Irony Gremlins Don’t Like Ayn Rand

Exhibit A is this story. No way this sort of balls up happened on its own [via Yahoo! News]:

The company behind the film Atlas Shrugged Part 1 is replacing 100,000 title sheets from the film’s newly released DVD and Blue Ray versions because the copy writer incorrectly described the late Ayn Rand’s 1957 novel, Atlas Shrugged, as a story of “self-sacrifice.”

Put simply, that’s like calling Michael Moore a tea partier.

[...]

“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, a spokesman for Atlas Productions, which released the movie in theaters earlier this year. “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* [sic]. It was certainly no surprise when the incredulous emails ensued. The irony is inescapable.”

You bet the irony is inescapable. The Irony Gremlins really hate self-absorbed wankers. And their thoughts re: Self-absorbed wankers who do unto the novel what the Luftwaffe did unto London? Don’t even go there.

The production company set up a website so people can replace the title sheet that will say, “AYN RAND’s timeless novel of rational self-interest comes to life,” a far more apt description of Rand’s work and philosophy.

Jesus. Does any really give that much of a fuck? Did gibbertarian twatwaffles** blubber in disbelief at the typo before dropping to their knees and roaring “NOOOOOOOOO!!” at the uncaring skies?

I sure do hope so.

*Shelves all over the country = Shelves in the homes of everyone who knows DeSapio.
**BIRM.

Posted by Hunger Tallest Palin on 11/11/11 at 10:22 PM • Permalink

Categories: Knee Slappers • Politics • Nutters • Teabaggery •

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It was certainly no surprise when the incredulous emails ensued.

I’m surprised multiple people bought it. Or maybe they bittorrented it and were complaining about the box art scan.

Comment by Xecky Gilchrist on 11/11/11 at 11:12 PM

The funniest thing about this whole debacle is that the producer is planning on filming parts 2 and 3, just to be contrary.

It reminds me of the “swamp castle” knight in Monty Python’s Holy Grail.

Comment by Big Bad Bald Bastard on 11/12/11 at 03:26 AM

I saw this item earlier today. Hilarious. I wonder what happened. Did the copy editor think, “Surely they couldn’t mean “self-interest?” could they? No one’s that infantile!”

Comment by Batocchio on 11/12/11 at 03:34 AM

Could the DVD in with its original title sheet become a collector’s item like the original album cover of the Beatles’ Yesterday Today and Tomorrow?

Comment by Dbb on 11/12/11 at 05:00 AM

Could the DVD in with its original title sheet become a collector’s item like the original album cover of the Beatles’ Yesterday Today and Tomorrow?

Well, with admirable enterprise, that’s the cheery face the Shruggers are putting on it:

“To those that purchased the flawed cover, congratulations are in order. You’ve inadvertently got yourself a real collector’s item there.”

Only one major flaw with that: 100,000 copies. 99.9% of them in mint condition, never been played.

And nobody’s told the eBay sellers yet.

Comment by YAFB on 11/12/11 at 07:22 AM

Only one major flaw with that: 100,000 copies. 99.9% of them in mint condition, never been played.

Second major flaw: A collector’s item has to be something people actually want.

Third major flaw: Typographical errors do not automatically a collector’s item make. Maybe they’ve heard of those Bibles with funny errors and think that since AS is their Bible, the same rule applies.

But man do I hope some dumbass shows up on Pawn Stars with his copy.

Comment by Hunger Tallest Palin on 11/12/11 at 08:41 AM

I like to think of it as deliberate sabotage by a rogue copywriter. He or she is my hero.

Comment by Betty Cracker on 11/12/11 at 09:38 AM

Maybe the ‘self-sacrifice’ is on the part of anyone who’d actually read the thing.

Comment by Left Coast Tom on 11/12/11 at 12:37 PM

“Bad Movie Friday” is a tradition at my house. Last night, my step son Graham surprised me by bringing over Atlas Shrugged, Part 1. Two things the filmmakers seem to be unaware of: story beats and blue filters. As Wendy Torrance said in Kubrick’s The Shining, “pink and gold are my favorite colors.”

In Atlas Shrugged, Part 1, amber rules the day.

Comment by Brad on 11/12/11 at 12:56 PM

Brad - Might I recommend for your bad movie nights some classics. Like “Barn of the Blood Llama”, “A Polish Vampire in Burbank”, or “The Calamari Wrestler”???

http://badfiction.typepad.com/badfiction/bad-movie/

Comment by Patrick McKinnion on 11/12/11 at 11:56 PM

Patrick - I ordered The Violent Years from Netflix. A Polish Vampire in Burbank is, alas, not available. I’ll get back to you on the other titles. Thanks.