you will not believe this: US bldg. movie Exorcist theme park in Iraq

[donsu]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-exorcistpark0feb02,0,1417845.story?coll=sfla-sports-headlines

Last month, Capt. Nik Guran of the 2-320 Field Artillery Regiment, a "major unit" of the 101st Airborne Division stationed in the small Iraqi town of Hatra, inserted The Exorcist in a DVD player. As the film began, Guran had the weird realization he was sitting at the location where director William Friedkin shot the opening sequence of his 1973 horror classic.

-snip-

"And then the Army hatched this idea," Friedkin continued, "to turn the whole area into a tourist attraction and call it `The Exorcist Experience.'"

Friedkin was sent a copy of the story about Guran's experience in the Gulf Times, a newspaper published in Qatar. In the article, Guran says, "Once it's up and running again as a visitors' spot, this place will be a real money pot. You should see it at night -- we've put in floodlights and it looks really beautiful."

-snip-

Granted $5,000 by the Army's Commanders Emergency Response Program, the soldiers hired unemployed Mosul University students as guides, created a parking lot, opened a police station and revamped a nearby hotel. The theme park, which is officially backed by the Pentagon, will be turned over to the Iraqis once it is operating. Admission will be $2 or $5 with a kabob lunch.
-snip-
----------------------------

I know you think this is a joke but it is not

and what Friedken had to say is interesting.

[BlueEyedSon]

1. Holy cow, it's TRUE!

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=&article=18376&archive=true

One battalion soldier created a Web site about the ruins — www.hatratours.com — that includes historical information.

According to the Web site, Hatra, known as the City of the Sun, was built in 150 B.C. and became the Arab capital around 100 A.D. Hatra withstood Roman invasions in 116 and 198 A.D. Built along the Oriental Silk Road, a major trade route, it collapsed in 241.

The city is surrounded by two walls, one of which features 163 defensive towers. Among the various temples is a 1,000-foot tall monument dedicated to the Sun god Shamash.

In 1982, Saddam Hussein founded the present-day city of Hatra to honor the ruins. He gave land and money to local villagers to build houses nearby.

The soldiers hope that when they leave the area in a couple of months, they can turn the program over to the local tourism board. The plan for the 90-minute tour is to charge an entry fee of $1 for locals and $2 for soldiers, who can stay at the Al Hatra Hotel, a couple miles from the ruins.

[Sandpiper]

2. Ugggh

[Laughing Mirror]

3. Yes, a real money pot

That's all these people can think about. Everything in this world has got to be turned into an American style theme park.

When was the last good or profitable movie that Friedkin put out?

You think he needs the money?

[4morewars]

4. we live in bizzaro world !!!!

-snip-

"Historically, it's the most astounding place I've ever seen," he said. "This site is an archeological dreamscape of pre-Christian, Sumerian, Assyrian and Babylonian treasure in a country that is the cradle of civilization -- where Hammurabi created the first laws, where King Nebuchadnezzar's palace was unearthed."

-snip-

so , lets turn it into disney world

---------------------------------------------------------
-snip-

"I spent most of the time between shots teaching them American curse words," Friedkin continued.
-snip-

and yet the rest of the world hates us, i dont get it (sarcasm)

[Sandpiper]

5. I wonder

When the McDonald's and Coke machines will arrive?

The part that really gets me is how proud they are for giving university students jobs as theme park employees.