and it was a full 300 there….they were very outwardly vocal and laughing and looking for libs in their midst! ha ha And at the end it got a standing ovation. Look for it to be long lasting because of word of mouth. A smear from Nikki who the lib, isn’t going to stop it. But I do truly believe only Nikki came from an ooze that slimed its way onto the shores of Hollywood.

    Comment by dickdee — April 19, 2008 @ 7:56 pm

67. Hee-hee. Liberal Hollywood has had one dismal failure after another, and continues to labor under the severe misapprehension that one day Americans will come around to their way of thinking and finally flock to movies such as Syriana, Lions for Lambs, and Redacted — costly sinkholes of movies put out by major studios and/or directors. Or that Americans will one day flock to anything starring George Clooney in a leading role.

    Meanwhile, one documentary movie put out by a conservative trying his hand at filmmaking, falls in line with the trend set by liberal Hollywood, and all the delusional lefties start trumpeting about the new glory days arising for their “noble cause.”

    Liberals would be a real hoot, if they weren’t so painfully asinine.

    Comment by John Q — April 19, 2008 @ 8:14 pm

68. I found it rather…interesting?…that you attempt to compare the day 1 box office take of Expelled with Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11. Michael Moore had already greatly established his infamous status by the release date of F 9/11 - there were already 12 other releases by him, several of which being major movie releases - by the time F 9/11 hit the theatres. In order for this to be a valid comparison, you should have mentioned that Michael Moore’s 1st showing (Roger & Me) only took in $104,434 in it’s first 5 days. Being that Expelled brought in over $1.2 million its first night out - I’d say it did rather spank Michael Moore. Now - lets have Ben Stein make another 12 major releases…gain publicity over a period of 5+ years, and THEN you can talk.

    Comment by Mark Daniel — April 19, 2008 @ 8:34 pm

69. Whew, Bob, you’ve gotten my vote as the all-time most ignorant poster I’ve ever read, and you’re competing against a LOT of liberals! Way to go!

    Comment by Al — April 19, 2008 @ 8:39 pm

70. We saw EXPELLED tonight and found it very thought provoking and sometimes hilarious. In the interview Stein did with Dawkins, Dawkins, the big Darwinism expert, didn’t even understand the questions Stein was asking him.

    As the movie pointed out, many important theories that may have had merit at inception, must to be able to stand the test of time.

    Theories are building blocks, one adding to, and sometimes, subtracting from the ones before it. (Newton’s theory gave way to Einstein’s for example) Though Darwin’s theory might have had merit at one time, new questions are being asked that Darwinism can’t adequately explain so the theory itself must be questioned and that’s what modern science doesn’t want to do.

    The most fundamental question Darwinism can’t answer is, “Where did life begin?” In a particularly hilarous moment, Dawkins admitted that life might have been created by “a higher intelligence” then went on to postulate something about UFO’s. The audience roared.

    In every age, when one theory is being forced to give way to the next, there are always people who just want to throw sand in the faces of those who are interested in finding the truth. It’s what is happening again. This time with Darwinism. Eventually, the truth will out. It always does.

    Comment by Lily — April 19, 2008 @ 8:47 pm

71. Start with a conclusion. Cherry pick supporting data. Present as fact.

    It’s what proponents of intelligent design do when they attempt to strong-arm schools into teaching their “alternate theory.”

    And it’s what many of the commenters who link from Drudge do when they analyze box office.

    Neither seems to understand that the rest of us reach conclusions (whatever they may be) by analyzing data. Zany, but true.

    Comment by Christian Gulliksen — April 19, 2008 @ 8:50 pm

72. Ben Stein’s “Expelled” should be experienced by those who think Michael Moore’s films are so wonderful. Mr. Stein actually has the gall to allow both sides of a controversial subject to defend their views. Of course, he believes in the right of free speech and the opportunity of allowing the masses to make up their own minds. What a concept!

    Comment by Leah — April 19, 2008 @ 8:52 pm

73. How about we host a double feature of An Inconvenient Truth and Expelled? I wouldn’t watch either, but I could loiter outside the theater and watch the audience clash of indignation.

    “Nurds on the left/
    Nurds on the right/”
    - Frank Zappa: You Are What You Is

    Comment by Feo Amante — April 19, 2008 @ 8:59 pm

74. Dear Bob: So, your actually saying that all great painters, philosophers and artists are as silly liberal as yourself. What intoxicating vanity! It’s egos like yours that believe they can run a country. As a dictator. I haven’t the space to refute your specious arguments one by one. I’m too busy making a living and paying for The Great Society, Social Security, the war on poverty and the New Deal.

    Comment by Mark — April 19, 2008 @ 9:15 pm

75. i gave “expelled” and “excellent” review - this movie will be like the phoenix rising from the ashes.

    watch.

    and.

    see.

    there are many school and church groups that have purchased mass group tickets to see it during the weekday matinees.

    don’t knock it until you see it.

    Comment by nanc — April 19, 2008 @ 9:15 pm

76. Bob - ‘High Five’

    That was a great synopsis of the whole lib/con breakdown. I also notice how cons, in their total lack of knowledge, are always on the assumption that you or other liberals must be “angry.” I think they belie their true nature here and it is them that are angry since most cons I know haven’t really ‘lived’ much in life whereas the libs I know are much more open minded and do a much greater variety of things. I’m always seeing (just like in these posts) the cons are 99% of the time men or a lone woman from Florida/Texas named LeeAnne. Because of that I tend to believe it is some pent up sexual frustration so they are forever stuck in an early Freudian level. Also I notice the smart 2% of cons who are ungodly rich keep their mouth shut. They let the 98% ignorant fools take the blows for them while they rob ‘em blind.

    I plan on watching Expelled when it comes out but it is going to be for comedy relief although I refuse to pay for it and give money to some guy that is going to write off science and evolution because it is anti-Jewish.

    Comment by Indy-pendent Jones — April 19, 2008 @ 9:18 pm

77. I’m not a conservative, but to answer Bob’s actor/director challenges:

    Jimmy Stewart, Barbara Stanwyck

    John Ford, Howard Hawks, Clint Eastwood, Don Siegel, Robert Bresson

    It’s not easy, but I’m sure there are more. T.S. Eliot and Ezra Pound on the poet front.

    Don’t have a paypal account. How do I get my money? Or do I have to be a con to qualify?

    Comment by Bobo — April 19, 2008 @ 9:20 pm

78. Judd Apatow has finally bombed at the bos office and deservedly so. $0 Year Old Virgin was a great film and a classic, but films like Knocked-Up and Super Bad are nothing but over hyped version’s of terrible National Lampoon movies and other bad sex comedies from the 80s. Tom Hanks’ Bachelor Party is great…as well as Sex Monster, a poorly named movie starring one of the Hemingway girls…which is even better than 40 Year Old Virgin.

