Directed by roger christian and starring john travolta, barry pepper, and forest whitaker, the film depicts an earth that has been under the rule of the alien psychlos for 1,000 years and. This film displays what happens after the successful human rebellion led b. He also composed a soundtrack to the book called space jazz. At mining sites across the globe, vicious alien psychlos grind out the mineral resources of the planet they utterly destroyed a millennium ago. An epic and legitimate trendsetter, a new york times bestseller, translated into scores of languages and published in dozens of nations, battlefield earth is one of the most broadly acclaimed singlevolume science fiction novels in the history of the genre.
Ugly, campy, and poorly acted, battlefield earth is a stunningly misguided, aggressively bad scifi folly. Science fiction new york times best seller in the year 3000, earth is an empty wasteland. The book stood for something classic and this sequel hopefully will too. Great plot, a hellova lot more realistic than the movie, and just a. In 1984, he optioned the rights to battlefield earth and tried to make the book into a movie. Hood have working electricity to power the simulators, projectors, etc. Even automatic backup generators would have no fuel after. Based on the 1980 scifi book by late church of scientology founder l. Breathing tubes hang from their noses like ropes of snot. Which made the book easily 10x better as every scientology reference flew over my head. Only madonna, who won worst actress for the next best thing, and the blair witch project sequel, disturbed battlefield earth s progress to glory. Battlefield earth is based on the first 500 pages of the novel, and there will be a sequel, which christian expects to direct. The psychlos discovered a deep space probe with directions and.
There are many experts in this field, many controversial opinions. Battlefield earth and scientology, sequels, and a possible. Battlefield earth, a book that even has its own website here, was written by l. There is no sequel to battlefield earth, because the film lost a lot of money at the box office and the studio company franchise pictures, which funded the making of the film. For the full article and more details, hit the link above. Battlefield earth, also known as battlefield earth. A towering masterwork of science fiction adventure and one of the bestselling science fiction novels of all time, l. For a start, it was the thickest book i had ever seen. Youll thrill to this epic scifi adventure in which a technologically advanced race of 9foottall aliens with razorsharp claws has overrun our planet and humanity has become an endangered species. The story of humanitys war against the alien psychlos continues. There is no sequel to battlefield earth, because the film lost a lot of money at the box office and the studio company franchise pictures, which funded the making of the film went out of business due to a scam. The story is messy and disjointed, with breathtaking slomo action popping up in the wrong time every 5 seconds, the dialogue is cheesy and obvious, as well as for the battlefield earth.
Battlefield earth book trailer the beginning youtube. Jan 28, 2018 since the first film only covered the first 400 pages of hubbard 1,000plus page book, battlefield earth 2 wouldve picked up with the films hero, jonnie, restoring earth to its former glory by using their mined gold to pay off the planets debts while also rehabilitating the surviving psychlos. Apr 24, 2020 in battlefield earth the action begins immediatelyand never stops. Ron hubbard he was portrayed by john travolta, who also portrays billy nolan in the 1976 film carrie, anthony tony manero in. Battlefield earth began as a scifi novel by l ron hubbard, popular author and founder of the church of scientology. But none grabbed my attention quite like battlefield earth. Ron hubbards science fiction novel battlefield earth was released in 2000, directed by roger christian and starring john travolta as psychlo leader terl he originally wanted to play the part of the book s hero, jonnie goodboy tyler, but that role eventually went to barry pepper because travolta was too old by then. A saga of the year 3000 is a 1982 science fiction novel written by l. Battlefield earth 2000 frequently asked questions imdb.
All history records the wars that have been carried on between races and nations of peoples throughout time. Though it was campy and long winded at times, still made for a great summer pick up and go read. This is a good, big book, which describes the earth at the year 3000. Battlefield earth could have easily, and much more sensibly, been split into four books. A director was hired and the casting process began. Algis budrys to write battlefield earth prequel novel ign. Science fiction and fiction in general has come a long way since then. Battlefield earth writer says cats is the new worst.
