"Atlas Shrugged Part 1" DVD recalled after disgusting printing mistake

**crooks** · 19 Nov 11,, 15:25

"Atlas Shrugged" DVD Grievously Mislabeled as Tale of "Self-Sacrifice"

"Atlas Shrugged" DVD Grievously Mislabeled As Tale Of "Self-Sacrifice" | The Daily Feed | Minyanville.com

Today is supposed to be the day the DVD for the new film adaptation of Ayn Rand’s capitalism-celebrating tome, Atlas Shrugged, hits retail shelves. But if you happen to pass through a Best Buy or Wal-Mart, you probably won't find the film, and it’s not because some Occupy Wall Streeter has hidden it behind copies of Michael Moore’s Capitalism: A Love Story.

It turns out some 100,000 Atlas Shrugged: Part One DVDs are being replaced because of a grievous labeling mistake. In a “you couldn’t make this up” blunder, a synopsis was slapped onto on the DVD case that read: “Ayn Rand’s timeless novel of courage and self-sacrifice comes to life ...”

"Self-sacrifice" might sound benign to most, but the very notion flies in the face of the "rational self-interest" that the book advocates.

“It’s embarrassing for sure and of course, regardless of how or why it happened, we’re all feeling responsible right now,” said Scott DeSapio, chief operating officer for producer Atlas Productions, in a press release. He went on (random comma placement and capitalization original): “You can imagine how mortified we all were when we saw the DVD but, it was simply too late -- the product was already on shelves all over the Country. It was certainly no surprise when the incredulous emails ensued. The irony is inescapable.”

The CEO of Atlas Productions, Harmon Kaslow, also chimed in: “As we all well know, the ideas brought to life in Atlas Shrugged are entirely antithetical to the idea of ‘self-sacrifice’ as a virtue. Atlas is quite literally a story about the dangers of self-sacrifice. The error was an unfortunate one and fans of Ayn Rand and Atlas have every right to be upset ... and we have every intention of making it right.”

Of course, conspiracy theorists could say that this was a publicity stunt orchestrated by Atlas's owner, John Aglialoro (who’s also the CEO of treadmill maker Cybex International) to drum up some attention for the film: Made on a budget of $20 million, Atlas Shrugged: Part 1 was released in select theaters in April and made a paltry $4.6 million. John Galt would be ashamed.

In spite of the losses Atlas Production suffered on the film, it will be proceeding with Atlas Shrugged: Part Two, and cameras will start rolling in early 2012, according to the Los Angeles Times. Let’s hope Part 2 will objectively (pun unintended) be a better movie than this one: Atlas Shrugged: Part One achieved a miserable 12% rating on RottenTomatoes.

This might be my favourite story ever, especially the way it actually offended fans (ie objectivists who live in their parents Cellars)

. The book was the original epic fail but still a 12% rating doesn't mean it's terrible, it may just be the socialistic hollywood elite reviewers aren't ready for the radical message. Or slightly more likely that it genuinely is total junk, I'm using my rational self-interest to avoid Mars Attacks/brain-explosion syndrome by watching it: anyone wanna post a review (when the amended dvd jackets are out of course)?

**ArmchairGeneral** · 19 Nov 11,, 16:37

Wait...that's not from the Onion?! Brilliant. That absolutely made my day.

**The Black Ghost** · 19 Nov 11,, 18:12

Ha that's brilliant!

They should write on the back "A timeless story of stomping your boots on the faces of other people and pretending like you're perfectly justified to be a dick"

**Shek** · 19 Nov 11,, 18:20

Originally Posted by crooks

[SIZE="5"]The book was the original epic fail

I find it hard to classify it as an epic fail since it's been rated as the second most influential book in the US in the past. However, I do find the mislabeling as quite funny. Oops.

