Fraser Drysdale When circumstances constantly conspire against our most sincere and best efforts, rest assured, something is dangerously amiss and tragedy is inevitable unless aggressive corrective action is taken asap.Can't blame people for wishing the prophetic reality presented would all go away so as to give this TV series and later Video release a low rating.Don't be confused by feigned incompetence at the highest levels.... that is only part of the story. Corrupt leaders are both corrupt and their own victims of gross incompetence.For solid historical background on this development you can also read CP Snow's best seller book entitled "The Two Cultures + A 2nd Look".... Even before that were signs of trouble ahead..... read about the life of famous Nobel Prize winner and Nuclear Physicist Niels Bohr and/or Robert Oppenheimer from the book about his tragic life entitled "American Prometheus".Now go prepare yourself for what is yet to come.....

lois-lane33 This is a very good film but the whole thing falls apart spectacularly in the second installment because they used all different actors to carry the same story along-a story that loses its edge and becomes commonplace in the second film. That being said this film captures the essence of Anne Rands work-a writer who was ahead of her time and a person who had a unique vision of the future. Her style was apparent in the first film but the change of personnel didn't maintain the same feeling that existed in the first film with regards it being a definitive representation of Anne Rand's work. Some people won't mind the funny way they executed this multi film project- its still something to watch when its cold outside type of thing-but others, like myself think they could have done better and should have tried more to do the project more professionally. I can remember this being advertised but I cannot remember it ever being on any screens anywhere around after it was released. Usually I don't miss the more interesting films. The thing that is a resounding issue in the work of Anne Rand is she is basically a 'new romantic' writer even though she described herself as an "objectivist" and considered her work as a way to promote 'a new philosophy of Objectivism.' She was a different type of writer.

Isabelle Vanhouver I saw this a week ago, and now that I have stared, openmouthed in horror, at that travesty of a Part II, I feel I can appreciate this movie. For one thing, the casting--Dagny is lovely. She is cool and contained and lovely--an empress of steel. When she calls Jim "brother dear," the blood chills a little. When she and Hank (we'll get to him in a moment) interact, it's significantly less gag-worthy than it was in the book. She is about as human as the written Dagny will get, and the fact that it was a B-list star makes it better--I have a fresh canvas, a totally new impression. I don't look at her and think "oh, that's Reese Witherspoon" or "Oh, that's Angelina"--I think "Oh, that's Dagny." Oh, Dagny, would that they had kept you--you and your finely molded, sublimely interesting face. Would that they had not foisted upon me in your place a wrinkled, falsie-wearing imitation. Hank, meanwhile, is not quite as I had pictured him--but he's enough. He's in good shape, he's cleanshaven, he's just about old enough, he has an interesting, keen face and a clear, no-nonsense voice. He is as good as a low-budget film version of Hank is going to get, appearance-wise, and his acting is brilliant. His very eyebrows speak volumes. His interactions with Lillian are on point--the scene where he rolls off of her and she carelessly adjusts her strap is great. The rest of them are fairly well-cast as well. I particularly appreciate Lillian--visually, she's on-point: almost beautiful, but with some jarring absence, some imperfection. This is very well realized here. Francisco I found a little disorienting, mainly because of the hair, but he played the part like a pro. James is a departure from what I imagined--I always thought older, less attractive. His cheekbones startled me. Nevertheless, he and Dagny pass well for siblings. The scenery is great, and the atmosphere is as good as time constraints allow--it could, as someone else noted, do with a little more desperation, a little more fear, but one must allow that this was fairly early on in the book and everyone still thought Socialism would work. Bottom line: a masterpiece? Probably not. But did they take what they had and use it as well as they could? I think they at least came damn close. They even managed to pump a little blood, put a little humanity into the film. I commend them. My final words: quit while you're ahead. It only gets worse. Much much worse. Take this Dagny, this Hank, this Lillian and James and Francisco, and savor them. Savor them while you still can. Because before you know they've all aged thirty years and Hank sounds like a smoke-choked version of the Godfather.

ssto i actually enjoyed the film, but probably a TV show would've worked better - business, politics, love and betrayal - what is not there to keep the audience watching every week?since i hadn't read the book,there were some blank spaces, like - what is the motive of the politicians to break businesses? power, of course, but the link was too weak/would've been great to get more background on the families and relations etc etc.as a production it is solid, camera work is splendid, pretty good fx, acting is great, the only thing missing, as a mentioned is more depth which could've been provided by this being a TV show but well - still good