Travolta's officially lost his marbles:

October 19, 2000 9:46 AM

Travolta's officially lost his marbles: "George Lucas and Quentin Tarantino and a lot of people saw [Battlefield Earth] and thought it was a great piece of science fiction." In an alternate universe, maybe.
posted by highindustrial (17 comments total)

Let him spend his money on this one. He'll only be more of a laughing stock then he already is. One would think that after the horrible reviews and almost non-existant audience, a person would see the "big picture".

But, I guess not. Maybe after this sequel, he'll fade back into obscurity and do some more "Look Who's Talking" films.
posted by da5id at 9:53 AM on October 19, 2000

It's funny how religious zealousness can blind you from the obvious.
posted by waxpancake at 10:00 AM on October 19, 2000

i didn't see the movie...i read the book...and i would have rather saved time and just watched the movie instead.
posted by th3ph17 at 11:37 AM on October 19, 2000

"This one time, at acting camp, I played a really nasty evil alien who had taken over the Earth and laughed at everything the good guy said. That was cool."

posted by salsamander at 12:11 PM on October 19, 2000

John travolta is not a pimp. He is a stupid.
posted by Hankins at 12:25 PM on October 19, 2000

Perhaps eventually Lucas will say what he really thinks, discourage Travolta from doing the sequel ("Battlefield Earth 2: Lost In BF.E."?), and let him voice one of the Gungans in the next Star Wars movie instead.
posted by JAcrimonaut at 12:47 PM on October 19, 2000

Since Lucas inflicted Episode 1 on us, I wouldn't trust his ability to rate anything a "great piece of science fiction."
posted by Tubes at 2:01 PM on October 19, 2000

The last time Lucas did actual science fiction was with THX-1138.
posted by kindall at 2:13 PM on October 19, 2000

As anyone who's actually (been unfortunate enough to have) seen the movie can attest, the $70 million budget figure seems bogus, even factoring in Travolta's presumably exorbitant producing and acting fees. The production values on display are strictly Sci Fi Channel-caliber. I think the whole thing is an elaborate ruse to part investors from their money. The real funds were probably diverted to the Caymans. If I mysteriously disappear, this is my Pelican Brief.
posted by highindustrial at 3:30 PM on October 19, 2000

Actually Travolta didn't get paid squat. He actually helped produce it.

Considering they only told half the story from the book in the movie a 2nd one was planned from the start. They will force it down our throats.


posted by john at 3:55 PM on October 19, 2000

This sounds like the same argument that Schwarzenneger came up with for Last Action Hero.
posted by Cavatica at 3:57 PM on October 19, 2000

I haven't read the book. I haven't seen the movie. I will never read the book. I have to see this movie. A line from the Onion's review of it sticks with me: "A movie not so much seen as lived through." I regard this as a ringing endorsement, challenge-wise. I was on a flight back from New Orleans this week, and one of the movies they threatened to show was "Battlefield Earth." Oh, how I prayed. No. Instead, they gave us "Boys and Girls." Oh, how I drank.
posted by Skot at 4:06 PM on October 19, 2000

john: Travolta only invested $5 million of "his own" money -- deducted from his salary. The breakdown: he got $10 million up front, against $20 million if the film grossed $50 million-plus domestically (obviously, that didn't happen). The primary sugar-daddy in this equation was one Elie Samaha.
posted by highindustrial at 4:19 PM on October 19, 2000

It's good for my friends anyhow. Travolta makes all his movies in Montreal. Even the bad ones.
posted by mikel at 4:22 PM on October 19, 2000

Ah, OK.

It would be nice if a movie was made from some decent science fiction, but then it seems they will just destroy it through screenings that dumb it down.
posted by john at 5:23 PM on October 19, 2000

To be fair to Lucas, he has consistently described Star Wars as "fantasy".
posted by dhartung at 8:27 AM on October 20, 2000

I read and enjoyed the bood several times...as a kid. I don't know if I would again, I probably wouldn't bother reading it. Didn't see the movie, although I want to for much the same reason as Skot does.

And I'm definatly not a Scientologist.
posted by mutagen at 10:28 AM on October 20, 2000