Putting aside the topic II thought it was a decent film. Shot well and the editing was not bad. I have seen lauded films with "liberal" topics that were worse.

I think the film fits fine on the same list with a film by Michael Moore. Why shouldn't it? Like Expelled, his films are done in an attempt to prove a point and usher in change. Whether we agree or not has nothing to do with it's "worthiness" of being on the same list.

And I agree with Samuel, I've seen plenty of "liberal" films that weren't as well-made as Expelled.

You both bring up a good point--does the filmmaking or the general "worthiness" of a film diminish if it serves a political agenda you disagree with? It's a question that has also been applied to the work of D.W. Griffith, whose Birth of a Nation celebrated white supremacy and the Ku Klux Klan. Or, more relevantly, the work of Leni Riefenstahl, whose Triumph of the Will is a fantastic advance in documentary film aesthetics, marred by the fact that it's a celebration of Nazism.

I agree with both of you in the point that Expelled looks better (production value, editing, music and cinematography) than most theatrically released docs. Brent and Samuel: were you ever offended by the poltical agenda of Expelled--more or less so than, say, one of Michael Moore's films?

Offended, of course not. Its a political point of view that I don't really agree with, but I don't think there is anything really to be offended by. It's simply a political point of view They certainly made some specious connections, but then so does Michael Moore, who I enjoy, but he has some times engaged in out right fabrications.

Although I found the vitriolic attack of the film from our community so bizarre. We are supposed to be for the free exchange of ideas and that the comments made by a lot of people almost seemed like they were offended that someone would have a point of view that is different from their own.

I would love to see some good quality sparring of ideas through the documentary medium by both right and left.

What if, during the release of An Inconvenient Truth, the global-warming deniers were able to produce their own polished documentary. . .starring Dick Cheney? I guess the right has a smaller pool of documentary talent to glean from, however. But there must be some out-of-work Fox News producers with theatrical aspirations. I wonder where Fox News producers go, anyway, when they're not working for Rupert Murdoch.

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I am one of those “right wing” filmmakers you guys are talking about. I am curious to know if you would watch a film that is a big budget, first person, sardonic film with one of the best editors (Fog of War, Manda Bala) and cinematographers (Inconvenient Truth, My Architect) working today, that takes on some major foreign policy questions (Human Rights, Terrorism, Nuclear Proliferation).

I am sort of putting myself out there, so I expect more responses then just Samuel, Tom and Brent. That means you Roston.

I agree with Samuel again. I was actually less offended by Expelled than parts of Fahrenheit 911 when Michael Moore blatantly fabricated sequences/information to prove a point. A viewpoint that stretches my own opinion is a great thing in a film, I just don't want to feel manipulated through fabrication. I didn't feel that way in Expelled. Granted, a sequence towards the end of the film was perhaps a bit long or maybe forced, but that was their opinion and the point they wanted to make.

Hi "Anonymous for Now",

This is Roston. I am also "Tom" but I'll identify myself from now on as "Doc Soup Man" to avoid confusion. To answer your question: yes. I'd like to watch the movie you mention. Did you direct it? And please tell more: Is it coming out soon? Where's the financing coming from? Did you think of approaching POV for TV distribution?

Tom,

I should have made that connection. If you email me your contact info at ami@disruptivepictures.com, I would be happy to tell you more about it, as long as its all off the record for now.

It's hard to deny that Expelled was professionally made, but as I argue in my review, the arguments have consequences that I believe are incredibly harmful when it comes to scientific education in this country. The pro-intelligent design argument here essentially relies upon some of the cultural relativism arguments that the Christian community would have reviled only a few years ago. Essentially the film implies that there is a serious debate about the merits of evolutionary theory when there really isn't. And it uses incredible scare tactics to do so. Identifying evolutionary biologists with Nazis and communists is the height of manipulation. I'd have felt like I was being manipulated if I didn't find some of the techniques so incredibly over the top.

I'm all for opening up documentary to a diversity of voices, so I'm glad the film is receiving a wide audience, but I also reserve the right to criticize those documentaries that use faulty argumentation, and I'll continue to criticize Expelled for engaging in some serious misrepresentations.

I have no interest in seeing Expelled but I'm thrilled when any documentary expands the viewership of people who will pay to see them in the theater, on dvd, ancillary, etc.

I hear that, Chuck. Everyone should check out Chuck's blog for lively, smart chatter on docs. But I'm curious, Chuck (and Erin), if you guys think that your passion for expanding the doc viewership would be tempered if, a few years from now, you noticed that for every doc you felt better reflected your world view, there was also one that didn't. Would it bother you that, say, An Inconvenient Truth's box office gets surpassed by a documentary that denies the earth is suffering from global warming, starring Alexander Cockburn, the one-time lefty writer who wrote a column reflecting that opinion?

Doc Soup Man, I just noticed your comment, and that's a good question. I realized when I said it that some awful documentaries masquerading as truth (Falwell's hit piece on the Clinton's, for example) could break through. I guess I'm placing a bit too much faith in the idea that a reading, writing, and viewing public would challenge the claims of movies such as "Expelled," but that's probably a little too optimistic on my part.