> Sure. Which is why "Robocop 3" got made but OSC's "Ender's Game" has been in development hell for years.

I don't understand this argument at all. The first two "Robocop" movies made money, and it was a profitable franchise with merchandise and stuff to milk. Yeah, they sucked (especially 2), but they were profitable. "Ender's Game" is a whole different bag of worms, as its an adaptation of a novel written by a raving madman (who may very well be a great writer) which just creates a ton of problems.

>
>
> >The fierce competition may make it hard to break
> >in, as everyone with the ability to buy scripts,
> >greenlight films and cast actors is going to be
> >deluged with people trying to win their favor,
> >but I don't think it acts as a total shield for
> >people who just plain suck.
>
> Then explain: Eszterhas, Joe. Go ahead. Just try.
>
> My explanation? In 1983 he wrote Flashdance which made a lot of money and ever since then he's been strung out on crack and selling his used toilet paper as scripts and making millions.

One, he hasn't had a script produced since 1997 (which is six years ago), and even then it was the barely-released "Burn, Hollywood, Burn." After "Flashdance" he wrote a bunch of mildly successful, low-budget thrillers (including a Van Damme movie) and then sold "Basic Instinct" which made $300 million worldwide. I think he recently wrote a book decrying the fact that he *can't* get work anymore, and despite his claims of a conspiracy against him I think it's because he sucks.

I certainly wouldn't use him as a shining example of somebody who's been really successful despite being awful. Look at Akiva Goldsman if you want -- he even has an Oscar (admittedly, for a good script).

> Is this more "SIGNS SUCKS DUDE!" stuff? What's your beef with Dragonheart?

I remember liking it as a kid when I saw it in the theater, but I was watching it the other day and it's stupid as hell. The parts with the dragon are cool, but all the junk with the prince is so over-the-top and ridiculous they make me cringe. He's like every bad fantasy cliche rolled into one, and the actual story of the rebellion and stuff is lame and boring. I don't hate the movie, but it could have been so much better.

Stephen