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Not quite Space Balls
Posted Fri, 26 May 2000
John Travolta stars in "Battlefield Earth", the big-budget science-fiction extravaganza adapted from the L. Ron Hubbard best-selling novel.
Not only is John Travolta one of Hollywood's most celebrated stars, who has amazingly stood at the forefront of popular culture twice ("Saturday Night Fever", "Pulp Fiction"), but he is also one of the world's most recognised Scientologists. It comes as no surprise then that Travolta has been trying for years to adapt Hubbard's (the father of Scientology) novel, "Battlefield Earth", for the big screen.
Set in the year 3000, Earth has been subjugated for one thousand years by a race of extra-terrestrials called Psychlos who are all three metres tall, hygienically challenged and mean as hell. Humanity has been enslaved by these beings, utilised as miners for precious metals. Those earthlings who have not yet been captured roam the hills and forests devoid of culture, looking like prehistoric cavemen.
The Psychlos' chief security officer, left to marshall Earth while the race moves on to conquer other worlds, is Terl (Travolta). Terl is a power-hungry sort, whose greed often overrides his intellect. Terl's main hobby is cruelty in all its forms. He is aided in his preoccupations by Ker (Forest Whitaker - "Phenomenon", "Smoke"), his right-hand-man - er - Psychlo.
From out of the quagmire where humanity resides comes Jonnie Goodboy Tyler (Barry Pepper - "The Green Mile", "Saving Private Ryan"). Captured by Terl and primed for slavery, Jonnie becomes the brunt of an amused Terl's experiments. But what starts off as a cruel joke turns into a nightmare for Terl as a knowledge-soaking Jonnie chooses to rebel against his conquerors.
Rounding up a troop of rag-bag humans, Jonnie - now well-versed in Psychlo technology - organises a full-scale uprising, prepared to fight to the death for the liberation of his species and his world.
Director Roger Christian (who worked as a Special Effects man on the original "Star Wars") imbues "Battlefield Earth" with a distinctly retro feel. Even the credits are crafted in outmoded square, green font.
The dialogue is borderline obscene and if you thought Travolta was O.T.T as the crazed villain in "Broken Arrow", you ain't seen nothing yet. If you're keen to watch a big ego indulging selfishly, this film's for you.
Take note of the gigantic crotch areas of the male Psychlos.
No kidding.
