Travolta, a scientologist, had sought for years to make a film of the novel by hubbard, the founder of scientology. June 11, 2016 june 12, 2016 ccoxportfolio most film connoisseurs have probably heard of the universally panned 2000 movie battlefield earth, and most of you probably also know that battlefield earth was based on a book written by scientology founder l. Usa today ran an article today on battlefield earth. A saga of the year 3000 is a 1982 science fiction novel written by l. Ron hubbard, the controversial founder of scientology. That battlefield earth would be such an unoriginal movie is no surprise when one considers the source material. Looking beyond the coverand the baggageof battlefield earth. The films scientology connection and expensive premise made most. He was unable to obtain major studio funding due to concerns about the script and its connections to scientology. Jan 28, 2018 battlefield earth is based on the 1982 novel by scientology founder l.
Berry pepper may play the human hero, jonnie goodboy, but its ultimately john travoltas show as the actor. May 14, 2020 battlefield earth has been called the worst movie of all time. Much ado about nuttin its a bad movie, end of story. In fact, even the movies screenwriter seems to agree.
Dec 26, 2017 scientologists, for the most part, do not think. Battlefield earths screenwriter on his scientology nightmare watching john travoltas bizarre scifi passion project is. John travolta, barry pepper, forest whitaker, kim coates, richard tyson 2000, 117 minutes, directed by. Marty rathbun explains how scientology leader david miscavige micro managed the film adaptation of l. A sequel was intended to be made shortly after, but these plans never occurred. Adapted from the novel by scifi author and scientology founder l. Overall battlefield earth is a stupid star wars wannabe which doesnt seem to have any.
Ron hubbard, the founder of the sect of scientology and although it stars john travolta, one of hollywoods most highprofile scientologists and a longtime champion of this project battlefield earth is not a cryptic tract. A saga of the year 3000 is a thrilling epic from prolific novelist l. It is sort of funny that anyone in scientology should feel embarrassed about the movie battlefield earth but not embarrassed by the extortionate prices charged by the cult, and not by the policy of disconnection which is used to break up families, or by the various deaths and suicides connected to the cult lisa mcpherson, quentin hubbard and many, many more, or by the rpf, or by the. This means they try to figure out precisely what hubbard said, and then duplicate that in their mind, and then in the physical world.
John travolta surprisingly is the best thing about the movie and delivers a good performance. Much speculation has mounted over whether or not battlefield earth serves as a publicity vehicle for scientology. John travolta at a promotional event for battlefield earth. Ron hubbards 1982 scifi potboiler battlefield earth to the big screen hubbards doorstop, coming in at over pages, was not wildly wellreceived on its release. The film follows a rebellion against the alien psychlos, who have ruled earth for 1,000 years. It fails at being an acceptable science fiction movie because of its bad special effects. Ron hubbard, the scifi writer and prophet of scientology. Apr 03, 2015 ive read battlefield earth 3000 a couple of times, and also have a pretty good understanding of scientology and what it teaches. Ron hubbards 1982 scifi potboiler battlefield earth to the big screen. Humanity is enslaved by these goldthirsty tyrants, who are unaware that their mananimals are about to.
I saw the movie after earth and took notes on any parallels or coincidental. On the surface, at least, battlefield earth 3000 hereafter referred to as bf3000 is just a scifi pulp novel remini. As wretched as the battlefield earth movie wound up being. Ron hubbard and set in the year 3000, the film features travolta as a burly, dreadlocked alien from the planet psychlo, the psychlo security chief who conquers earth. Ron hubbard wrote the 1980 novel of battlefield earth, and scientology disciple john travolta was the driving force behind getting this megabudget vanity movie made of it. Things you didnt know about battlefield earth screenrant.
Most filmconnoisseurshave probably heard of the universally panned 2000 movie battlefield earth, and most of you probably also know that battlefield earth was based on a book written by scientology founder l. The church of scientology may have been a driving force behind battlefield earth, but when the world saw it and did not love it, they put themselves about as far away from it. Battlefield earth is still the most highlypublicized scientology film ever produced, and its still the only way for the average person to get a. Most film connoisseurs have probably heard of the universally panned 2000 movie battlefield earth, and most of you probably also know that battlefield earth was based on a book written by scientology founder l. Ron hubbard, and it takes place 1,000 years in the future when the human race is on the verge of extinction thanks to an evil race of aliens known as psychlos. Battlefield earth 2000 directed by roger christian. The only thing it doesnt fail at is having a good portrayal of terl. I heard battlefield earth is related to the church of. Two basic points must be made about the movie battlefield earth. Apr 01, 2018 the church of scientology may have been a driving force behind battlefield earth, but when the world saw it and did not love it, they put themselves about as far away from it as they could. Led by the powerful terl, the psychlos are stripping earth clean of its natural resources, using the broken remnants of humanity as slaves. May, 2020 john travolta in scene from the film battlefield earth, 2000. Postapocalyptic scifi and new york times bestseller. Few people know that battlefield earth, the film adaptation of hubbards.
Battlefield earth writer says cats is the new worst. Battlefield earth is being cited by some as a controversial movie for its association with l. He was portrayed by john travolta, who also portrays billy nolan in the 1976 film carrie, vincent vega in pulp fiction, vic deakins in broken arrow, castor. A saga of the year 3000, is a 2000 american dystopian science fiction action film based upon the first half of the 1982 novel of the same name by l. In the year 3000, man is no match for the psychlos, a greedy, manipulative race of aliens on a quest for ultimate profit.
