'Battlefield Earth' Screenwriter Is Sorry About That

By Marc Schneider Posted Mar 28th 2010 10:40AM

J.D. Shapiro apologizes for 'Battlefield Earth'

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.

Soon, he signed on and quickly got to work writing the film, based on Hubbard's book and set in the year 3000, where Earth is ruled by not-so-nice aliens called the Psyclos (take that, psychology!). Humans put up a fight and stand up to the bad guys (led by Travolta's Terl).

Roger Ebert's Dismantling of the Film:

"A few days after I finished the script, a very excited Travolta called, told me he 'loved it,' and wanted to have dinner. At dinner, John said again how much he loved the script and called it 'The 'Schindler's List' of sci-fi.'"

Before long, he got a series of notes about the script that he just assumed were "a joke," but ended up being directly from Travolta himself.

"They changed the entire tone. I knew these notes would kill the movie. The notes wanted me to lose key scenes, add ridiculous scenes, take out some of the key characters. I asked Mike [Marcus, the president of MGM] where they came from. He said, 'From us.' But when I pressed him, he said, 'From John's camp, but we agree with them.'"

He refused to use the notes and was fired, but later accepted shared writing credit for the finished product at the urging of his agent.

About what made it to the big screen, Shapiro insists: "My script was very, VERY different than what ended up on the screen. My screenplay was darker, grittier and had a very compelling story with rich characters. What my screenplay didn't have was slow motion at every turn, Dutch tilts, campy dialog, aliens in KISS boots, and everyone wearing Bob Marley wigs."

"Now, looking back at the movie with fresh eyes, I can't help but be strangely proud of it. Because out of all the sucky movies, mine is the suckiest."

According to his IMDB page, Shapiro has not had another screenplay make it to theaters since 'Battlefield.' His other main credit is 'Robin Hood: Men In Tights.'

Tags: battlefield earth, JD Shapiro

Comments

(133)

Sunday 28 March

By Lastyear

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

About 5 or 6 people in Hollywood buy into it not everyone in Hollywood. Travolta, Cruise, Kirstie Allie, and a handful of lesser knowns. This represents a very small portion of Hollywood.

By ram6968

tried reading dianetics....couldn't get past the first few pages....laughing too hard...it's incredible what supposedly intelligent people will believe

By Mr.Serene

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Christians believe in a talking snake and Moslems believe in 77 virgins as a reward for mass murder.

Monday 29 March

By Enough Already

And atheists believe that worshipping themselves and spouting the same trite insults about others' beliefs somehow makes them better than the rest of us.

By sutton

I liked the film. I belive they should make a part 2.

By bozallan

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Anybody who liked this film doesn't have a clue about a real story and fantastic acting. Either youn are an idiot or just a p-lain old war criminal Scientologist who still pulls Lron's ringer.

By DDB

Vote down Vote up Report this

I have to agree I was very intrigued by the movie and would love to see # 2

By itsuks2bu

Well as always, the book was much much better, but the movie, for what it cost, wasn't all that bad,but of course, I watched it on the boob tube and not the theater.

By JTFEE

According to his IMDB page, Shapiro has not had another screenplay make it to theaters since 'Battlefield.' His other main credit is 'Robin Hood: Men In Tights.'
IS HE THAT BAD OR IS SOMETHING BLOCKING HIM? My guess is that he is that bad.

By sillydogue

The movie already is #2.

By Jo

I thought the premise was excellent. If there is other life out there it could just as easily be "corporate" like us and if we ever get out there whoever thinks we will be the benevolent visitor is probably deluding themselves!

By greenNpurple

I liked the film too. It was just fun to watch.

By Roy

Isn't this the guy who's son was involved in the first MJ scandal and settled for 20 million?

By Jacob

nope...he killed himself last year

By Erin

No, you're thinking of Evan Chandler, another screenwriter who worked on "Robin Hood: Men in Tights." Jacob's right, though - Chandler killed himself last year.

By Sci Fi Reader

Battle Field Earth was a great Sci Fi book. It's a shame that the movie was such a bomb

By Lee

Have you read 'Mission Earth'?

Tuesday 30 March

By Jerry Patterson

I believe it's one of the best Sci-Fi books ever written (up there with the likes of Jules Verne). The movie on the other hand was an extreme disappointment! It could have been bigger than Avatar.

By sgunknown

santa clause conquers the martians will always be the suckies movie ever too me

By Track

OMG, this was agreat movie, PLEASE REMAKE it using todays CGI technology. Keep John Travolta in it . I loved the book and loved the movie, . Again all I can say is do it again

Page 1 of 7