Ron hubbards battlefield earth opens with breathtaking scope on an earth dominated for 1,000 years by an alien invader and man is an endangered species. A towering masterwork of science fiction adventure and one of the best science fiction books of all time, l. Even automatic backup generators would have no fuel after years. Ive heard some people disparage the cover of battlefield earth, but to me its perfect. Battlefield earth is based on the 1982 novel by scientology founder l. Two basic points must be made about the movie battlefield earth. Dec 01, 2016 battlefield earth, a book that even has its own website here, was written by l. May 12, 2000 battlefield earth is like taking a bus trip with someone who has needed a bath for a long time. I now know that its a horrible abomination of the book. Battlefield earth was originally going to be made during this decade, and we can only imagine that a little intentional campiness could have desperately helped a film that is brimming with illogical plot holes. I must say its completely different from the movie. Fewer than thirtyfive thousand humans survive in a handful of communities scattered across the face of a postapocalyptic earth. Battlefield earth, the book, appeared in 1982, but hubbards career peak as a writer came in the 1940s. Star wars, the alltime box office record movie to date exceeded only by its sequel, would never have.
The soundtrack sounds like the boom mike is being slammed against the inside of a 55gallon drum. The 10 biggest movie plot holes of all time taste of. As well as battlefield earth, his horror novella, fear, is worth a look. I first read battlefield earth about 20 years ago and found it to be one of the great escapist book that ive ever read. The name of the late author aside, battlefield earth has its own cross to bearnamely, the 2000 film adaptation thats rightly considered one of the worst films of all time. Dec 20, 2005 battlefield earth 2 starring john travolta, barry pepper. But battlefield earth saves its scariest moment for the end. Instead of plundering these depositories the aliens resort to a laborious mining technique and ignore the stored gold for a thousand years. A saga of the year 3000 from the worlds largest community of readers. It took travolta 18 years to get this first one made. Humans led by one man struggle to take back the earth. A quick study of earth economies before the destruction of the planet would have revealed that central banks store gold as counter value to issued currency.
Everything you need to know about battlefield earth 2 movie. One of the most remarkable ideas from this book is the complete unity of the population of earth. 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. Directed by roger christian and starring john travolta, barry pepper, and forest whitaker, battlefield earth was released on may 12. A saga of the year 3000 is a 2000 american science fiction action film based upon the first half of l. John travolta is threatening to make a sequel to battlefield earth, one of the biggest and most joked about flops since ishtar. But whats really horrifying is that battlefield earth only covers half of hubbards book, meaning a sequel is possible. I have just read several standard books that attempt to define science fiction and to trace its history. Aaron eckhart, who played staff sergeant michael nantz in the film, has talked about the possibility of a sequel, however interview 1 edit. Ron hubbards battlefield earth opens with breathtaking scope on an earth dominated for 1,000 years by an alien invader and man is the endangered species. Romance, adventure, me against you, out numbered, action, honesty. Battlefield earth also referred to as battlefield earth. If you liked dune, atlantis gene and star warsyou will love the book battlefield earth.
I know that world unity and peace may be just as science fiction as aliens and advanced technologies, but i hope we can make progress in that direction. Terl is the main antagonist of the 2000 seventimerazzieawardwinning scifi action adventure movie battlefield earth amw based on the first half of the 1982 sciencefiction novel battlefield earth. Ron hubbards science fiction novel battlefield earth was released in 2000, directed by roger christian and starring john travolta as psychlo leader terl he originally wanted to play the part of the books hero, jonnie goodboy tyler, but that role eventually went to barry pepper because travolta was too old by then. Battlefield earth is significantly shorter than its source novel, covering only the first 436 pages of the 1,050page book. Is battlefield earth the book not the awful movie good. Battlefield earth is a fun book, but the brilliant rendering makes a 4star story into a 5star audiobook. With john travolta, forest whitaker, barry pepper, kim coates. Ron hubbards battlefield earth opens with breathtaking scope on an earth dominated for 1,000 years by an alien invaderand man is an endangered species. Feb 12, 20 battlefield earth describes exactly what has been going on for millennia. This ambitious novel, the first of a 10volume series by sf veteran hubbard. Read the book 4 times paperback now getting tattered. Mission earth is a tenvolume science fiction novel series by l. More forgiving literary critics usually cite battlefield earth as hubbards best work of the later years of his life. Johnnie finds books in good condition despite being in the open air, cars with stillpressurized tires and wrecked buildings with completely intact plate glass windows.
The movie only goes into maybe the first fifth of the book, after all, the book is about pages. To start reading part 1 now, click on the book above. Battlefield earth pg, 117 minutes contains offscreen violence and minor. A sequel covering the remainder of the book was originally planned at the outset. May 20, 2005 suspense, politics, war, humor and intergalactic finance. Directed by roger christian and starring john travolta, barry pepper, and forest whitaker, the film depicts an earth that has been under the rule of the alien psychlos for 1,000.