    Judd Apatow’s audience doesn’t trust him anymore because they were burned by Knocked-Up, more a drama than a comedy, and next Super Bad, an immature teen film that was marketed as a sexual break through that pushed the boundaries of the R Rating. Come-on, Porky’s was more risky and that move is over 25 years old???

    Comment by Zip — April 19, 2008 @ 9:34 pm

79. I guess this is what you get from a Hollywood film critic. Expelled had some TV time but no where’s near what every Michael Moore film gets not only from the big studious but from liberals in the media.

    Stick to talking about the movies and the numbers and less about your left leaning views. In all reality I come here for the numbers and not your rantings.

    Comment by Bill — April 19, 2008 @ 9:52 pm

80. Nikki posts an industry related comment - check

    No matter what the post it always descends to libs vs cons - check

    Self-centered, self-righteous, self-absorbed goons keep pounding their own agenda - check

    Tunnel vision - don’t leave home without it.

    BTW - saw FSM today. Had some laugh out loud parts but gotta agree, too many gratuitous manhood shots. Once was more than enough. Paul Rudd was totally wasted in this film. His “big kahuna surfing dude” character wasn’t funny.

    I’ve never seen Mila Kunis before. Gotta say she’s one really lovely looking gal. Her imdb info says she has two different eye colors. Not sure if she was wearing lenses, but she has really nice eyes too.

    As to the premise of the film - okay - I realize this is a fantasy but there is no way in hell that a guy that looks like that is going to get either of those gals unless he’s got a wad of cash! I mean really.

    I for one HATED Knocked Up; never saw Superbad and never will. Made the mistake of going to see Good Luck Chuck - should have passed on that one, too. I realize it was not produced by Apatow but the same type of premise; schleppy guy gets the hot girl. Give me a break. Talk about Fantasy Island. “Boss, the plane, the plane!”

    As to going to the movies - I was going to a screening of Piano but have decided to pass. Too far to drive with gas as high as it is. My friends and I are passing on a lot of leisure activities because gas is so high.

    But if you do go, when you get to the theater they want $4 bucks each for a bottle of water, a small drink, a small popcorn and a box of chocolate raisins.

    Some theaters want $14 for a seat. And don’t go to one of those theaters that let you pick your seat. Lines back out the door while some dude in khaki slacks, an oxford shirt unbuttoned at the collar and a sweater slung over his shoulder and tied in the front, agonizes with his date over where they want to sit.

    “No darling, we don’t want to sit that far in front - we might get dizzy from watching the screen so closely.”

    “But honey, I don’t want to sit all the way in the back, those seats don’t recline.”

    “Darling, do you want center, left, right or aisle?”

    “Honey, I can’t decide.”

    While everyone behind them is wishing they would just pick their frickin seats and be done with it.

    Dude, just sit down! Drives me nuts!

    And everyone keeps wondering why ticket sales are down.

    Comment by don't get it — April 19, 2008 @ 10:08 pm

81. I must have seen a thousand advertisements for Expelled this past couple of weeks (we keep the television on at work). It seemed as though the studio was trying to disguise the content of the film, choosing instead to focus on Stein and cast him as some sort of rebellious figure. I already knew what the movie was about, having read that Richard Dawkins and other scientists were tricked into giving on-camera interviews and then later banned from screenings.

    Part is glad to see that audiences didn’t bite. On the other hand, my son wants to be a biologist and having a lot of uneducated yokels as peers will make getting into college and getting a good job in the field that much less competitive for him.

    By the way, Einstein was an atheist. He made this very clear in his private letters. He chose to maintain a religious public persona for complicated reasons having to do with the Jewish Holocaust and his status as an icon in Jewish and American communities. He was walking a tight rope and a public pronouncement of atheism at any time of his life would have cost him status and both political and social influence. Though he is deservedly criticized for abandoning his wife and children, a lot of people don’t appreciate some of the purely altruistic choices he made.

    Comment by Emma_C — April 19, 2008 @ 10:08 pm

82. Dear Bob,

    Most of the historically great men you listed as gifts of Liberalism to the world would be completely horrified by the godless, drug demented, pornified, pro-totalitarian (Castro, Chavez), anti-Western, hate driven misanthropes that comprise much of the left today.

    JFK, a freedom fighter who favored low taxation and personal responsibility would have been given the boot from the Democratic party years ago.

    Comment by Parker — April 19, 2008 @ 10:19 pm

83. Einstein, Newton, and a good portion of Enlightenment scientists believed in God. Even Thomas Jefferson wrote that we were endowed by our Creator with inalienable rights

    Einstein didn’t believe in an actual deity. Einstein’s references to a god were allusions for the universe.

    Newton did believe in a deity, but it’s complicated.

    Thomas Jefferson was a deist. He actually created his own version of the Bible by cutting out all of the supernatural elements, and some other bits that he didn’t like. I don’t think he’s the religious figure you’re looking for.

    This attempt to land grab historical figures is pointless. Newton believed he could transmute lead into gold, and spent a great deal of time on that. Do we really need to point out that these were men of their respective eras, and that they believed all sorts of things that were inane?

    Comment by Mark — April 19, 2008 @ 10:25 pm

84. Indy-pendent Jones must be Bob’s sock-puppet name. Even the most flagrant liberal has to be embarrassed by that verbiage-riddled diatribe. Get some objective books about history, Bob/Indy-pendent, and study hard; afterwards, maybe you can try to talk intelligently about philosophy, theology, and political affairs. I doubt it will happen, though.

    As for any actual substantive rebuttal to Bob/Indy-pendent Jones, I will refrain. It’s all pure inanity and insanity. Two things come to mind: 1) if I hear a jackass braying in the field, I see no need to have discourse with the simple beast, and 2), never get into a debate with a moron, because when doing so, you drag yourself down to the moron’s level. This post alone gives too much acknowledgment. Shame on me.

    Comment by John Q — April 19, 2008 @ 10:31 pm

85. “liberal gifts to the world: 8 hour work day, social security, medicaid, medicare, equal rights, no child labor, paid vacations, maternity leave, unleaded gas, stem cell research that will lead to cures, women’s rights, college loans, unemployment compensation, movies, rock and roll, jazz, impressionism, the idea of liberty, product and worker safety measures, the idea of regulation (something you cons hate) and on and on and on.”

    conservative gift to the world: the money that actually pays for all of the above.

    and to all ID proponents:

    If life was “designed”, then who designed the designer? DUDE.

