Yes she did.

Didn't it depict the technological innovations, including energy production and a copper mine, and the joy of the creative production? The Valley was not a place where people sat around.

Ayn Rand did not insist on the entire speech being in the movie and that had nothing to do with it not being made sooner.

I went to see AS3 downtown Seattle last night at 7:40 PM... there were only 3 others in the theater, but I was proud to be there... and to me, it was absolutely perfect. The scenes of beauty, the musical soundtrack, really every part of the film - in my opinion - did the book justice. The greatness of AS3 was that it didn't really try hard come off as the third part of a sequel. It stood just fine on its own, which is good. It's kind of like watching a home video of your family. When it's about something you love and care about, you don't really care about the fact that it's actually not a perfect production. Same deal. I've read the book in its entirety, so I can fill in the blanks in my mind. The movie adds a visual to accompany the story I already know well. To those who are just looking for entertainment, I must concede that AS3 isn't the best film ever made... but for the audience which it is intended for... for the people who love its message, it is splendid and glorious.

I just reread my email and find that I am confusing even myself. I meant to say "anti-EPA and against pro-EPA over-regulation". That's what I meant to say. Honest.

Jan

I agree totally. While I dislike many of the tradeoffs, like the absence of Hank, the short shrift given to Cheryl's trauma, etc. -- the simple joy that Dagny finds in the valley, and the month of growing attraction and romantic tension between her and Galt is very important to the final arc of the movie. Remember the moment in the book when she asks, "What are you all doing here?" and the answer is, simply, "Living."

The juxtaposition between her dystopian life in NYC and the simple beauty of life in the valley is an important element to the movie experience and the understanding of Dagny's journey and the entire point of the book and the movie. Life can be simple and straightforward -- learn, choose, produce, and to everyone else -- get out of our way!

My take on it is that non-liberals have often been lambasted for being anti-ecology. (Whereas the truth is closer to at least some of that set being anti-EPA and pro-EPA over regulation.) The emphasis on nature I took to be a statement that the Gulch is pro-nature and that capitalism does not equate to clear cut forests and concrete wastelands.

Still, it was a bit overmuch. This is the part where, literally and metaphorically, Dagny is 'carried through scene after scene'.

Jan

I saw that as well

I think Ayn Rand's insistance on including Galt's entire speech was a major factor that kept the movie from being made for so long,

This is the part of the movie that has been criticized by many as too slow and hard to sit through. It was too much like an idyllic view of a Swiss valley and the Von Trapps were just off camera. I hope the DVD is reedited so it is better integrated and thematic with the rest of the movie.

I for one. would love to live in the Gulch. I was wondering what life would be like there. These scenes of happy, carefree driving, visiting a market and being in good company were like a drink of water in the desert!

Loved the music, especially the way the themes from ASI were incorporated. I still would love to hear Halley's Fifth Symphony.

Not only that Winterwind, the joy of creating the ore train line was evident until she crushed her own joy by falling back into the crushing grasp of the looters in her own mind.
I really enjoyed the entire movie. They capture all the essentials of the book.
Cheers,
Bob

It was almost like the director was trying fill in time, as half the time “driving around the Gulch” would have been sufficient to get the message across of a tranquil and peaceful place. I made an earlier comment that I thought the early part of the film was too slow, and the latter part too melodramatic.I would have liked to hear more from John Galt, in his speech, as in AS it consisted of an awful lot of pages. I suppose in a movie that would not go over to well?

Not so different than when she spent some time in her cabin. I'm sure there was some intention to symbolize how peaceful and relaxed life in the Gulch was, a juxtaposition to her life as a COO.

That is a great observation Winter.

Nice observation. I agree.

Ah...good observation, Winter. :)