It was sure to be good value on the pagecount alone. Battlefield earth is like taking a bus trip with someone who has needed a bath for a long time. While not the best science fiction book written, it is very entertaining. May 12, 2000 but whats really horrifying is that battlefield earth only covers half of hubbards book, meaning a sequel is possible. Battlefield earth 2000 movie mistakes, goofs and bloopers. From the handful of surviving humans a courageous leader emerges. The soundtrack sounds like the boom mike is being slammed against the inside. Battlefield earth will give you the talking points, in fact, theyll already be talking about it.
What else could explain the erstwhile sweathogs announced desire to do a sequel to the universally reviled battlefield earth, the scifi. Jun 21, 2011 if you liked dune, atlantis gene and star warsyou will love the book battlefield earth. Battlefield earth roger christian, 2000 many consider battlefield earth to be one of the worst films ever made, and there are gaping plot holes that help justify the films bad reputation. Find out in battlefield earth the novel that changed the shape of science fiction. I cannot recommend this book highly enough to any scifi fan, i am pretty confident that the majority of people will enjoy this edition. Originally, there were plans to make a sequel to battlefield earth, since the movie covers roughly half of the novel of the same title. Ron hubbard and there is a lot to say, he could write fun stories of thrills, spills and derringdo with brave heroes who laugh in the face of danger, beautiful damsels in distress and evildoers who seem to be. Ron hubbard back in the early 80s, less than a handful of years before he died. May 18, 2016 battlefield earth book trailer the beginning galaxy press. The plodding screenplay is based on hubbards pulpy book of the same name, the worstever science fiction novel to achieve a measure of pop visibility. Some of the characters from the universes of battlefield earth. Ron hubbard, battlefield earth starred travolta as a badly. Battlefield earth the movie was absolutely terrible and should have never been made.
Although the first films ending makes the possibilities of a sequel neverending, nothing is official yet. Science fiction and fiction in general has come a long way since then, to say nothing of how much the world has changed. Humanity is enslaved by these goldthirsty tyrants, who are unaware that their mananimals are about to ignite the rebellion of a lifetime. Jonny starts as a slave for the psyclos, learns their secrets and uses them to overcome his captors. Released in may 2000, battlefield earth sucked the brains of all who dared see it into the abyss of its critical and commercial black hole. Much speculation has mounted over whether or not battlefield earth serves as a publicity vehicle for scientology. However, a year later he stated that a sequel was not in the works.
Battlefield earth is often considered to be one of the worst films ever made. Travolta also talks about a possible sequel and an animated series. Looking beyond the coverand the baggageof battlefield earth. The film is set in the year 3000, one thousand years after the psychlos took over earth. I know that world unity and peace may be just as science fiction as aliens and advanced technologies, but i. Budrys confirmed hell be writing the book, but not penning the script to any prequel film. Shortly after battlefield earth was released in 2000, travolta indicated he would move forward with a sequel.
Things you didnt know about battlefield earth screenrant. Marketing hurdles aside, the spines of massmarket paperbacks can barely carry that much weight. Ugly, campy and poorly acted, battlefield earth is a stunningly misguided, aggressively bad scifi folly. Jun 14, 2016 battlefield earth has all the elements thats make it a certain classic in the scifi genre, it contains nearly every kind of subgenre that one can think of that fits into the narrative seamlessly. The fact the book is 1,050 pages long makes me believe hubbard is a wordy writer and the screenwriters probably did not stray too far away from the dialogue either. Aside from the names and the location, its totally different. In the year 3000, earth has been ruled by an alien race, the psychlos, for a millennium. After losing the case, franchise filed for bankruptcy, and travolta fired his manager, who set up the deal with franchise in the first place. This is a serious plot hole considering the psychlos aversion to radiation. Raspberry awards for travolta film film the guardian. As the title read i just finished battlefield earth, honestly the dope that i am, i had no idea who l.
881 573 1123 1386 1574 1130 171 828 693 1420 1396 948 251 398 203 1447 943 1070 749 662 832 649 776 756 1115 1554 768 1339 1515 983 285 1218 419 935 1477 451 950 371 1167 699 1148 817 1479