'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)

Monday 29 March

By Dave

Vote down Vote up Report this

I liked the movie.It had a good story to it.I own it on DVD.I watched it more than once.For a Sci-fi flick it was good.No need for sorry to me.

By psyisascam

thanks for telling the truth .

i always knew travolta was to blame for wrecking a

great sci fi story

By siko

Dragon Wars? Hey I liked that movie. Haven't seen BE yet but since everyone is making such a big deal about it I'm going to bump it up to #1 on my must see list. Thanx y'all.

By muffinfluffer

Hey Jay...If Jesus is made up, then you never even happened. Please dont open your mouth again and show yourself to be the fool you sound like.

Hey, salesman, stop "helping". You aren't.

By Mike

Hey Mr. Shapiro, I actually liked the movie and I work in the industry. It's not that bad.

By Brad

You don't have to be smart to be an actor. Obviously with the likes of Travolta, Cruise, etc.... you don't need much upstairs. Anyone who would follow these cults is incredibly stupid and doesn't know their a** from their elbow.

By tony

I read the book, liked the book. the movie was ok I enjoyed it.
Riverworld was the wosrt ever not this. I have seen a lot worse.
You have nothing to be sorry for.

By chris

I thought it was an all time great si fi movie,still ranks excelent in my book, from begining to end, you know all in all most people are stuck on star wars stuff and star trek, and me too....although I liked it because it was outside of the box so theres my 2 cents

By jazzalternative

They probably ruined it on purpose - too close to home - like the media sponsoring a film on the Kennedy Assasination - simply a diversion tactic. Another example is the making of Good Night and Good Luck seem like it was simply a battle between Murrow and McCarthy - when it was really about the media distracting the public with a side story while the Cold War thickened in the nuclear arena (somehow the truth of the matter made it thru using with the cigarette marketing - on and off-set - as allegory).

Find another producer and let it rip - it will probably make a great and provaocative film. John Travolta shouldn't take the blame either - this probably came from somewhere else in the media.

Anyway

By Ron

everyone might think I'm crazy but Battlefield Earth is one of my all time favorite movies

By dlschelan

It was supposed to be dank dark and ugly you morons. And if you have a better way to represent what an alien species sounds like

go talk to yourself in klingon....

Writers and photog directors did a good cut on trying to depict a depressing world.

If you had read the book you would find it was a damn good approximation.

By Ken F.

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

For most of you who believe that Battlefield Earth is a bad book have probably never read it. It's an amazing story. As for the movie it wasn't the worst I've ever seen but as for keeping true to the book it was lacking. Pretty bad. Several important parts where cut and major plot points were missing. I would like to see this redone or a second part done better.

test

By wizard

I dont get it whats bad about it, sure it was hoeky during several scenes but the entire film was different and wierd and thats what made it good i liked the part at the end were they blew up the alien planet, why the hell is he apologizing? cus it could have been better? i thought it was average or better.

Tuesday 30 March

By Ben

ALL religion is a joke, and whats even funnier is that you people are bashing everyone else who doesn't believe in the same fairy tale as you. Let people believe in whatever imaginary man living in the sky they want to.

By hurr

Who cares all religions suck!!They are all ways to control and repress people and always have been.But i liked the movie

By Gary

Jeesh, ease up already. As a movie, it wasn't that bad. It wasn't an Oscar worthy attempt, but I found it entertaining.

By Dan

Screw the critics. I like the film. I don't give a damn, if critics, like the film or not!!!! Screw the hollywood bullcrap critics!! Dan Bushey.

By GeryP

I loved this movie! I must be an idiot because I have watched this movie several times. Yea, it is campy, but thats the fun of a sci-fi action film. It is up there with Star Ship Troopers
Everyone tells me I look like John, so way to go John for doing this movie for me.

G

By shlockomania

This screenwriter is a grovelling whiney snivelling whore. He will do anything -- anything -- to cut a script deal. He should be flogged in public along Hollywood boulevard. But he'd probably like that. Good All-American celluloid was wasted because of this hack's work. And his alibi is suckier than his screenplay. If you take credit, even partial credit, for a movie then it's your crap up there. Live with it. Die with it.

Page 5 of 7