USATODAY.com - Scandals lead execs to 'Atlas Shrugged'

**Tarek Morgen** · 19 Nov 11,, 19:04

I believe he wrote book but meant the movie, since the 12% refers to the the rating the film got on Rotten Tomatoes:

Atlas Shrugged Part I - Rotten Tomatoes

**crooks** · 19 Nov 11,, 19:06

Originally Posted by Shek

I find it hard to classify it as an epic fail since it's been rated as the second most influential book in the US in the past. However, I do find the mislabeling as quite funny. Oops.

USATODAY.com - Scandals lead execs to 'Atlas Shrugged'

It's influential in part because of it's epic failness. Like it's one of the worst books I've ever read if you're talking about characters (comically unrealistic), plot (meandering), direction (hundreds of pages of filler) or any of the other "tiny" parts that make up a book. It's ugly, silly, and hard to read (which I say as someone who was riveted by it when younger).

But her idea that certain humans are gods and others are dirty cockroaches is always going to find a market with CEOs, right-wing cranks, nativists and other assorted oddballs. This is "influential", but not any less of a fail using objective (har har) standards.

I think Dorothy Parker had it right - “This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force".

**crooks** · 19 Nov 11,, 19:08

Originally Posted by Tarek Morgen

I believe he wrote book but meant the movie, since the 12% refers to the the rating the film got on Rotten Tomatoes:

Atlas Shrugged Part I - Rotten Tomatoes

I was referring to the book but the film didn't exactly coat itself in glory. Thing is if you had a decent budget you probably could make a decent film out of it, with Michael Bay and Bernie Madoff as co-directors

.

**Tarek Morgen** · 19 Nov 11,, 19:12

Originally Posted by crooks

Michael Bay

You and I seem to have a fundamental different understanding on what a "decent film" is.

**JAD_333** · 19 Nov 11,, 19:18

Amusing error. Does seem like a PR stunt.

It seems to me the book is an unnecessary moral crutch for highly successful business leaders who fret that their riches are out of balance with those of the average person. If you earned it legitimately, smile; don't be unhappy.

To quote Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, CEO of the Leadership Institute at Yale University, from the article, "executives who take refuge in the capitalist utopia of Atlas Shrugged are "reading themselves into a trance of defensive self-delusion."

**crooks** · 19 Nov 11,, 19:18

Originally Posted by Tarek Morgen

You and I seem to have a fundamental different understanding on what a "decent film" is.

- I was thinking his 'splosions would help dramatize when the government gets out of hand and trys to seize the railways.

I'd cast Scarlett Johansson as Dagney and Daniel Craig as the Galtster. Seriously, gimme 100 mil and I'll make it work!

**Tarek Morgen** · 19 Nov 11,, 19:32

Originally Posted by crooks

- I was thinking his 'splosions would help dramatize when the government gets out of hand and trys to seize the railways.

I'd cast Scarlett Johansson as Dagney and Daniel Craig as the Galtster. Seriously, gimme 100 mil and I'll make it work!

No.

Originally Posted by JAD_333

Amusing error. Does seem like a PR stunt.

Maybe someone in the right place just had a sense of humour?

**Double Edge** · 19 Nov 11,, 22:11

IMDB gave it a 5.5

The review is instructive

Now, don't mistake me for one of those people who feel the subject matter of the book is too didactic for mass appeal, I just think this low-budget and amateur version lacks the fire and fury that Rand's novel deserves.

I'm not saying not to see it, just avoid the mistake I made. Go in with no expectations.

Hell, it might even make you want to pick up the book and give it a read.

**Tarek Morgen** · 19 Nov 11,, 22:21

imdb also gave Transformers a 7.2...

(One might construe from my posts that I have a problem with Michael Bay...and well I have to admit that my former girlfriends simply dragged me into too many explosion-based movies. Now I just refuse to watch anything with Michael Bay, Vin Diesel and the sort...)

**Double Edge** · 19 Nov 11,, 22:30

That might be an exception given how many movies they rate there.

IMDB is my goto site when i want to decide whether i want to watch anything, a score of 7 and above has been right 9 out of ten times for me. Scores are so much easier to follow than reviews.