"Badi - The *Turkish* E.T." !!

Yes, you recall a long time ago, way back in 1982, when Steven Spielberg still directed fun action films, before he was caught up in the angst of advancing years. He'd already given the world Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jaws and 1941 (which I shall defend to my dying breath).

But then he went and created E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, a film that seemed to define the sense of lost innocence, youthful hope and the awesome wonder of discovering a being from another world. It made millions, spawned at least double that in toys and other such merchandising, people sang songs about the little alien (Remember Neil Diamond's "Heartlight"?) and E.T. even made Reese's Pieces a hot commodity. Spielberg's world vision of youthful wonder had never been better envisioned.

As you are well aware of such a situation, however, no such a blockbuster goes on without having at least ONE film ripping it off in part or whole. Needless to say that several films jumped on this bandwagon and were made, usually to lesser effect...but then came one in particular.

Badi, a.k.a.; The Turkish E.T.

Now, of all the other films I could be talking about that have been also-rans apeing Speilberg's midset, why mention a Turkish film none of you have probably even heard of? Well, trust me, friends, there's a method to my madness.

The Turks have a long, proud history of ripping off American films every which way they can, and they continue it here, making the most they can out of every scene, every nuance and every other thing that Spielberg put into his master work. But they did it Turkishly, so therein lies its uniqueness.

I have not fully seen this little beauty but there are those who have, whom I shall not direct you to. First of all is the sage Seanbaby who reports of this maddening experience over at thewavemag.com - needless to say, required reading.

And then there was the guy who posted this video over at Youtube.com. And bless him for this. Mere words cannot convey, so just click "play" already....



Just remember that the next time you think you have seen the worst movie ever. Chances are, according to that clip you just saw, you haven't.

Long live Turkey. And Dope out.

-TGWD