Guess what? (Said in storybook gentle voice:) Frequently when someone writes a screenplay, more than one version is written. Often times a screenwriter will undergo what are called draft revisions, which means editing and tweaking, and improving the story via modification, reconsideration and deeper reviews. Generally, revisions (not handed down by studio notes) mean improvement.
That is if you’re “Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skulls,” and you’re tweaked for the worse by George Lucas (or are least hired to implement his heavy-handed imperical changes). Obviously Frank Darabont’s (“The Shawshank Redemption) original script, “Indiana Jones And The City of The Gods,” recently leaked (or at least we’re all pretty sure it was Darabont’s script). The prospect of reading it however was frightening simply because we’d rather not devote that kind of time to to a lame-duck franchise.
Thankfully, MTV took the time to read the original script and compared notes to the final script penned by work-for-hire writer David Koepp and more importantly, permitted and endorsed by Darth Lucas. About the original ‘City of the Gods’ script they say there are “moments of real beauty in this thing. “As noted previously, one of the most glaring differences in Darabont’s script is the absence of Mutt, Shia Labeouf’s sitcom-like kid character (the type that comes in during the waning years to breathe new life into a dead horse). Other differences include:
– No inclusion of the Mac character (Ray Winstone)
– a tougher “Raiders Of The Ark”-like Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen); She’s married, but not to Jones
– a climax that actually give Indiana something to do – rather than stand their nonplussed by aliens. One that “forces him to make a decision that rivals the end of “Crusade,” crystallizing the character and his history into one momentous singularity. Bravo!” writes MTV obviously impressed.
Their overall verdict? While their surprisingly were still moments of fromage in Darabont’s version (the Tarzan-like jungle abomination seems to be his creation), they say, “not perfect,” but “a million times better than “Crystal Skull.” Yikes, cue Darabont’s smug, “I told you so,” as he sits back and forwards this MTV story to Lucas and all his friends.
Conversely, Vulture, who has reviewed an early draft of M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Happening,” claim unsurprisingly, that we should all be so lucky: as the original draft is even worse than the one released Friday in theaters. They also bemoan its lack of existence as we could have had a righteously riotous comedy on our hands if the original script had come to pass.
The main differences? “The Happening” (which we will never pay to see) apparently gives off the message that true love can conquer all, even diseases emitted into the air by angry and deadly deciduous trees. It’s the message however, subtext.
In the original script, “The Green Effect,” its right on the surface, in fact, on top of it.
– Mark Wahlberg’s heroic science teacher realizes that the film’s evil plants can’t kill you with their suicide-causing neurotoxins if they think you’re a good person (actual line of dialogue: “This is the final trigger, Alma! They’re weeding out our energy! They’ve become a mood ring. When they see a When they see a color they don’t like, it sets them off”). [ed. amazing]
– Trees apparently “whisper mischievously” to one another
– The trees in ‘Effect’ apparently spare Wahlberg and his unfaithful wife because they know, their relationship is worth saving.
Deep stuff. Sounds frighteningly hilarious. Maybe someone outta dig up this script and do it up camp style just for kicks. Shyamalan’s stories are basically comedies anyhow, right? We’re kinda dying to read this ironic disaster now.