    Comment by right and left both suck — April 19, 2008 @ 10:43 pm

86. Hey, Bob. How are you? Need a hug?

    Liberals invented the internet? Are you seriously referring to Al Gore’s absurd claim?

    Speaking of Al Gore. Did you happen to notice one of the shots of the glacial coast in Inconvenient “Truth” is, no kidding, an actual CGI scene taken out of the Day After Tomorrow, but presented as reality? I’ll skip on Moore’s truthiness for juicier fare.

    The part that is annoying about your argument is how you pick in piecemeal only the parts that support your point of view and then claim superiority.

    But the part that makes me laugh out loud at your little rant is how just because you consider yourself a “liberal”, and by using “we” it magically makes you like the others who have actually accomplished something other than a blog post. You are not personally superior nor on the level of poets and masters. You are nothing more than a nobody who needs a hug. Or a woman. Or both.

    I could take your approach here and list a few piecemeal facts.

    Democrats
    Harry Truman decided to drop the atomic bombs on Japan.

    Franklin Roosevelt was the first President who allowed the country to begin a deficit.

    Kennedy and LBJ were largely responsible for Vietnam.

    Clinton and Gore did not ratify Kyoto during their 8 years, nor increase the CAFE (avg fuel economy) standards (at all).

    Republicans
    Dwight Eisenhower established our nation’s highways and desegregated our armed forces.

    Lincoln, yes, Abraham Lincoln, was a Republican, who you know, freed the slaves with the Emancipation Proclamation. Radical Republicans at the time were abolitionists, and critical of Lincoln for moving too slow in abolishing slavery.

    In fact, civil rights was largely a Republican issue until the Democrats decided to finally *finally* take it up as a partisan issue for political purposes in 1964. The Civil Rights act they are known for was voted as follows: Republicans favored the bill 138-34 (80%), Democrats 152-96 (61%).

    Republicans in Congress fought for civil rights for decades including amending the Constitution to fight against the Dred Scott disaster created by the Supreme Court.

    And for the environmentalist in you, Teddy Roosevelt is responsible for establishing our national parks.

    On Dec. 19, 2007, George W. Bush signed the first increase in CAFE (avg fuel economy) standards, in 32 years (including the Clinton/Gore years). It had remained unchanged since 1975.

    Having said all that to say this. People are people. Some do good, some do more good, but we are all people, and you are not superior simply because of who you vote for, and neither am I. So save your hubris and have some humility, Bob. And give someone a hug. Life’s too short.

    Comment by BobNeedsAWoman — April 19, 2008 @ 11:20 pm

87. Bob said - “What have you CONS accomplished, ever? I will give $50 via Paypal to any CON who can name ONE GREAT CONSERVATIVE MAN OF THE PEOPLE. NAME ONE GREAT CONSERVATIVE ARTIST, OR LOVER, OR PHILOSOPHER. NAME JUST FIVE GREAT CONSERVATIVE PAINTERS OR PLAYWRIGHTS OR SCREENWRITERS OR DIRECTORS OR POETS. Heck, name me one great CONSERVATIVE ACTOR! (John Wayne doesn’t count; I mean a critically acclaimed actor.)”

    Bob, I want my 50 dollars!

    I believe Eisenhower was a “conservative” and certainly a man of the people. “We like Ike”. He was also one of WW II”s greatest generals and also helped bring the Korean War to a close. Reagan brought the Cold War with the Soviet Union to a welcomed end as well. Bush Sr. was a dolt but handled the first Gulf War tremendously.

    Great conservative artists - Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Writer/Director John Milius, Actor/Director Clint Eastwood, Actor Charlton Heston, Actor Bruce Willis, Actor/Director Sylvester Stallone and Rock Legend Ted Nugent. Don’t forget Kid Rock.

    Barry Goldwater could be proclaimed a great political philosopher. David Mamet has recently denounced liberalism and has gone conservative. There’s your playwright.

    Your comments were overly partisan, foolish and silly.
    I have no great love for the Republicans right now, but stop your leftist, elitist hate mongering already… it makes you no better than the Ann Coulters of the Right. Stalin, Mao, etc. were far from “conservatives”… these dictators believed in government control of the masses, something the Right loathes. Socialism (or Hillaryism) have much more in common with communism than any conservative principles.

    Personally, I think you’re an idiot Bob.

    - Ray Finkle

    Comment by Ray Finkle — April 19, 2008 @ 11:27 pm

88. Hey Bob calling the South Backward is so stereotypical thinking. Did you know that most of the most migrators from the blue states have moved to the South becouse it has changed dramatically.Automobile plants and everty thing. By the way I sick in FRACCKING Tired of hearing the same old CIVIL WAR bullshit too. Once again stereotyping. I get the impression that you never been passed the Mason-Dixon line. The South has changed so much. By the way during the ‘68 Democratic Convention it was the far left then that turned off the white voters. Southerners are getting tired of the dried up stereotype.

    Comment by chuck — April 19, 2008 @ 11:36 pm

89. I wonder where all those crazy right-wing nuts come from. Why do they only post their conservative rants in the box-office threads, every week? Is there an Ann Coulter website linking here or something?

    Comment by Why oh why — April 19, 2008 @ 11:48 pm

90. OOOHHH Bobo at 9:20PM.
    Including T.S. Eliot & Ezra Pound as conservatives is fascinating & not to bright. Eliot was an outright anti-Semite.
    Pound was stuck in a nuthouse because he was found insane after he was charged with treason for his WWII writings & broadcasts of anti-American propaganda. He spent all of WWII in Italy & screamed that the war was caused by Wall St. bankers, meaning of course, Jews. He was in St. Elizabeth’s in DC, the same place that John Hinckley is now in. Very appropriate.

    Which brings me to all those defending Ben Stein & his movie. You must be going nuts to be defending a Jew, who your ilk usually blames for all the world’s ills!

    Ole Ben’s wretched little movie is getting no traction outside of Jesusland. That’s where all the ad money went, much of it to churches, the distributor thought that following Mel Gibson was the way to big bucks for this.
    And then Ben had to go & use the same tactics he decried when Michael Moore did it. What a fraud!

    Comment by Unindicted Co-conspirator — April 19, 2008 @ 11:48 pm

91. What Nikke fails to say is that every liberal critic (ok that’s almost all of them) panned the movie. It is also real Doc, unlike Michael Moore’s fake Docs. The NYT ran not one, not two, but three hit pieces on the Movie; unlike the hysterical free promotion that Moore gets from the Times (all of them) Conservatives have to earn their money.

    That’s ok Nikke, we know you can’t piss off the liberals in H’Wood that would be the end of your column if you did So we understand your failure to make even a pretense of balance.

