Insults and Mockery for John Travolta

Hollywood, USA May 16, 2000 Hamburger Morgenpost

Hollywood - All America is cursing derisively and slapping its thighs with laughter. The target of the biting mockery: actor John Travolta (45) in his new film "Battlefield Earth," based on a science fiction novel by Scientology founder Ron Hobbard [sic]. Travolta, a professed Scientologist for 21 years, risked portraying material from the controversial sect in this film for the second time since the movie debacle "Phenomenon." Not only that, but he is both co-producer and main actor. The American enemies of Scientology have been rubbing their hands ever since the premiere of "Battlefield Earth" six days ago in Hollywood. The tenor: calling for a boycott of the film would be completely superfluous. The Washington Post wrote, "Even a million monkeys with a million paintbrushes could not create in a million years anything nearly as weak-minded as Battlefield Earth." Media journal "Variety" ridiculed, "Against all presumptions, it is still possible to make an entertainment film which is too silly for this metier. The dialogue reeks to high heaven, the figures are made out of cardboard and logic is not at hand." Newsweek wrote that the film "is religious propaganda disguised as science fiction humor. If it would have at least been humorous ..." Here is what it is about: aliens have made a wasteland out of earth and enslaved humanity. John Travolta is an alien security chief. Jonnie Goodboy Tyler (Barry Pepper) battles for a better life. And lo and behold: all ends well. Opens in Germany on October 5.