Battlefield earth and scientology, sequels, and a possible. A movie so bad it makes scientology network look good by jade budowski apr 1, 2018 178 shares its not hard to see why scientology network doesnt have a. He also composed a soundtrack to the book called space jazz. Battlefield earth was originally a book written by l. Battlefield earth, also known as battlefield earth. After hubbard failed to get the movie made, he went on to write would later became the novel battlefield earth, which inspired john travoltas 2000 boxoffice flop of the same name. Released in may 2000, battlefield earth sucked the brains of all who dared see it into. The book could almost serve as an actual anvil arc fatigue. With john travolta, forest whitaker, barry pepper, kim coates. Its star, celebrity scientologist john travolta, had denied there was any connection between the movie, which was based on a 1980 science fiction novel by hubbard, and the controversial religion, which was based on dianetics, hubbards 1950 selfhelp book. I finally finished watching battlefield earth and hoo boy i shouldn. For actor john travolta, a scientologist, adapting battlefield earth. After being captured, it is up to tyler to save mankind.
Battlefield earth writer says cats is the new worst movie. It was directed by roger christian and stars john travolta, barry pepper and forest whitaker. It may be a bit early to make such judgments, but battlefield earth may well turn out to be the worst movie of this century. For newbies, battlefield earth is a 2000 film based on the 1982 novel by l. Ron hubbard, the controversial founder of the church of scientology. Jun 18, 20 perhaps the most notorious film on this list, roger christians battlefield earth has gone down in history as one of the biggest financial and critical flops in film history.
Battlefield earth writer apologizes and blames scientology. Its 20 years since john travolta strapped on a massive latex forehead and helped bring scientology founder l. Photo by warner brothersgetty images its 20 years since john travolta strapped on a massive latex forehead and helped bring scientology founder l. As the founder of the cultlike, sciencefictionish religion scientology, hubbard is a messiah to some, a madman to others. Battlefield earth where to stream and watch decider. Battlefield earth was john travoltas years long passion project and once pulp fiction lifted his career out of the gutter in 1994, he tried to use his clout to get his dream movie to the screen. Postapocalyptic scifi and new york times bestseller l. This time the focus was on the films ties to scientology. Scientology critics accused the film of devious tactics. Terl is the main antagonist of the 2000 multirazzieawardwinning scifiaction movie battlefield earth based on the 1982 sciencefiction novel battlefield earth. Few people know that battlefield earth, the film adaptation of hubbards novel produced by none other than famous scientologist john travolta, was meant to be a way to introduce scientology to the. Shortly after its release, battlefield earth rose to the top of the new york. Sep 06, 2012 battlefield earth began as a scifi novel by l ron hubbard, popular author and founder of the church of scientology. The project was first developed at mgm and then moved to fox 2000 and then to warner bros.
To its limited credit, the movie skipped the chapters involving the long search for radiation and the actual gold mining critical dissonance. Battlefield earth is based on the 1982 novel by scientology founder l. In fact, some pundits were slapping their foreheads over the blatant use of scientology as far back as last year when the. The film contains no evidence of scientology or any other system of thought. Battlefield earth 2000 f sdg here is the closest thing to a positive statement i can make about battlefield earth. Battlefield earth began as a scifi novel by l ron hubbard, popular author and founder of the church of scientology. The result was so bad that it swept the board at the razzies, taking home a record nine golden raspberry awards, including one for worst picture and. Directed by roger christian and starring john travolta, barry pepper, and forest whitaker, battlefield earth was released on may 12. Battlefield earth 2000 frequently asked questions imdb. John travolta in scene from the film battlefield earth, 2000. Battlefield earth also referred to as battlefield earth.
In the year 3000 earth has been conquered by a race of. The visionary sciencefiction classic battlefield earth. Jun 11, 2016 battlefield earth, scientologys failed pr movie. I am very surprised that the lead actors in this movie, being part of the scientology. Led by the seductive and powerful terl, the psychlos are stripping earth of its resources, using the broken remnants of humanity as slaves. Ron hubbard novel of the same name, the film follows a human rebellion against an evil alien race known as the psychlos, who had conquered and enslaved.
Writer of battlefield earth names cats as the new worst. He was the leading light behind the making of this movie which is based on a story by scientology head honcho, l. Battlefield earth had already turned out to be a colossal embarrassment for the church. Hubbards 1950 bestseller dianetics is known as the textbook for scientology, a religion that hubbard invented in 1955. Making the film was something of an article of faith for travolta. A saga of the year 3000 by controversial scientology founder l. Tom cruise complained to david miscavige that battlefield. It is hard to describe and maybe im doing it badly but to me the film looked like the alien futures of a thousand scifi movies, not an alien future that exists outside. Travoltas manager jonathan krane denied that the church of scientology was playing any part in the production. May 12, 2000 battlefield earth was written in 1980 by l. The film follows a rebellion against the alien psychlos, who.
What is left of the human race has descended into a near primitive state. There is no scientology controversy here worth wasting your time over. Battlefield earth has been called the worst movie of all time. For actor john travolta, a scientologist, adapting battlefield earth became a. This explains why scientologists are taught, at higher levels in the church, that we are infested by alien spirits. What is left of the human race has reverted to a primitive state, believing the invaders to be demons and technology to be evil. Battlefield earth, the john travolta starring scifi film based on the novel by scientology founder l ron hubbard, is widely described as one of the worst films of all time. Yes, battlefield earth is loosely based on the novel of the same title by author and founder of scientology l. Originally intended to be a twopart move, battlefield earth depicts the first half of the novel.
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