Set to Open on 1,000 Screens April 18, Ben Stein's 'Expelled' Stirs Major Controversy

Set to Open on 1,000 Screens April 18, Ben Stein's 'Expelled' Stirs Major Controversy

'The battle over evolution is only one skirmish in a much larger war.' - Oxford professor Richard Dawkins, in 'Expelled'

LOS ANGELES, April 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Even before its April 18 release nationwide, Ben Stein's movie, "EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed" has triggered heated reactions from both sides of the debate between religion and science.

Atheists are "crashing" "Expelled" screenings and conference calls; critics are slamming it; and leaders are raving about it. One organization is urging theaters to reject the film, while another is holding a movie marathon for all 15 "Expelled" showings at their theater.

And "Expelled" screenings for legislators in Florida and Missouri are causing political firestorms and driving "Academic Freedom" bills that challenge Darwinism.

The controversy has made "Expelled" one of the most talked about movies of 2008:

   -- The "Expelled" controversy was rated #1 blog on the Internet (3/24/08)    -- "Expelled" rated #6 on Yahoo's "Top Searches" (4/8/08)    -- "Expelled" made the front cover of the New York Times (10/27/07)    -- Nearly 2 million visitors have come to the "Expelled" movie site      recently    

"The reaction to "Expelled" is threatening to ignite a new cold war between religion and science -- and the implications are enormous," says executive producer Logan Craft. "The atheists are going ballistic over our little movie. I want to remind them: It's just a movie. Relax!"

Early pre-screenings of the film have been met with both rave reviews and harsh criticisms. Radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh called it "powerful" and "fabulous" while critic Roger Friedman called it "sloppy" and "not just a little boring." The Orlando Sentinel's Roger Moore said "it's not particularly funny," while MovieGuide called it "wry, funny, and well crafted." And in the blogosphere where "EXPELLED" is creating the most buzz, bloggers like Bryan Swaggerty are calling Ben Stein "an idiot," while others like John Villareal are praising Stein as "a genius."

"It's amazing to see the totally opposite reactions to 'Expelled,'" said Logan Craft. "At most of our pre-screenings, audiences are giving standing ovations. But others are calling it pathetic. We think it has more to do with one's worldview, than with the film itself."

According to one prominent U.S. movie theater chain, people are even sending emails to boycott "Expelled." An email which the theater chain forwarded to the producers of "Expelled" read, "I urge the management of this theater company to consider rejecting the highly controversial film 'EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed' ... [as it] undermines science in our nation's schools."

"This is the first time since Passion of the Christ that we've become really engaged," said pastor Jerry Johnston of First Family Church in Kansas City, who is hosting multiple screenings of "Expelled." "We think the debate about the origin of life isn't settled yet, despite what's being taught in our public schools. This is more than a movie, it's a cause," said Johnston, who will explore the topic in a four-week sermon series in conjunction with the release of "Expelled." Similarly, the Association of Christian Schools International has urged its thousands of member schools to use "Expelled" as a springboard for discussion.

"Many of our atheist friends are deeply angered by our film and we can't figure out why," noted producer Walt Ruloff. "This is America and we should all be ready for a little debate. My hope is that instead of trying to shut down the movie, they'll join the debate. Let the conversation begin."

"EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed" opens on over 1,000 screens nationwide Friday, April 18. For more information visit http://www.expelledthemovie.com/ and http://www.getexpelled.com/.

About Premise Media (Production Company for "Expelled"): Premise Media Corporation develops, finances and produces independent films, books and DVD's for the domestic and international marketplace, "Producing world class media that stirs the heart and inspires the mind to truth, purpose and hope." Company principals and producers Logan Craft and Walt Ruloff can be contacted via its website (http://www.premisemedia.com/).

About Motive Entertainment (Grass Roots Marketing for "Expelled"): Los Angeles-based Motive Entertainment, which directed the grassroots marketing campaigns for Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ," the Tom Hanks/Robert Zemeckis film "Polar Express" and the record-breaking Walden Media/Disney epic series, "The Chronicles of Narnia," is a leading company in film and entertainment marketing (http://www.motivemarketing.biz/).

About Rocky Mountain Pictures (Distributor for "Expelled"): Specializing in the independent motion picture industry, Rocky Mountain Pictures provides full-service theatrical film distribution including strategic marketing development. Principal partners Ron Rodgers and Randy Slaughter each have more than 35 years of theatrical distribution and marketing experience, having previously served in executive positions with some of the largest and most profitable independent production and distribution companies in the U.S. (http://www.rockymtnpictures.com/).

                    For interview opportunities contact:                             Diane Shader Smith                              Rogers and Cowan                                310-386-6803                         dianeshadersmith@gmail.com  

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Source: Premise Media

CONTACT: Diane Shader Smith of Rogers and Cowan,
+1-310-386-6803, dianeshadersmith@gmail.com, for Premise Media

Web site: http://www.premisemedia.com/
http://www.rockymtnpictures.com/
http://www.motivemarketing.biz/

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Profile: International Entertainment