An interesting documentary that could have evolved a bit better with a bit more intelligent design (puns intended)

On Saturday we saw Expelled; No Intelligence Allowed the new Ben Stein documentary on the perils of supporting the Intelligent Design theory. I think the basic points of the documentary are fundamentally sound. First, Stein argues that a good deal of the scientific community is in a Pre-Kuhnesque state of denial about the potential for alternative explanations to the full theory of Darwinism. He shows a couple of cases where a seemingly distinguished scholar was dismissed for even mentioning the ideas of Intelligent Design. Kuhn's classic (The Structure of Scientific Revolutions) argued that as science elaborates theories, the practitioners also build defense systems to contrary ideas, until at some point, the weight of evidence against prevailing logic is over-turned. From what I have read and heard about the issue, I think that is an accurate reflection.

Stein's second point is that a good deal of the forebearers of Darwinism, including Darwin himself, have a less than savory past. He makes a big point of arguing that Darwin's theories influenced Nazism in its worst dimensions.

Where I had a problem with the movie was in its storyline. Stein decided that people who were going to see the movie needed no introduction to the issue, but for some in the theater, including my wife, that was wrong. There are a couple of very good interviews in the movie including one with Richard Dawkins, the British evolutionary biologist, who is evidently suing Stein about the use of the footage of his interview in the movie. IMHO, Dawkins looks like an ideological fool. But for those who have read his books on religion, I think he is quoted accurately, if not entirely in a positive way. At the same time, former media groupie Yoko Ono, has tried to argue that Stein's use of a short piece of John Lennon's Imagine is violative of copyright - what nonsense - but then what would you expect from her?

The second quibble I had with the movie was Stein's interviewing technique. He could do a lot to build that skill. I understand, that in interviews like the Dawkins one, he was trying to build a record. But in many cases his style does little to get the issues he is trying to cover exposed.

After you get through both of those defects, I thought the movie was both interesting and informative. I just think with a bit less of Stein's interview style and a bit more work on doing a script which had a bit more coherence, it could have been even better.