Who is John Galt? Atlas Shrugged - a movie review.

I saw Atlas Shrugged this afternoon. Whether or not you like this movie (or even go to this movie) will probably depend in you political persuasion (and opinion of Ayn Rand). I am not a huge Ayn Rand fan; however, I am a Libertarian. Her themes of individual achievement, the problems with "big Government" and "centralizing the means of production" resonated with me. Simply put, I liked the movie. More important, I recognized the characters... particularly the characters who represented those in our current Government.

The theme is simple: "big" Government that tries to use its power to control the economy, the means of production, and its citizen is a prescription for the failure of the Country that it supports. That's a theme I appreciate. When I listen to the liberal left, particularly the Progressives, talk about wealth redistribution, engage in anti-corporation rhetoric, or "economic equalization" between states, I get a cold chill. The Movie Atlas Shrugged puts these fears into perspective. Of course, it's just a movie.

There's a scene that involves a train making its maiden voyage on Rearden Steel that brought tears to my eyes. You might have to be a Libertarian to understand that response.

This is part 1 of a three part series. Part one pretty much follows the book, which is a "good thing". I went to an afternoon matinee. The theater (seating capacity around 600) was probably about a fourth full. I don't know if this will be a commercial success or if part 2 and 3 will ever go into production; however, I hope so.

It's rare for a movie to generate a round of applause. This movie did. That probably says something about the production quality and the audience. I applauded loudly.

It's a Great movie (if you are a Libertarian, a true Conservative, or perhaps a member of the Tea Party). I would love to hear a Progressive's reaction (if any actually go to see it).