    Indy-Pendent Jones, why do you pretend to be non-affiliated when you behave like a liberal? Can’t you even make an effort at pretense of neutrality? You assume that all “cons” (as you call them, no doubt derogatory) assume that all liberals are “angry”. That’s called bigotry, or closed-mindeness; which as we all know are hallmarks of the left. Much like your last comment of watching “Expelled for comic relief”. Yes, those are the actions of the tolerant, and open-minded. Not.

    Comment by Mark — April 19, 2008 @ 11:52 pm

92. Nikki, I personally have no use for either Michael Moore or Ben Stein, but your comparison is meretricious. Whatever you think of Stein’s politics, a $1.2 million opening for a documentary is extremely good, making it more successful than 99% of films in that genre, and highly likely to turn a profit. That *does* seem to prove there’s a market for conservative documentaries. (Just as there’s a proven market for Moore’s movies, too.)

    Comment by WJA — April 20, 2008 @ 12:16 am

93. quote=more male nudity — April 19, 2008 @ 6:19 pm

    —–

    As a proponent for naturalism I’m completely comfortable with seeing a phallic preponderance within mainstream entertainment on a basis of regularity…I used to watch the HBO series Oz frequently which featured enough man meat on a weekly basis to equal a millenium’s worth of continual FSM viewings. However I thought the penile usage in this film warranted being brought up in a negative context because they used it as a convenient, unimaginative sight gag and couldn’t summon up the creativity required to add an inventive wrinkle to the stale scenario of “chick dumps dude unceremoniously so the story’s conceit of guy sowing his wild oats while pining for lost love can be set in motion.” I probably wouldn’t have mentioned it if the crux of most of the flattering reviews hadn’t revolved entirely around this throwaway bit that emphasizes shock value instead of wit. Also, I won’t apologize for the pesky metaphors I used in place of THROBBING 12-INCH COCK because I couldn’t surmise in advance if my dumb ramblings would’ve been fit to print if they had been filled with graphic physiological descriptions of male anatomy and I was trying to adhere to NF’s DICKtum that people posting replies do so while underpinned by originality.

    Comment by Gerald 8===> — April 20, 2008 @ 12:26 am

94. I scrolled down and read through some of the comments before just being disgusted. I like how people rally around Stein, trying to support his movies. I wonder had the lot of you seen it, even if you did support “ID”, you’d see the movie as a paranoid sack of rubbish. I mean come on, half of the movie tries to suggest that Darwin’s findings are responsible for Naziism’s atrocities.

    Evolution is just a theory; then again, so is gravity.

    Comment by Rey — April 20, 2008 @ 12:35 am

95. Wow BOB and BOB2!

    Never expected a left wing kook rant here. I plan on seeing expelled but like most conservatives I have a job.

    Comment by JC — April 20, 2008 @ 12:56 am

96. Expelled purports to support free speech and such. Any of these stories in there?
    http://www.sunclipse.org/?p=626

    Comment by bric — April 20, 2008 @ 1:06 am

97. Bob,

    Who ended slavery? Who gave us the civil rights act and the voting act? Who created Osha and the EPA? Who is the only party that seems to grasp the fact that lower taxes means increased employment hence increased revenue and vise versa?(all conservatives)

    Who destroyed Social Security by putting it into the general fund and spending it? Who’s environmental policies have put millions of people out of work and sent jobs over seas? Who is wasting tax dollars trying to control the weather?

    Comment by JC — April 20, 2008 @ 1:09 am

98. Good God. I’m a right-leaning Libertarian and even I find many of these political comments tiresome. No wonder Finke’s health is so fragile, screening all this bullshit must be exhausting. The first fifteen comments are fun, then the remarks get so obvious and angry and repetitive. And this “we (conservatives/liberals) will not pay to see these movies” stuff… Red state or blue, I have a feeling these types haven’t gone out to the movies since Jack Nicholson was a boy.

    Conservatives have a point regarding the recent raft of delirious Iraq movies. And the Stein vs. Spurlock stuff is fair. And I’m suspicious of super-lib George Clooney being fi-core before the WGA strike. But come on, some of these comments have nothing to do with anything. Try to elevate your arguments, release your inner Krauthammer. Make a sharp comment about the film industry that might actually make somebody reconsider a long held position. Please!

    Comment by Jenn M. — April 20, 2008 @ 2:33 am

99. Oh come on guys, why the obsession about “Expelled”? Seriously, what were you expecting? It’s a boring documentary with just enough controversy value to keep it on the top 10, get over it. That includes the OP, too–everything that happens in the world isn’t part of some big, ethereal war between “the left” and “the right” so stop trying to make it such.

    Anyway, more on topic, to those disappointed with FSM’s opening, remember that despite Hollywood’s current obsession with Apatow and his crew, most of their movies do not have big single-day figures, rather less over a long period of time. 88 Minutes was a surprise though, I figured it would be #1 or #2.

    Comment by CppThis — April 20, 2008 @ 3:26 am

100. I saw the Expelled movie. It is powerful, poignant,
     and somewhat shocking.

     As we will see in the coming years, Darwin’s theories
     are far from proven, and I suspect they never can be
     proven. Academic and thought supression is very real
     in this country.

     I predict that this movie will have a huge impact,
     as people once again think and question the
     scientific and cultural no it alls who have led so
     many down this path.

     Intelligent design, like evolution is a thoeory
     ID proponents do not throw away the findings of
     science. But we do not blindly believe all that
     Darwin wrote because we are told it is so. There
     are so so many holes in Darwin’s theories. In the
     end, Darwin came to his conclusions based on false
     premises, such as the supposed simplicity of single
     cell life.

     This film was really really good, and yes,
     controversial, but it will inspire many to think,
     question, and once again freely think and publish,
     despite all the Richard Dawkins disciples who tell
     us evolution is just true, and we must swallow it
     lock, stock, and barrel.

     We are still the land of the free.

     Comment by John Maki — April 20, 2008 @ 3:56 am

101. I enjoyed the documentary and it is clear that there really are two distinct world views and that Stein is correct - the “scientific” point of view has totally bought into the atheist, evolutionist position. The result is a culture of death that has lost the integrity of scientific inquiry and embraced the kool-aid of abortion and eugenics. Cheers to Stein for having the courage to call them on it!

     Comment by Frank — April 20, 2008 @ 4:46 am

102. I peeked into a showing of Expelled yesterday, there were less than 40 people in there… but then this is the left coast where there is probably less appeal to that sort of nonsense.

