Posted on 03/29/2010 8:56:35 PM PDT by DogByte6RER
‘Battlefield Earth’ Screenwriter Is Sorry About That
By Marc Schneider
J.D. Shapiro wrote one of the most derided films of all time. Now, he's saying sorry. In early March, 2000's 'Battlefield Earth' was "awarded" worst movie of the decade by the Razzies. Few are protesting it and even more, like the folks behind 'Freddy Got Fingered,' must have let out a sigh of relief at the news. But Shapiro knows what he did was awful. Truly awful, and in an open letter published by the NY Post, he hilariously tries to explain himself.
"It wasn't as I intended -- promise. No one sets out to make a train wreck. Actually, comparing it to a train wreck isn't really fair to train wrecks, because people actually want to watch those."
Shapiro runs down the whole experience, starting with a tour of a Scientology center and being approached to write a film, to having dinner with the film's future star John Travolta, to even taking some classes to bone up on the L. Ron Hubbard-created religion.
"I took a few courses, including the Purification Rundown, or Purif. You go to CC every day, take vitamins and go in and out of a sauna so toxins are released from your body. You're supposed to reach an 'End Point.' I never did, but I was bored so I told them I had a vision of L. Ron. They said, 'What did he say?' 'Pull my finger,' was my response. They said I was done."
He even got to take a ride on the super-exclusive cruise ship, the Freewind, where he stuck out by walking around in a robe, smoking and drinking scotch. Scientologists are not allowed to drink while taking classes.
(Excerpt) Read more at popeater.com ...
>>I thought Battlefield was actually pretty good and would love to see a movie based on the Mission Earth Decalogy.<<
Liked the book and no, don’t touch Mission Earth Decalogy. Few would get it and how would you condense 10 books into one? It would make Battlefield Earth look like Gone With The Wind.
>>>It’s the only thing by L. Ron Hubbard I’ve ever read, and it was the sort of thing an uninspired and untalented high school student in a writing class might have written, expanded into a thousand page novel.
I was given Battlefield Earth to read once when I was laid up with the flu, something to shut me up. The book is structured as three sections or books in one cover. It seemed to me each of the three sections was written in a different style. My opinion is each was the product of a different ghost-writer.
Yes, but I choose not to cram it down anyone’s throat.
You tell yourself whatever you need to.
You too pookie.
Aw, your shame and ego forced you to attempt a reaction to a childish name. Keep up the good work, and keep saving them souls.
owwwwwwww, that’s telling me.
They could make 5 sequels!
Get Matt Damon or the guy from Star Trek to be Heller and Robert Downey Jr as Soltan Gris.
For a true reference point on bad, see “Manos; The Hands of Fate” on youtube.
Don’t forget Black Knight which had even predominantly black audiences storming the ticket counter for refunds within the first half hour of the showing.
Actually, comparing it to a train wreck isn't really fair to train wrecks, because people actually want to watch those.Those are the jokes, folks. Figures the Hubbardologists wouldn't be able to recruit anyone talented.
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