'Battlefield Earth' named year's worst movie

Reuters/Variety/March 24, 2001

Los Angeles -- With only a day to go before Hollywood names its best films at the Oscars (news - web sites), the science fiction epic "Battlefield Earth" swept almost all the awards Saturday -- for worst movie of the year.

"Battlefield," starring John Travolta as a Rasta-haired alien, won seven Golden Raspberry or "Razzies" awards, tying the non-profit film humor group's record for most worst awards, set by "Showgirls" in 1996.

Calling "Battlefield" a "big budget Sci Fi fiasco" and Travolta a "Rasta-haired, yellow-toothed, cackling psychotic alien," the Razzies named the film the worst of the year and gave the actor its award for worst performance by a male actor in a starring role.

It also named Travolta and "anyone who appeared with him" the worst screen couple of the year."

In a statement, the producer of the movie, Elie Samaha, said he was delighted: "I welcome the free publicity. The more the critics hit 'Battlefield Earth,' the more DVDS it sells.

"... It is the kind of film that makes a movie legend and we feel we have enough staying power to last long after the critics have quieted down."

Based on a science fiction novel by L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, the film has won praise from some science fiction groups despite the critical blasting it received.

The Razzies also gave the film awards for worst supporting actress (Kelly Preston), worst supporting actor (Barry Pepper). worst director (Robert Christian) and worst screenplay (Corey Mandel and J. D. Shapiro).

The worst actress of the year award went to Madonna (news - web sites) for her performance as the single mom in "The Next Best Thing" The worst remake or sequel award went to "Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2."

The "winners" were determined by mail ballots to some 535 members of the group.