     You can see the root of the problem relating to ID with statements like this: “The most fundamental question Darwinism can’t answer is, “Where did life begin?””. Is this suggesting that ID provides any answers? It doesn’t. It invokes a magical being and says case closed.

     Honest people admit we don’t have all the answers, but it is worthwhile putting resources where results can be achieved. That means fact based research. If anyone can answer “Where did life begin?”, it will be the scientific community, not religious nutjobs making vacuous claims from one of the thousands of proposed Gods. At best, they just push the question back further with “Who created God?”.

     Nothing will ever come from Intelligent Design, except to help people feel good about their beliefs in magical entities. If someone wants to push that as science then they need to put up the facts, or shut up. If they don’t understand why they should shut up then they should at least understand that they are not advancing scientific knowledge and will not be advanced in their careers. ID’s argument from ignorance is NOT science and does not deserve respect from the scientific community.

     Comment by Fletch — April 20, 2008 @ 4:47 am

103. Regarding Stein’s movie, Expelled, It WASN’T EVEN SHOWN IN MY AREA! It really pisses me off. The theater said no one would come … even without offering it. My whole family was looking forward to seeing it.

     Comment by Gerry Rudmin — April 20, 2008 @ 5:15 am

104. “Start with a conclusion. Cherry pick supporting data. Present as fact”

     hmmm…isn’t that what got us into Iraq?

     Comment by NeoConned — April 20, 2008 @ 6:08 am

105. 1. A truly Intelligent Designer would never have given us a Ben Stein.

     2. ID is not a “theory”. It has not been demonstrated through experiment, nor is there observational evidence to lead us farther intellectually. It is simply a restatement of the ‘God hypothesis’, thoroughly debunked and ‘expelled’ from the scientific lexicon.

     3. Bad ideas make bad movies make bad box office.

     Comment by scr1bbler — April 20, 2008 @ 6:30 am

106. Bob,

     Several things to point out:

     1. Darwin predicted that man began in Africa? Get your order correct. For Darwin to have predicted this he would have had to have been in existence prior to the dawn of human life, making him much older than he really was. You cannot predict something after it has happened. That’s called cheating.

     2. A great “conservative” man of the people? How about Abe Lincoln? He abolished slavery (albeit midway through the Civil War) and extended liberties to blacks, yet he was conservative in the respect that he sought to hold the Union together even to the point of suspending habeas corpus. You libs seem to get your panties in a wad anytime someone brings up the Patriot Act or defending the nation by taking the fight to the enemy rather than fighting it here. Lincoln did exactly that and is still a pillar of the nation, considered by many historians to be our greatest president. Now, where’s my $50?

     3. The great villains of history viewed government to be the solution to all problems. This is by our modern examples of liberalism to be consistent with a liberal viewpoint. The goal of many liberals is to make as many people as possible reliant upon government. Liberals believe we are great because of our government, not because of the individual human spirit. Economic conservatism stresses the individual and his ability to provide for himself. Economic liberalism suggests that the successful person has won life’s lottery and should have it taken away for the sake of giving to someone who does nothing. Who did Pol Pot, Stalin and Hitler go after? Successful people, educated people, and the wealthy. Stalin’s purge of the kulaks was an attack on the wealthy landowners. Pol Pot killed educated people for the sake of relegating everyone to a single economic status that would work the rice paddies. Hitler silenced anyone who questioned or criticized the Nazis. This is similar to what liberals of this day and age suggest with income redistribution, forced economic equality, and the fairness doctrine.

     Now, throughout history great movers and shakers have often been forward thinkers, but they were liberals by a different definition than that of today. I suggest you do a bit more educating of yourself on what liberalism and conservatism mean in a modern context.

     Comment by BigDaddyDK — April 20, 2008 @ 6:36 am

107. Nice try, Bobster. Abraham Lincoln doesn’t buttress your argument so much…

     Comment by Vance — April 20, 2008 @ 6:48 am

108. I’m writing in Ben Stein in November!

     Comment by Jerry in Scottsdale — April 20, 2008 @ 7:19 am

109. Bitter, bitter review. Nikki just couldn’t control her emotions enough to maintain her professionalism, she just had to throw that slam against conservatives in there.

     Great job eliminating half your potential audience there. Keep making comments like that, I’d love to see your publication go down the hole, the same way the NYT is going.

     Comment by Anonymous — April 20, 2008 @ 7:27 am

110. Wow Bob, you’ve got me nailed. I’m going back to my small red state town and attend church while clinging to my gun.

     By the way, there is one point about President Clinton you forgot to mention. He is the first Democrat in my lifetime to lose Congress to republicans, and the dems had control of Congress for what, forty years until Clinton. Moreover he accomplished this only after two years in office. And yes, I agree with you, the Contract With America did in fact bring about a lot of prosperity for the remainder of President Clinton’s terms—even here in small town America where the loss of jobs has made us bitter and destroyed all economic opportunities except for the sale of chewing tobacco and guns.

     Finally, since this is an industry site and the topic is movies, I intend to purchase Ben Stein’s documentary once it comes out on DVD. Looks interesting but not something I particularly wish to attend while out for the evening. (Yep, Bob, you know it. As a red neck, inbred conservative, I perfer to spend my free time playing darts at the local tavern. We tape George Clooney’s face to the bulls-eye and buy the winner free shots of Jack Daniels.).

     But in all seriousness, I want to thank you again, Bob for reminding me of who and what the Left truly is. I apologize for my spelling and grammar, I’m a product of public education. No Sidwell Friends for me.

     Comment by Terri — April 20, 2008 @ 7:42 am

111. No Intelligent Design doesn’t make a case for ID, it merely argues that there is no forum to even begin to debate the possibility. The movie is about the loss of intellectual freedom in academia. Ben Stein isn’t a Christian. He isn’t a conservative activist. He is a lover of freedom.Why this is considered a conservative idea…freedom of thought….. and not a liberal idea….I don’t understand.

     Comment by Lisa — April 20, 2008 @ 7:46 am

112. Regardless of the lousy critiques that confirm the media’s liberal bias, the movie, produced by Ben Stein, is about his investigation
     into “Intelligent Design” theory and how a variety of universities
     have fired professors who dared to explore the issue. It’s a chilling
     portrayal of the Gestapo tactics used ‘the academy’ and the media
     to crush debate that challenges their politically correct biases.
     It’s worth seeing, but hurry, with Liberal reviews ALL negative, it won’t be playing very long.

     Comment by Don — April 20, 2008 @ 8:04 am

113. I saw Ben Stein’s Expelled this night.

     What a simply amazing masterpiece!!!! The best documentary I have ever seen. Period!

