...

How can you NOT love a film that gets blasted by critics, bagged by movie-goers, and bombs at the boxoffice?
Well this is pretty much what happened when Battlefield Earth hit the big screen [and went splat!]  late 2000. 

George Lucas, the man behind the most successful sci-fi movie series ever thought it was brilliant (and he had nothing to do with it)....could this movie mogul genius BE so wrong?  (anyone actually see T.P.M?......yes well)

The Brainchild of "Battlefield Earth" is one L. Ron Hubbard, who is also the man who started the Church of Scientology.  (something quite a few Hollywood movie stars are caught up in).  As a result one John Travolta made B.F.E his pet project.  So sure was everyone that B.F.E would be a sci-fi box office smash hit, that a sequel was in the works even before the original hit the screen!!!  Given the miserable returns of the first, Number 2.0 was VERY quickly put on the scrap heap.

The deal is, Earth has been taken over by a bunch of nutters called Psychlos from the planet......Psychlo.  They first invaded in around the year 2000, and have being sucking resources out of the earth for 1000 years (well actually they are really only after Gold!).  Psychlos are [Klingon] Ugly, considerably bigger, and physically stronger than humans, as on their planet they're gravity is much stronger.  They also breathe a different gas, so on earth they must were gas masks in non-climatised areas...and vice versa for the humans. 

Heading the team of Psychlos on Earth is Terl (Johnny).   Terl HATES Earth (as do all other Psychols) and will do anything to get off the planet.  His 2nd in command, Ker (Forrest Whitaker)I.C also wishes he was off the planet as he wants to take charge as Securities Officer.
Ker discovers a "run" of gold in an area the Psychlos are unable to enter, and "conveniently" neglects to inform Terl.  BUT Terl being the Devious Cheif Security Officer that he is, is fully aware of Ker's Discovery and sets out to trap him.  
Yadda yadda yadda, a few additions to the Slave count, and Jonnie Tyler (Barry Pepper) is one of the recently captured prisoners.  Not content with life as a slave Jonnie makes many botched attempts at escaping.  Terl then decides to make Jonnie his pet project and 1000 years after the Psychlos first invaded, a human can now communicate TO Psychlos IN their native tongue!  Problem is Jonnie is also learning many a new things, things that Psychlos probably don't want a human-dog to know about.

Okay, there are two ways to look at this film (and I'm not referring to the need to constantly tilt your head to compensate for the extreeeme use of Dutch angles employed throughout the moofy :) You can either Assume that everyone involved had serious intentions, and see this film as a total piece of crap!  OR you can assume it's incredibly black humoured, as well as VERY camp, and is so destined to become a cult classic!
Stick with the latter and you might like it!  (I honestly couldn't take this film serious if I tried)

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VIDEO
Even those self obsessed, delusional Psychlos couldn't disagree with the stunning Anamorphic Widescreen picture presented here.

Not sticking to a conventional colour palette for the entire film, you have quite a variety of looks/styles on offer..  ranging from sickly green, intense blue, and almost monochromatic, depending on each location.

All look wonderful and offer a sensational amount of detail.  Sharpness is pretty much perfect throughout, with a only a little bit of alaising here and there.
Black Level is also excellent and offers a great range of shadow detail and image depth.

Given the nature of blue, being a softer focus than Red and Green (especially on RPTVs!!)   the "blue" sequences did show a slightly less level of detail, but quite frankly it won't be a bother to most, it's just the "non blue" sequences are so finely sharp that you notice the "blue" drops off a smidgen :)

Spread over 2 layers of an RSDL DVD, the Layer Change occurs at at 69:26 minute mark.  Kinda abrupt, but nothing too serious.

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AUDIO
Holy Dynamic Range Batman!!  could this Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack BE any more aggressive????
If you like you movie soundtracks with REAL muscle then this will be right up your alley.
Personally I found it a fraction too aggressive (I even tried THX mode, which I really hate using as it kills the high end too much for my taste, but not with this bad boy :)).

This soundtrack seems to be active in ALL channels at ALL time.  It just doesn't let up and damn is it fun!!!.  The Front soundstage is very wide and excellent level of detail and depth, Dialogue is, in most instances, clean and clear.  Surround usage is simply Full On.  (in fact those with the ability to playback in an "EX" mode will want to turn it on for this puppy as it ROCKS in 6.1!!....though it should be noted that B.F.E was NOT mixed for Dolby EX playback, it just works incredibly well in this mode)

My one complaint about this generally kick-ass soundtrack is the occasional bit of audio distortion.  (mostly confined to dialogue, where it crackles, but also on some of the sound FX).  I have heard that the USA version contains the same problems, so it's source related, AND there version is apparently worse in this department!!!!  

...

EXTRAS

• Audio Commentary - featuring Director Roger Christian,  Creature Creator/Production Designer Patrick Tatopoulos  hmm yes well, they obviously liked their movie a lot (not that they're being bias in any way shape or form).  technically a pretty good commentary with very little dead space. (also includes a hidden easter egg thingy.... think Follow the White Rabbit :)
• Evolution and Creation Featurette contains interviews, etc, runs a good 16 minutes and is 4x3 with 2.0 sound (it even contains its own chapters!)
• Storyboard Montage.  certainly better than most, this one runs a just shy of 8 minutes and contains a whole whack of storyboards from the movie and also grabs from the movie itself as either a full screen image or side by side comparison to a storyboard.  So as you don't get too bored, music is played over the whole running time (all sorts of rock and techo style).  4x3 with DD2.0 sound
• John Travolta Makeup Test. More of a "chat" with Johnny, and a the odd makeup test thrown in for good measure.   runs for 2 minutes and is 4x3 with DD2.0 sound
• Creative Visual Effects another chat with John and a few crew members showing some of the FX used in the film.  runs for over 2 minutes and is 4x3 with DD2.0 sound
• Trailers - Teaser and Theatrical are   Both are Anamorphic Widescreen with DD2.0 sound, and the International Trailer is merely 4x3 DD2.0
• Cast & Crew Biographies
• Easter Eggs (you'll find these on the special features page/s)
  

While not what I'd call one of my top 10 Sci-Fi flicks.   It's certainly worth a look at (given the amount of crap dished out to this film)
The DVD itself has scrubbed up quite well, and is really only let down by the audio which is technically riddled with some problems.

Review Equipment
TV: Pioneer SD-T50W1 (16:9 RPTV)
DVD: Pioneer DV717  (using RGB outputs)
Receiver : Denon AVC-A1SE THX Ultra (Dolby Surround EX, DTS-ES Discrete)
Speakers:-
     Mains: Quadral Amun
     Centre: B&W CDMC-SE
     Surrounds Left/Right: M&K SS500 (Dipole)
     Surrounds Back : Polk RT/fx (Diplole)
     Subby: M&K V125 

- Reviewed 18th October 2001

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