Battlefield Earth: is it really that bad?

[zapbrannigan]

As Battlefield Earth won a Razzie for being 'Worst Movie Of The Decade', I thought I'd watch it again on DVD - just in the interest of research you understand

Now, I'm not suggesting that it's the best sci-fi film ever made; far from it. But is it really that bad? There are far worse films that could have taken this dubious accolade, surely? What about all those awful Hollywood love/comedy films which appear to be released on a weekly basis?

[VEA]

yes

[B19GRR]

Yes, because it's a bunch of A-listers utterly failing to bring anything to a pretty crap story. I saw it in the States where they tend to be more vocal in cinemas, it didn't go down too well, but at least there were no 'Jolly good chaps' token Brits in it

Cheers,
Rob

[Dakkon]

When you have read the book, the film really is dire and complete sections missing.

[Mojocvh]

Dakkon said:

When you have read the book, the film really is dire and complete sections missing.

but it's still worth a look.

[clonmult]

VEA said:

yes

You're ooooh so wrong.

Its not that bad.

Its considerably worse.

Think of the worst thing ever, multiply it by a million times. You're still not close.

I never expected it to be good, but it was just unpleasant. I read some of Hubbards books when I was a kid, and even then as an impressionable youngster I thought they were vaguely enjoyable but basically a load of bks. The film just takes the worst of it .....

[rsv gone!]

Over 37,000 votes on IMDB and it scores an average 2.3/10

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0185183/

So that'll be a yes?

[hairykrishna]

Dakkon said:

When you have read the book, the film really is dire and complete sections missing.

That's a good thing. I hated the book. The film's st but at least it's short.

[Don]

clonmult said:

VEA said:

yes

You're ooooh so wrong.

Its not that bad.

Its considerably worse.

Think of the worst thing ever, multiply it by a million times. You're still not close.

I never expected it to be good, but it was just unpleasant. I read some of Hubbards books when I was a kid, and even then as an impressionable youngster I thought they were vaguely enjoyable but basically a load of bks. The film just takes the worst of it .....

I'm not sure you have adequately expressed it's badness to be honest.

I mean - you may have thought the All Time Golden Turkey Award Winner "Plan 9 From Outer Space" was bad - but Battlefield Earth is just in another league.

Even if you multiply that a million times you could relate to that concept. Whereas Battlefield Earth requires a complete new form of critical mathematics to describe the depths to which it plunged.

Honestly. After watching it there is a blank period in my memory of some hours. I suspect my wife had me hypnotised to expunge the damage.

:shudder:

A worthy Razzie winner.

[Negative Creep]

Yes. Although it falls into the "so bad it's good" level of entertainment. The falling through glass in slow motion and the cow are just comedy gold

[lonny]

Negative Creep said:

Yes. Although it falls into the "so bad it's good" level of entertainment.

+1 on this. all I can remember from it is john travolta in some weird platform boots. not sure why that image has stayed with me....

[zapbrannigan]

I suppose I ought to read the book then...just to be sure

[TheEnd]

"Jonnie and his followers find an abandoned underground US military base with working aircraft, weapons, fuel, and nuclear weapons. They use the base's flight simulators to train themselves in aerial combat.
After a week of training, the rebels launch a mass uprising against the Psychlos using Harrier jump-jets and other weapons."

I think they stole that plot from The A-Team

[clonmult]

Negative Creep said:

Yes. Although it falls into the "so bad it's good" level of entertainment. The falling through glass in slow motion and the cow are just comedy gold

I have a feeling I'm going to have to watch it again. Last time was on the commute to work on the PSP .... maybe the device didn't do it justice. It seemed more like "so bad, its just truly atrocious".

Honestly don't remember any of it, other than incredibly depressing visuals with absolutely no redeeming qualities whatsoever.

[Halb]

I remember Harriers working after 1000s of years?

[DJC]

Dont be dissing Plan 9.

Its a class "bad film"

[Don]

DJC said:

Dont be dissing Plan 9.

Its a class "bad film"

That was....close.