     His exposure of the tyranny of the academic evolutionists over Intelligent Design theorists was much, much more forceful and emotional than I had expected it to be. He really tears these tyrants apart. Shreds them with their own words and bombast. They come across as incredibly arrogant, vicious, deluded fools who act in totolitarian manner towards those who voice alternative views to their secular religionb. There’s nothing left when he gets through with them. There is no question about it, they convict themselves by their own words and behavior. (No cut and splice out of context like Michael Moore. He just gives them rope—time uninterrupted for them to talk and clever back ‘em-in-a-corner questioning of them— with which they hang themselves).

     The movie audience young, old, kids watched in rapt attention. No talking, fidgeting, noise of any kind.

     The suffering of those brave enough to mention intelligent design is vividly brought to light.

     And he riddles with humor. Very witty, very funny inserts.

     Highly, highly recommended. MANDATORY FOR ALL STUDENTS, in my opinion.

     Comment by phnx MD — April 20, 2008 @ 8:10 am

114. “Expelled” didn’t do bad, it didn’t do great. All you guys arguing on both sides about what that means look like a bunch of idiots.

     Comment by Andy — April 20, 2008 @ 8:18 am

115. Nikke, your bias is showing so much you missed the point, again. The movie Expelled isn’t for “right wingers,” it’s made for ignorant libs who have only been indocrinated at public schools. You know, the types who claim to be ‘open minded,’ and ‘interested in other points or view,’ etc. I suppose they are close minded afterall and happily blissful in their continued ignorance, eh? Perhaps you as well??? Maybe next time you can be more tolerant.

     Comment by Jim — April 20, 2008 @ 8:29 am

116. I enjoyed this movie completely, - made me realize how off base we on the left have been on any number of things. I called Pelosi, Ted K. and a few others and recommened they take the time to see it. Hopefully this will replace Gore’s fantasy that’s being shown in schools now.

     Comment by Bill C. — April 20, 2008 @ 8:35 am

117. Speaking from personal knowledge, conservatives ARE waiting for these films. But intelligent design and science just isn’t going to really galvanize us. If the film had been a good “Global Warming is a scam” movie, or “How Big Government is ruining our country”; or “How the left takes away free speech”; or “A Realistic glimpse of Universal Health Care in Canada & Europe”; or “The Real Che Guevara and the Useful Idiots who Idolize Him”, then you would have seen conservatives head to the theaters in droves.

     Seriously, now. I don’t think you can compare Sicko, which deals with health care (albeit, with fuzzy facts), and F 9/11, which deals with war and the president, to EXPELLED.

     For one thing, the first two deal with things that affect everybody. For another, there are not that many conservatives clamoring to hear scientist say there is an intelligent designer. I mean, WHO CARES? You either believe God had a hand in creation, or you don’t. Scientists cannot prove or disprove God’s existence,and therefore they do not concern themselves with that question. Science deals with the how, not the why. Now, if the film had been “Indoctrinate U”, I’m certain the box office results would have been different.

     Comment by Kenia — April 20, 2008 @ 8:37 am

118. April, ma’ Dear,

     What we disagree with is not that EXPELLED bombed or that it failed when it tried not to fail, but we disagree with the premise that it failed because it was “conservative” when we conservatives aren’t really rallying to see movies about “Intelligent Design”.

     And based on one movie, a documentary, Nikki claims that conservatives would not flock to a good conservative flick. That comment is far from objective, and quite a leap.

     Comment by Kenia — April 20, 2008 @ 9:00 am

119. Hmm conservative actors:
     Clint Eastwood, Kelsey Grammer, Mel Gibson (Passion of Christ!), Tom Selleck, James Woods,Gary Sinise, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chuck Norris, Dennis Miller, Charlton Heston etc etc etc.
     Conservative artist and authors:
     Thomas Kinkade, David Mamet, T.S. Eliot, Flannery O’Connor, C.S. Lewis, Tom Clancey, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Tom Wolfe.
     How about top conservaties media stars:
     BILL O’REILLY, JUSTICE CLARENCE THOMAS, HENRY KISSINGER
     RON PAUL Colin Powell Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Michael Savage, Dr. Laura Schlessinger, Glenn Beck, Laura Ingraham, Neal Boortz

     Do I get $50 bucks?

     Comment by mebueter — April 20, 2008 @ 9:14 am

120. Just my two cents on Expelled (or how not to market a movie 101):

     1) Expelled had private screenings in churches months before the film was released. Their core audience had already seen the film and thus didn’t want to see it again. The better route would have been to screen scenes from the film at the churches, not the entire film.

     2) The producers refused to screen the film to film critics. Generally, weak and poorly made films don’t screen for film critics to prevent bad word of mouth from spreading.

     3) The advertising was clever until it claimed it was a controversial movie. Since no critic or person outside their core audience had seen it, how was it controversial?

     4) They over-spent on advertising and didn’t target their right audience in the media buy. I saw the film’s advertisements during Comedy Central’s The Daily Show. Was this their target demographic? What a waste of P&A money.

     As for Nikki’s comment – she’s right: there was very little demand for this film because the producers gave away the product before it was released. From looking at the trend, it will drop out of the top ten on Monday and probably out of theaters in a few weeks.

     Besides the actual cost of the film (and the distributors fee), all the money spent on P&A will probably sink the potential profits of this film. However, it will have a good shot at making them back in the home video market. If the producers break even, they should be happy.

     Comment by Chris — April 20, 2008 @ 9:35 am

121. After just day one of release, “Expelled” is already the 11th highest grossing political documentary of the last 26 years. If the 3.4-3.5 million for the weekend holds true it will already be either the 7th or 8th highest grossing. Within the next week, the movie will most likely move up to either 6th or even possibly 5th, passing Roger and Me if it does go to 5th. The only political documentaries made in the last 26 years to have grossed more than this move likely will be the incredibly over saturated advertised “An Inconvenient Truth” and three Michael Moore films. By the way, the Oscar award winning, Hollywood leftist pushed documentary “No End in Sight” grossed a paltry 1,400,000 over it’s run. Go ahead check my numbers, by the data I have, not only is “Expelled” a success, but only 13 out of the 85 political documentaries released since 1982 grossed over 1 million dollars in their entire theatrical release. By this math, this movie is not only a success, it is a blockbuster. Here’s a link to the #’s I found, courtesy of Box Office Mojo.

     http://boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=politicaldoc.htm

     Comment by Chris — April 20, 2008 @ 9:49 am

122. Liberals do what liberals do. Exactly what was unfair or untrue about EXPELLED? Nothing to say on that. Conservatives (and others) had a lot to say about Moore’s fantasy flicks. Truth matters not to the modern liberal… and never will… to the secular socialists (modern liberals).

