Pitchfork

Sigh. Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed is a documentary of sorts due to hit theaters tomorrow (April 18). The film takes up the cause of intelligent design, that proposed "alternate" theory to Darwin's whole evolution deal-- and a theory which, to many, is just fancyspeak for Creationism.

Expelled stars Ben Stein, because we all know how compelling it is to listen to Ben Stein speak.

Now that's nice and all, but here's where things get really controversial: all hack science advocacy notwithstanding, the film is currently under fire for its use of a couple pieces of music.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, portions of both John Lennon's "Imagine" and the Killers' "All These Things That I've Done" can be heard in Expelled. As the Journal revealed in yesterday's report, the folks behind Expelled received permission to use the Killers song from the band's label and publisher, but did not get the go-ahead to use "Imagine" from Lennon's representatives.

Earlier this week, some saw fit to lash out at Yoko Ono, believing she had willingly licensed "Imagine" to the film. On Monday, a Huffington Post blogger chided Ono for having "sold out" and also questioned the Killers' motives, before posting a retraction yesterday.

A lawyer for Ono told the Journal that Ono's camp is "exploring all options" with regard to possible copyright infringement. Expelled's filmmakers, meanwhile, issued a statement acknowledging they had used "Imagine" without permission, but also claiming that use was "momentary" and thus protected under the First Amendment.

Whatever the outcome, we suggest you hold onto your $9.75 for another week and spend it on a ticket to Harold & Kumar: Escape From Guantanamo Bay. In theaters April 25!!