Monday, January 23, 2012

Battlefield Earth Review










Battlefield Earth


Release Date: 28th September 2000 - Australia


Production Companies
Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)
Morgan Creek Productions (in association
with)
Franchise Pictures (in association with)
JTP Films
Battlefield Productions

Distribution
Roadshow Films


Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: M

Runtime: 117 minutes
                119 minutes (DVD)


Budget: $75,000,000
              (Declared)
             $44,000,000 (Actual)

Box Office Gross:
$29,725,663 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
In the year 3000, Earth is now under the rule of a manipulative alien race known as the Psychlos. They have conquered the planet, enslaved humanity and stripped its precious gold. A human named Tyler gets captured and enslaved after leaving his desolate home high in the Rocky Mountains in search of the truth and
becomes humanity's last
hope of taking back their
planet.


Cast
Barry Pepper - Jonnie Goodboy Tyler
John Travolta - Terl
Forest Whitaker - Ker
Kim Coates - Carlo
Sabine Karsenti - Chrissy
Michael Byrne - Pastor Staffer
Christian Tessier - Mickey
Sylvain Landry - Sammy
Richard Tyson - Robert the Fox
Michael MacRae - District Manager Zete
Shaun Austin-Olsen - Planetship
Tim Post - Assistant Planetship/Psychlo Guard
Earl Pastko - Bartender
Kelly Preston - Chirk
Jason Cavalier - Floyd
Sean Hewitt - Heywood
Andy Bradshaw - Mason
Jim Meskimen - Blythe
Tait Ruppert - Rodman
Marie-Josee Croze - Mara
Noel Burton - Clinko

Crew
Director - Roger Christian
Based on the Novel "Battlefield Earth" -
L. Ron Hubbard
Screenplay - Corey Mandell
and J.D. Shapiro
Associate Producers - Anson Downes
and Linda Favila
Executive Producers - Ashok Amritraj,
Don Carmody and Andrew Stevens
Producers - Jonathan D. Krane,
Elie Samaha and John Travolta
Co-Producers - James Holt and Tracee Stanley
Casting Director - Lynn Stalmaster
Production/Costume/Creature Designer -
Patrick Tatopoulos
Conceptual Artists: Los Angeles Art
Department - Harald Belker and Kevin Ishoika
Supervising Art Director - Claude Paré
Set Decorators - Louis Dandonneau
and Anna Galéa
Project Supervisor: Patrick Tatopoulos
Design, Inc. - Jake Garber
Special Makeup Effects - C.J. Goldman
Director of Photography - Giles Nuttgens
"A" Camera First Assistant - Nicolas Marion
First Assistant Director - Walter Gaspsrovic
Second Unit Director - Richard Martin
Stunt Coordinator/Stunts: Human - Steve Lucescu
Stunt Co-Coordinator - J.P. Romando
Stunt Co-Coordinator/Stunt Double: Teri/
Stunts: Human - Mark Riccardi
Mechanical Special Effects Supervisor - Louis Craig
Visual Effects Supervisor - Erik Henry
Digital Effects Supervisor: ComputerCafe -
David Ebner
Digital Effects Supervisors: Rhythm & Hues -
Bryan Hirota and Nicholas Titmarsh
Digital Supervisor: Digital Firepower -
Charles Darby
Digital Compositing Supervisor: Rhythm & Hues -
Edwin Rivera
Miniature Supervisor - Bill Pearson
Model Shop Supervisor - Ronny Gosselin
Miniature Special Effects Supervisor -
Joe Viskocil
Motion Control Miniature Supervisor -
Chris Trice
Digital Animation Supervisor/Producer:
Image Savant - Richard 'Dr.' Baily
Matte Painting Supervisor: Digital Backlot -
Robert Stromberg
Film Editor - Robin Russell
Supervising Sound Editor - Christopher S. Aud
Co-Supervising Sound Editor - Bob Redpath
Sound Designers - John P. Fasal,
James Lebrecht and John Nutt
Re-Recording Mixers - David Campbell,
Dan Hiland, Christian P. Melinker,
Ken S. Polk, John T. Reitz and Gregg Rudloff
Music - Elia Cmiral


Review
BATTLEFIELD EARTH did not meet my expectations as a science-fiction film. Most of the movie's aspects were terrible. One example is the dialogue, which includes corny lines like "While you were still learning how to SPELL YOUR NAME! I was being trained to conquer GALAXIES!" and "Rat-brain," and overused words and phrases such as "leverage" and "piece of cake." John Travolta's overacting is worth mentioning, mostly because he had too much fun with his antagonist role. This film was also his pet project because he was a Scientologist.

One thing that makes BATTLEFIELD EARTH worse is the overuse of Dutch camera angles. The director tilts the camera for about 20 degrees, either the left or right, giving an innovative but bizarre look. This technique is ideal for a sci-fi movie such as this; fewer Dutch camera angles would have helped my dizziness. BATTLEFIELD EARTH is such a case. I was left feeling nauseous and needing a Panadol.

BATTLEFIELD EARTH is disappointing and the least favourite sci-fi film I have ever reviewed. It could be improved if the cast and crew weren't trying hard to make something extraordinary. Instead, what results is an unsuccessful sci-fi/comedy, which fails to bring excitement and humour to the screen. Or in any way entertain viewers. I preferred watching Star Wars or The Matrixwhich had hardcore action. BATTLEFIELD EARTH is probably not Johnny T's best work.

Star rating: (1/5) Not Worth Watching

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4 comments:

  1. I disagree with the 1/5 rating for this awsome motion picture. Deffinately a 5/5 in my book, love the humour Johnny T brings to the screen, especially when he uses the term "rat brains". This movie was non stop sci fi action from start to finish. I feel Barry Pepper suited the heroic character for this film and would like to see him in more films. Keep Bloggin gurulad.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for the comment Darth Vader everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Your comment will not change my mind to update this review of Battlefield Earth.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Film GuruLad

    I agree, definitely not the best film to watch if your hangin for a good Sci Fi flick. Disappointing for me as I am a massive John Travolta fan. I could definitely say Travolta has had better times : (

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks, someone should agree about my review of Battlefield Earth and you are too kind for your belief of this whole pathetic ape trash.

    ReplyDelete