     Comment by Doug Schexnayder, Ph.D — April 20, 2008 @ 10:35 am

123. Kenia:

     Now, if the film had been “Indoctrinate U”, I’m certain the box office results would have been different.

     I agree, Kenia, Intelligent Design appeals only to a small hardcore group of people. Evolution is a fact — I find it fascinating to watch the science news for the continued changes in the bird flu virus. I keep up with new discoveries on the changes of gene pools in humans over the past 10,000 years. However, I’m amused by evolution’s more fanatical adhererents who never seem to recognize that the theory changes like a chameleon. If archaeologists find X, then those for whom evolution is a religion trumpet the fact that evolution predicted X. When archaeologists later find Y, which completely contradicts X, the fanatics suddenly decide that evolution predicted Y. No matter what discovery you make, you can always be assured that evolution has already explained it.

     The fanatic evolutionists will lecture me that this is precisely why evolution is so grand — the theory itself is evolving. While I will allow for some of that, there is a point in time where you have to rein in your enthusiasm and wait for more evidence.

     I am an evangelical Christian who believe that God created the universe. I don’t know the How because the Bible doesn’t go into that. I also have a degree in chemistry and another in chemical engineering and have worked in various scientific fields throughout my life. The extreme minority of my fellow Christians who believe that the universe is 6,000 years old embarrass me. The scientists who make equally audacious claims about evolution also embarrass me.

     Oh, and Bob, I think that you’re embarrassing even the liberals on this comment board. Talk about living in a fantasy world.

     If Stein had made a movie concerning liberal intolerance in general or, even better, had made a rebuttal to one of Michael Moore’s garbage movies, revenues would have at least quadrupled.

     Ben Stein is a very, very smart man. Look for more from this multi-talented wonder. This movie is a movie of love, not money. There will be more to come.

     -Mike

     Comment by Michael McCullough — April 20, 2008 @ 10:53 am

124. So which conservative site directed all of the sock puppets to come here and pimp Stein’s movie?

     The movie was a propaganda piece, and if reports are correct that the filmmakers failed to secure the rights to use songs by John Lennon and The Killers, they are also copyright infringers. So conservatives appear to be willing to give money to thieves and liars. Way to go.

     Comment by Bob — April 20, 2008 @ 11:05 am

125. Love all the guys who complain about the gratuitous male nudity in FSM. Uncomfortable much?

     Welcome to the female world. We are fed up with the gratuitous female nudity everywhere. We can’t watch most movies because inevitably there’s a nude scene, or the usual strip club scene, blah blah blah. It’s a constant assault that marginalizes the female populace.

     Guys don’t like the nude scene because it’s like an assault. They feel exposed. Women feel likewise about female nudity. We can’t even drive our kids to school without being bombarded by huge billboards for strip clubs.

     However, if movies showed young great looking guys naked, women sure would buy more tickets. The studio guys are stupid for not getting past their own personal insecurities and doing this. Look how the ratings on Grey’s Anatomy blew the roof off when McSteamy was walking around nearly naked in a towel.

     And you can throw whatever self-serving, status-quo-defending dumb rhetoric at this all you want, but these are the facts.

     Comment by quid pro quo — April 20, 2008 @ 11:17 am

126. The only western religious symbol that appears in The Forbidden Kingdom is a cross. It belongs to the leader of the band that viciously attacks the hero in modern times.
     Why the director chooses one western religious symbol to portray unnecessary violence?

     Wasn’t it alos some flare about The Lion King?

     Comment by maria — April 20, 2008 @ 11:34 am

127. Unindicted Co-conspirator, are you still parading that corroded can of worms you call a mind here on these message boards?

     Aren’t you tired having your “arguments” systematically dismantled? And having your pathetic statements brushed off like so much lint? Even as a troll, you’re unskilled at best.

     Oh well, if self-vilification and self-humiliation turns you on….

     Comment by Johnny ! — April 20, 2008 @ 12:00 pm

128. Nikki - re Expelled - you have to realize that conservatives have different movie-going habits than other people. I see maybe 2 or 3 movies a YEAR in the theaters, because most of it isn’t worth my money, much less my time. So for such a movie to do marginally well is a big deal, IMHO. Hollywood is in the mode of having to win back conservative families — it has been such a wasteland for so long that many of us are becoming jaded.

     Family pictures DO do better than something like Expelled because you can bring the whole family. I think my young ones might be bored by this one so there’s 33% viewership drop from a typical family movie in my household alone.

     Also, credit conservative families with helping out BO numbers of movies like “Spiderman”. Not outwardly conservative, but they do not insult my beliefs and, in fact, provide good moral lessons for the kids (mixed in with a lot of action to keep them interested).

     However, I am a little disappointed in the numbers because it was hyped quite a bit in the conservative talk circles. But then, we don’t go see movies on Friday nights — I wait for a matinee so it’s only $30 for my whole family instead of $54.

     Thanks for the reminder - I’m going to hit the 4:10 showing with my whole crew.

     Comment by Matt Cvetic — April 20, 2008 @ 12:20 pm

129. I only saw a few ads for “Expelled” so I guess it wasn’t that saturated in the media. I’m guessing you didn’t see the film since it is not an arguement for Intelligent Design. The film is a demonstration that teacher/scientists who believe in I.D. are then (by coincidence only) invited to leave the campus after that fact is discovered.
     It further shows the hostility of atheist professors, who are intolerant of relious persons generally and admit that they do not have all the answers, but are not progressive enough to listen to the questions of non-Darwinists. In fact, even non-religious people who hold fast to the notion that Darwin’s theory on the Origin of the Species doesn’t cut it are disallowed tenure (but please be assured this has nothing whatever to do with their beliefs).
     The film has a point of view, but offers long and unedited segments of people espousing their own ideas in their own words. I don’t even see “Expelled” as being about I.D., but rather it’s about these Dark Ages in university history where students and teachers are required to think in a politically correct way.

     Comment by Janine — April 20, 2008 @ 12:21 pm

130. If Expelled had been playing at any of the three multi-screen theatres within 20 miles of me I would have gone to see it. The availability may have something to do with how well it did.

     Comment by Jammer — April 20, 2008 @ 12:22 pm

131. What agenda driven leftist hack wrote this article about Ben Stein’s movie? I have heard very little about this movie, in fact I would have to drive 120 miles away just to find a theater who is playing this movie and it made $2.9M in 1 weekend.

     The movie cost around 1 million dollars to make and it made $2.9 million in one weekend. I would consider that a success. And I would like for one you leftist cooks to tell me what anti-Iraq war made a profit? In case you dont know the ansewer is 0!

