JUDGMENT DAY - INTELLIGENT DESIGN ON TRIAL

JUDGMENT DAY - 2007

RATED - NR

RATINGS - 9 Amazon (4.5/5), 115 Netflix (3.9/5)

THEME - PBS show about Intelligent Design in the NOVA series produced by WGBH of Boston.

STORY - The film documents the 2005 trial of a group of parents and teachers in Dover, PA. who sued the school board accusing them of violating the constitutional separation of church and state. The dispute, which divided this small community of 20,000 into two very polarized groups, started when the school board required science teachers to read a statement to students that Intelligent Design (ID) was a viable alternative scientific theory to the theory of evolution and that books were available in the library which would give students more information about ID. These books had been anonymously donated to the school and became an integral part of the trial later on. The trial attracted national and international attention. An attorney for the plaintiffs stated, 'This is the case I've been waiting all my life for..". The success of the plaintiffs rested on being able to prove two statements. One, they had to prove that ID was not a scientific theory according to generally accepted scientific principles. Two, they had to prove the school had religious motivation or purposes in requiring that ID be presented to students. The trial last six weeks and literally divided families in the community as people took sides. If you like legal movies you will enjoy the strategies of both sides as they make their cases. It was a fascinating trial. The trial was decided by a judge who was appointed by the Bush Administration which clearly had an ID bias. If you're interested in evolution versus ID, you will also find this fascinating. Remember, it is ID that is on trial, not the theory of evolution. Did this trial answer the questions forever regarding ID or was it a referendum on the Dover school board? You can decide. As the trial demonstrates, the science and faith communities are still far apart in understanding each other and recognizing the limitations and strengths of both. At the end, a couple surprise discoveries create a 'Perry Mason' style finish. Worth watching no matter which side of the debate you find yourself on. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 03/22/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, WGBH