UVmapping takes skill, patience and time. It's definitely not something you're going to learn overnight. FWIW, NEVER use box mapping unless it's, well, a box, and never use planar unless it's flat and for both of these, personally, I never use them. Your best bet is to do what the others have suggested and cut it up and unfold - however this takes experience to cut it the best way to make it flat and not stretch when you unfold.

Laurie