BATTLEFIELD EARTH

US, 2000, 118 minutes, Colour.
John Travolta, Barry Pepper, Forrest Whitaker, Kim Coates, Michael Byrne.
Directed by Roger Christian.

Battlefield Earth was a box office failure on its release. It has not improved with age. Many critics and the public thought it was one of the worst films ever made – one blogger saying it was the worst form of the millennium (and that in the first year of the millennium!).

The screenplay is based on a novel by Scientology founder, L.Ron Hubbard. It is over to those the approval of the Scientology of those who criticise it to explain if there is a Scientology subtext to the film. But, perhaps that is not worth the effort.

The setting is the year 3000 when humans have been subjected to an alien race, the Psychlos, near enough to Psychos. With their make up and other gear, they do resemble some characters, like the Klingons, from the Star Trek series. They are definitely ugly.

Barry Pepper portrays a young man in a primitive community, who listens to the wise men of the tribe who talk about the gods, coming from the sky… He does not believe, but goes on a quest to liberate his people. He encounters two hunters and joins with them but they are captured by the Psychlos. They are put to work in goldmines – despite the fact that Fort Knox is still standing and is full of gold. In fact, like The Planet of the Apes, the ruins of America are still standing.

The plot of the film shows the captives and their clashes with the authorities, their hard work, the determination of the hero to revolt, the uprising and the battles.

John Travolta, devout Scientologist, was one of the executive producers of this film and plays the central role of the main Psychlos. He booms and menaces, trying to play the villain, but so much of his dialogue is trite or absurd, that he does not really create a villainous character except in look. He is supported by Forrest Whitaker, looking even more idiotic, who is put upon by his master and begins to be sympathetic towards the rebels.

The settings and the special effects are not of the highest quality, which also undermines the impact, when they are compared with other films of this kind.

What is worse is the dialogue, stilted and at times bordering on the stupid or the absurd – and some heavy American jargon. And the performances, even of the stars, do not enhance this dialogue.

Which means that many audiences laughed at the film rather than enjoying it.

The was directed by Roger Christian, director of such films as Hyper Sapien and The Time Guardian.

A relic of the influence of Scientology and of poor filmmaking.