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Battlefield Earth ** If this is what we have to look forward to in the year 3000, count me out. Earth is a disgusting excuse of a planet, man is an endangered species and John Travolta is on the loose as a manipulative, unconscionable Psychlo. Ugh.
Poor, poor Terl (Travolta). He's chief of security of the Psychlos' earth site, but an unfortunate diddle with a senator's daughter has landed him 50 consecutive cycles on earth. Embittered by his forced exile, Terl viciously lashes out at anyone in lashing proximity. His right hand man Ker (Forest Whitaker) suffers the abuse in silence, hoping for a shot at the chief position. Terl's most venomous actions are reserved for Jonnie Tyler (Barry Pepper), a heroic man-animal whose determination to save humankind is a prickly thorn in Terl's side. But the arrogant Terl manages to round up his rage and use its energy to fuel a dastardly strip-mining scheme, utilizing man-animals as cheap labor. Naturally, Terl badly underestimates Jonnie's fierce conviction, and that means war.
Man against the Psychlos. Hardly an original concept. Though based on Scientologist founder L. Ron Hubbard's 1982 novel, this screens like "Mad Max" meets "Star Wars". Loads of spiffy special effects support a simplistic narrative of good vs. evil, man battling beast. Ho hum. The film goes overboard with a preposterous air battle featuring shabby pioneers piloting sleek military jet planes. Travolta is one bad dude, blackmailing and double crossing with wicked glee. His dreadlocked fright wig and metallic, pinched breathing tubes (ouch) lend a sinister look, even when his relentless cackling supplants his acting. Pepper is all sculpted frontiersman, complete with sexy braided tresses and torn leather. As the valiant savior of mankind, he'll do quite nicely, thank you very much. America circa 3000 is a bruised and crumbling wasteland, nicely designed by someone's sophisticated software.
As for those mythical, subliminal Scientology messages? I know as little about the religion coming out as I did going in. At least I think I do.
Rated: PG-13 for alien violence and one suggestively long tongue. 1 hour, 57 minutes. --Jeanne Aufmuth