     Comment by Michael Weiner — April 20, 2008 @ 12:28 pm

132. Talk about a slanted review…The conservative argument that people will flock to positive films has been proven to be true…Of the top 50 films over the last 10 years less than 5 have been rated “R”..but the intellectual elite doesn’t make or honor films that are made for the American audience..Of the five nominated films only one made over $100 million and that was the closest to a family film there was….
     And we all know that those Anti Americian films dealing with Iraq have been DUDS!

     Comment by Jack Schlatter, Grand Juntion, USA — April 20, 2008 @ 12:45 pm

133. Warning! This page has been linked by Drudge so all the drudgery drones are out in force to defend (un)intelligent design and their anti-science screed that global warming is not happening, even though the fact it is happening is a scientific fact. The main point of the article writer is that Ben Stein is a Michael Moore wannabe for the right wing whose film underperformed expectations, and that’s a fact.

     Comment by Will o' the Wisp — April 20, 2008 @ 12:53 pm

134. WOW Bob! Your views of the “CONS”, as you call them, are pretty far out there! But then again I don’t expect alot from someone writing blog comments from the Fulsom Street Fair. How are those inner city schools and inner city education enclaves you libs created working out for you? BWAAAHHAAHAHA! You libs just keep digging your own cess pool holes. Meanwhile I’ll go and see “Expelled”. I don’t mind giving up some cash for a film that seems interesting to me. Nikki….please don’t wear your opinions so openly on your sleeve….it’s very unattractive.

     Comment by Charles K. — April 20, 2008 @ 1:02 pm

135. The champions of LIBERTY who wrote our Constitution were “liberals” in the original sense, which meant those who believed in individual LIBERTY, personal responsibility, limited government and the rule of law, rather than in monarchy and the untrammeled exercise of government power. They were influenced by the liberalism of Adam Smith, John Locke, Voltaire, Montesquieu, and other intellectual giants. Those great thinkers would today be called “conservatives”, the liberal-conservative divide having been turned 180 degrees in America, beginning with the rise of leftist Progressivism in the early 20th century. See Jonah Goldberg’s best-selling book “Liberal Fascism” to get yer eyes opened and yer mind right.

     Oh and btw: modern proponents of classical liberalism include Hyek, Friedman and von Mises. Those guys aren’t chopped liver.

     If you don’t know any of this, it’s probably because you have a modern “librul edjukashun”

     As for “conservative” actors: who gives a flip? But thirty-to-fifty years ago there were plenty: John Wayne & Jimmy Stewart, just for starters. Oh and that other guy, Ronald Reagan.

     Comment by Anna Keppa — April 20, 2008 @ 1:05 pm

136. I prefer not to see docs in the theater in surround sound, that’s what DVD is for. But I’ll definately rent it. Iron Man on the other hand, can’t wait to see that in the theater!!!!

     Uhhh, Michael McCullough, I thought you knew. At least you should know. Evolution is not fact. Even scientists refer to it as the Theory of Evolution. Just as they call it the Big Bang Theory. Neither is fact. Just so you know.

     Further, I think it takes a heck of a lot more faith to believe fish decided one day to drop their fins, crawl out of the water, grow legs and magically morph into people, then it takes to believe Someone created it all to begin with.

     What, did all the fish that currently live in the sea decide, hey Nemo, you know, I kinda like it better in here, let’s stay in the ocean. And the other fish who you think are our ancestors were like, see ya suckas, we’re outty 5000.

     But the part you cannot and will not ever have an answer for is this.

     What came before the “big bang”? If all of the matter in the universe came from this explosion of gases, where did the gases come from? How did they get there? Where did the universe itself in which these gases existed come from, before whatever exploded, exploded? There had to be a period of time when whatever exploded, hadn’t yet exploded. And whatever it was, and wherever it existed, where did it all that come from?

     The only plausible answer in my view is it came from Someone, who always was, and will always be, that exists outside of time and space. Someone who sees the full measure of time, in real time, all at the same time. Someone who created time, and everything else in it.

     But the more important question is not how or when. But why. Was it random or on purpose? If it was random without meaning, and everything developed out of mere survival, is it any wonder why teen suicide rates are so high? You are telling our kids they are accidents of the proverbial cosmos.

     Is it any wonder why people try to fill the hole in their hearts with sex, drugs, money, and fifteen minutes of fame? Why a 38 foot boat is always followed by a 39 foot boat.

     If there is no meaning behind why we are here, there is no purpose in being here. But if you believe, as I believe, that God created you and I on purpose, for a purpose, and that from the beginning of time, he had your life in mind, then it means you have value as a human being not only to those you know, but to the Person who knows you better than anyone, the Person who created you.

     And He loves you, even if you laugh at His existence. Even if you don’t believe in Him, He still believes in you.

     Comment by EvolutionIsATheory — April 20, 2008 @ 1:09 pm

137. Chris-

     Clearly you didn’t read the link you posted very well. “No End In Sight” was shown in 117 theatres during its peak while “Expelled” played in 1052 theatres this weekend. Considering that No End in Sight’s per theatre average (compare its 1.433 gross to Expelled’s 3.153 gross in almost 10x as many theatres) is significantly higher than that of Expelled, I wouldn’t flaunt those numbers.

     Also, the link you provided is not adjusted for inflation. When “Roger and Me” premiered, the average price of a movie ticket was $3.97 (from http://boxofficemojo.com/about/adjuster.htm) while today’s average is $6.82. That means that “Expelled” must gross over 10,610,221.51 in order to best “Roger and Me.” Still an attainable number given that “Expelled” is playing in 4x as many theatres as “Roger and Me” ever did (265 vs. 1052).

     One must check ALL of the facts before making claims, rather than picking and choosing those which support their argument.

     Comment by College Student — April 20, 2008 @ 1:13 pm

138. Going to see Forbidden Kingdom this Tuesday. Narnia Kung Fu Combo that can’t be beat.

     Ben Stein is a genius. I’m just glad Expelled got the screens that it did get. I’ll see it, I’m no ID pusher. I just don’t think folks should be fired for debating what is consensus and what is not!

     If I did think we could do that, I’d fire every left winger in the country!

     Comment by Dave — April 20, 2008 @ 2:07 pm

139. Start with a conclusion: “Evolution is not fact.”

     Cherry pick supporting data: “Even scientists refer to it as the Theory of Evolution. Just as they call it the Big Bang Theory.”

     Present as fact: “The only plausible answer in my view is it came from Someone, who always was, and will always be, that exists outside of time and space.”

     There’s a problem, though. The word “theory” has a number of definitions, and this is the one used by scientists: “A set of statements or principles devised to explain a group of facts or phenomena, especi