Movie Criticism Without End [This is a play on the title of Tom Voltz' book "Scientology With(out) an End" (see http://cisar.org/swoe)]
Berlin, Germany May 15, 2000 Berliner Zeitung
At $25 million, he is indeed one of the highest paid film actors in history, but now John Travolta, 46, has also provided us with one of the greatest film flops in history: his "Battlefield Earth" has been shredded as hardly any film before, and on its premier weekend - although it ran in over 3,300 U.S. movie theaters - it took in on $12.3 million.
One supposes that "Battlefield Earth," based on the science fiction novel by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard and co-produced by Scientology member Travolta, will not even return a fraction of its production cost of $80 million.
"The film is surrounded by the stink of death," the Los Angeles Daily News cited an unnamed film producer. And the New York Times critic wrote devastatingly about the "amateurish work" in which Travolta "stomped hysterically around in platform shoes like a caricature of Tim Currie as Frank-N-Furter in the 'Rocky Horror Picture Show'." And, "It could well be that 'Battlefield Earth' turns out to be the worst film of the century."
The film is set in the year 3000, when the earth will be ruled by extraterrestrials called "Psychlos." The few surviving people serve as slaves, or vegetate in hiding at the level of apes. Travolta plays the 8 foot tall security chief of the Psychlos called Terl.
America's most well-known TV critic, Roger Ebert, described the work by Travolta as "one of the most gruesome films I have ever seen" and advised his audience, "Don't forget: just don't go see 'Battlefield Earth'."
The Los Angeles Time made fun of the "ridiculous dialogue." Film journal "Daily Variety" did not have one good word for this "fun for idiots." It was filmed because Travolta wanted it. "The film," he said, "symbolizes the power I have. I can start things which a studio would not take on. If I cannot use my power today, what is it all for?"
Helmut Voss, SAD
The worst films from Hollywood
Worst films from Hollywood, crowned with at least one Golden Raspberry: "Mommie Dearest" (1981, with Faye Dunaway), "Burn, Hollywood, Burn" (1997 with Ryan O'Neal), "Hudson Hawk" (1990 with Bruce Willis), "The Postman" (1996, with Kevin Costner), "Showgirls" (1994, with Elizabeth Berkeley), "Striptease" (1995, with Demi Moore), "The Adventure of Ford Fairlane" (1990, with Lauren Holly), "Ghosts Can't Do It" (1991, with Bo Derek) and others.
The Golden Raspberry has been awarded since 1980 by the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation in several categories. As at the pompous Oscar ceremonies, there are these - only one inch high - trophies, which have been awarded for the worst actors (Madonna and Burt Reynolds have scored there), the worst supporting actor (Pia Zadora, Prince, Christopher Atkins) and the worst script. The Raspberry is the most well-known award for bad Hollywood productions.
