Battlefield Earth should never have been made. Not just because of its association with Scientology creator L. Ron Hubbard, or because John Travolta looks absolutely ridiculous in that make-up, but because its very existence is embarrassing to the human race as a species. It takes approximately 8 minutes to become totally beaten into a bored submission by this movie... and it runs at a very, very gruelling 2 hours. If Battlefield Earth's intention had been to create a movie so tedious and so mind-numbingly incoherent that it physically hurts to watch it, then $78 million dollars well spent. Sadly, it appears as though the people involved - specifically Travolta - intended for this flick to be worthwhile. Indeed, Battlefield Earth is so boring that it might be used as some sort of sick torture device: two viewings could genuinely break your mind.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
