http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/dynamic/hottx/film/bottom_film.html?in_rev iew_id=281928&in_review_text_id=230635
EVENING STANDARD (London), 25 May 2000
Travolta's battle with new film
[Headline in print version - "In town tonight - John Travolta and his turkey"]
by Molly Watson
John Travolta's book-signing appearance at Waterstone's Piccadilly branch today is no longer a lazy publicity engagement but an exercise in damage limitation. The American press has already dubbed his new film Battlefield Earth, based on L Ron Hubbard's book and released here next week, as "the worst movie of the century". But one critic's verdict that "a million monkeys with a million crayons would be hard pressed to create anything as cretinous" and its meagre takings at the box office are just part of the problem.
The star's links with Scientology, the controversial religion founded by Hubbard, has led to suggestions that the movie - which Travolta also produced and partly funded - is a piece of propaganda. He plays Terl, the vicious security chief of the alien Psychlo race who control Earth in 3000AD, and who is finally defeated by human hero Jonnie Goodboy Taylor. Commentators have seen in this story an allegory for Hubbard's beliefs. At a time when Scientology is extremely unpopular with the American public (and movie producers), Battlefield Earth may represent a career-killer from which not even Travolta can bounce back.
Travolta shot to stardom in Saturday Night Fever and Grease, then entered a decade-long slump of turkeys until reinventing and relaunching himself in 1994's Pulp Fiction. Now 46 and able to command around £13 million per movie, he became a Scientologist in 1975, and credits the movement with rescuing him "from the perils of fame and stardom". His wife, Kelly Preston, is also a member and recently gave birth to their second child without painkillers and in complete silence, in accordance with church teachings.
Until now, Travolta has largely kept his faith private: when a Scientology scandal broke in France a couple of years ago, he fled the country rather than join in a public debate on the church's operations. He insists that Battlefield Earth, which he fought for 15 years to make (he originally hoped to play Jonnie rather than the fat weird alien Terl), is nothing but "entertainment and popcorn, good fun". Others see in the film's futuristic plot an allegory of Hubbard's belief that humans are made up of clusters of spirits or thetans that were banished to the earth some 75 million years ago by a cruel galactic ruler called Xenu. One studio boss who refused the chance to make Battlefield Earth said, "It was risky. On any film there are 10 variables that can kill you. On this one there was an 11th: Scientology. It just wasn't something anyone really wanted to get involved with."
Since it puts an ocean liner in the Caribbean and accommodation in "Celebrity Centres" at its favourite actors' disposal, Hubbard's movement has long appealed to Hollywood's finest: Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Kirstie Alley, Juliette Lewis, Lisa Marie Presley and Jenna Elfman are reported to have some connection to Scientology.
The VIP trappings definitely suit Travolta, who was recently berated by his neighbours in Maine for buzzing them in his private jet. But for many ordinary people the church that promises to "clear" them of unhappiness in an eight-stage "audit" that removes problematic "engrams", at a cost of between £130,000 and £270,000, is viewed with dis-taste and even fear. A series of legal cases culminated in one judge describing Scientologists as "corrupt, sinister and dangerous". Prominent media exposés have unearthed church members who claimed they had been brainwashed and bankrupted.
In 1991 Time magazine ran a cover story entitled Thriving Cult of Greed, which among others spotlighted the case of Ohio dentist Robert Geary. Geary had joined the church through a business seminar in 1988 and spent £120,000 on auditing in five months. His wife had a nervous breakdown when the couple were held hostage by the church for two weeks after contending that Geary's signature had been forged on a £13,500 loan application. A law suit filed by the church after Time's publication was dismissed by a US federal judge - the Scientologists have now appealed.
The reported behind-the-scenes machinations of the church are worthy of a thriller script themselves. Dissenting church members report having their phones tapped and being chased by Scientologists on foot and in cars when they tried to leave the church. Hubbard's wife has served prison time for infiltrating, burglarising and wire-tapping more than 100 government agencies who were investigating them.
The idea that profits - if there are any - from Battlefield Earth merchandise might go to what Cynthia Kisser from the Cult Awareness Network describes as "quite likely the most ruthless, the most litigious and the most lucrative cult the country has ever seen" is another strike against Travolta.
The star said in the past that Scientology "contains the secrets of the universe", but he insists now that Battlefield Earth is just "a classic tale of good versus evil". Showbusiness commentators, however, are convinced that it may well destroy his career. "He needs to make sure that his next film is light-hearted and heavy on the dance moves," said one. "That's if anyone will take him."
* John Travolta will be signing copies of the novel Battlefield Earth today between 3pm - 4pm at Waterstones, 203/206 Piccadilly, W1.
[The web version has two pics, one of the book cover captioned: "Never judge a book by its cover - yeah right!" and the other, a film still, captioned: "Oh John! You're giving Nicky Clarke nightmares."]
[The print version is accompanied by several more pics, captioned as follows: " 'A million monkeys with a million crayons would be hard pressed to create anything as cretinous': one review of Battlefield Earth, starring John Travolta (above, left and right)."
"Battlefield tour: Travolta in Rome on Monday to produce the book and film and (right) with wife Kelly Preston at the Hollywood premiere two weeks ago. Travolta also produced and part-funded the movie, in which he plays a fat weird alien."]
