Atlas Shrugged

The film follows the book well.
The changing actors was a bit distracting initially.
Not surprisingly the book is better than the film... long though.

Ann Rand’s enemies are clearly today’s Socialist-Democrat’s.

Rob

 

Not quite. Rand has other enemies, or rather, as an atheist she is an enemy of other religions, and especially of Christianity. In other words, hers has the same ultimate flaw as so many other godless socio-economic philosophies—it's godless.

She believes in going back to the founding principles of the nation, except that she has abandoned the foundation of the framework, and the real source of rights.

She imagines that morals can be worked out via reason alone, but that has proven fruitless, or worse, led to no distinction between good and evil.

 

Mike Wallace interviews Ayn Rand (1959): A Transcript (The interview can be watched here.)

Glamour and Discourse: Mike Wallace interviews Ayn Rand (1959): A Transcript

Ayn Rand: First, my philosophy is based on the concept that reality exists as an objective absolute. That man's mind, reason, is his means of perceiving it. And that men need a rational morality. I am primarily the creator of a new code of morality which has so far been believed impossible. Namely, a morality not based on faith, not on arbitrary whim, not on emotion, not on arbitrary edict, mystical or social, but on reason. A morality which can be proved by means of logic. Which can be demonstrated to be true and necessary. Now may I define what my morality is, because this is merely an introduction?

Ayn Rand: My morality is based on man's life as a standard of value. And since man's mind is his basic means of survival, I hold that if man wants to live on earth, and to live as a human being, he has to hold reason as an absolute. By which I mean that he has to hold reason as his only guide to action. And that he must live by the independent judgment of his own mind. That his highest moral purpose is the achievement of his own happiness. And that he must not force other people nor accept their right to force him. That each man must live as an end in himself and follow his own, rational, self-interest.​

 

Mike Wallace interviews Ayn Rand (1959): A Transcript (The interview can be watched here.)

Glamour and Discourse: Mike Wallace interviews Ayn Rand (1959): A Transcript

Mike Wallace: Because you put this philosophy to work in your novel, Atlas Shrugged. You demonstrate it, in human terms, in your novel Atlas Shrugged. And let me start by quoting from a review of this novel, Atlas Shrugged, that appeared in Newsweek. It said that, "You are out to destroy almost every edifice in the contemporary American way of life. Our Judeo-Christian religion, our modified, government-regulated capitalism, our rule by the majority will." Other reviews have said that, "You scorn churches, and the concept of God." Are these accurate criticisms?

Ayn Rand: Ah... Yes. I agree with the facts, but not the estimate of this criticism. Namely, if I am challenging the base of all these institutions, I'm challenging the moral code of altruism. The precept that man's moral duty is to live for others. That man must sacrifice himself to others. Which is the present day morality.

Mike Wallace: What do you mean by “sacrifice himself for others”? Now were getting to the point.

Ayn Rand: Since I'm challenging the base, I necessarily will challenge the institutions you name, which are a result of that morality. And now what is self-sacrifice?

Mike Wallace: Yes.What is self-sacrifice? You say that you do not like the altruism by which we live. You like a certain kind of Ayn Randist selfishness.

Ayn Rand: I would say that "I don't like" is too weak a word. I consider [it] evil. And self-sacrifice is the precept that man needs to serve others in order to justify his existence. That his moral duty is to serve others. That is what most people believe today.​