Battlefield earth, made in 2000, which is also referred to as Battlefield Earth: A saga of the year 3000 is based on a novel of the same name by author L.Ron Hubbard, who also happens to be the founder of scientology. It has also laid claim to the dubious title of being one of the worst films ever made.
Battlefield earth is one of those movies that so many of us love to hate, or in some cases hate to love. Matter of fact, this movie is bad! So bad in fact that it has come a full circle and is good again. Battlefield earth is one of those rare films that are so bad that they are in fact entertaining to watch just to see the shear badness of it all.
This film was originally the lovechild of actor and director John Travolta, Battlefield earth had been a long time dream for him. Travolta, a known member of the church of scientology was unable to get funding from any major Hollywood studio due to concerns about the movies prospects and ties to scientology.
The movie eventually found home with the independent production company: Franchise Pictures, which ironically enough specializes in rescuing stars pet projects. John himself was signed on as a co producer and contributed much of his own money. Franchise Pictures were later bankrupt after the making of this movie.
When it was finally released on may 12 of the year 2000, it did not achieve much at the box office and proved to be a commercial failure.
Critics did not like the movie and were not gentle in their handling, the film receiving one bad review after the other, movie goers where similarly harsh. Travolta was criticized for bad acting, the script was poor and camera work below par.
The movie is true to the first half of the novel and Travolta had envisioned in the beginning to make sequels to the film where he wanted to do the rest of the story.
The Psychlos are a race of giants, they do resemble us humans somewhat, yet their brutality is unmatched. For thousand years the psychlos have enslaved humanity and as our story begins in the year 3000 a boy called Jonnie Goodboy Tyler, played by Barry Pepper, lives in a primitive village that is outside of the area controlled by the monsters.
He ventures outside of his village with a fellow hunter and they have a faithful encounter with the psychlos, where they endure slavery and the possible extinction of their own race.
Scene from Battlefield Earth
Fact and Fiction:
- John Travolta converted to scientology in 1975 and today is one of their stronger supporters.
- Quentin Tarantino was initially approached to direct, he declined.
- Rumors state that the film contains subliminal messages promoting scientology.
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July 9th, 2012 
