Badmovies.org Forum

Movies => Bad Movies => Topic started by: Nukie 2 on October 27, 2008, 09:41:12 PM



Title: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: Nukie 2 on October 27, 2008, 09:41:12 PM
I still haven't seen it-- the reason is that it looks painful to watch. Though I'm kind of compelled to see it, as a "to do".
I'm not going to pay more than  $1.00, I kinda feel like John Travolta should pay me to watch it.

What do you say:
Big budget Plan 9 or the most painful thing ever?


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: AnubisVonMojo on October 27, 2008, 09:51:51 PM
The fields of thought I've come across have been that people either hate it, laugh at it for being utter garbage, or feel it's just another mediocre sci-fi flick. I tend to fall into the first myself. I'd laugh at it, but it just irritates the crap outta me to the point that I stop laughing and spend the rest of the movie with my head in my hands... :lookingup:

As to whether it's a "must see" or not, if you're looking for a good sci-fi flick I'd say absolutely not. If you're looking for something MST3K worthy, you could say it is indeed a must.


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: Kester Pelagius on October 27, 2008, 09:54:46 PM
Worth seeing once. . .

Not for the plot but for the unintentional humor.


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: sideorderofninjas on October 27, 2008, 10:40:06 PM
We've all seen good and bad movies. For me, Battlefield Earth is bad but
 nowhere near the bottom of the heap of bad movies.  It is pretty amazing for its unintentional humor. 


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: AVERY GUERRA on October 27, 2008, 11:03:59 PM
That all really depends on if you like "bad cinema"?? Oh, it's pretty painful. However, it's not the worse film ever like many have said, but it's pretty damned close.    :bouncegiggle:    It is however, one of the only films that truely deserves to be compared to an Ed Wood film. Everyone's always comparing ' intentionally ' cheesy and bad films to Ed's flicks, but Ed's weren't meant to be intentionally bad. They just ended up that way and that's what makes them so bad[great]. Their humor and ' badness ' was unintentional. This film falls into that category nicely as they weren't meaning to make a horrible film and thought that they were really making a grand sci-fi epic.   :wink:


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: dean on October 28, 2008, 06:09:54 AM

I'd say it's worth a look: kind of like a semi rite of passage [like most films on this site really]

Good with Scotch!


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: Jack on October 28, 2008, 07:00:31 AM
It's worth a watch.  I don't think it's painful at all.  If you've ever seen a Sci-Fi Channel original movie, this thing won't insult your intelligence any more than they do.  This just had 50 times as much money behind it. 


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: Rumblestealskins on October 28, 2008, 12:57:22 PM

 I did not appreciate it that much. Good background effects. The idea seemed like a version of Planet of the Apes to me.


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: ER on October 28, 2008, 01:35:26 PM
I didn't think it was a particularly good movie but I also don't think it warranted the excoriation it received.


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: JJ80 on October 28, 2008, 03:37:04 PM
i just thought that it was a dull but moderately watchable ego project for Mr Ravolta. Without the inherent Scietological agenda it would probably never even been made.


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: Psycho Circus on October 29, 2008, 06:54:41 AM
A truly great comedy!  :drink:


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: AndyC on October 29, 2008, 07:19:30 AM
A must see? Well, it certainly must be seen to be believed.

More tilted cameras than a season of Batman.

More ham than a butcher shop.

More holes than a block of swiss cheese.

More groan-inducing than severe constipation.

More worthy of the title "A Goofy Movie" than that Disney cartoon.

Last time I saw this movie was at B-Fest in 2002. It was a surprise to see such a recent movie on the lineup, but it was a good choice. Watching it with that crowd was a hoot.


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: Gigantor on November 01, 2008, 11:10:59 PM
Stinky film ,I think they're much better er worse movies to spend your time on.

Has anyone here seen THINGS ?


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: ghouck on November 07, 2008, 11:39:28 AM
Battlefield Earth 'could' have been a good movie. The book was IMO damn good. The problem is they only covered the first half of the book at MOST, and that was way too much for one movie, so TONS of relevant story was cut out. Really, the book would have to be made into 3 or 4 movies to cover the entire book, maybe more. Tons of the holes mentioned were simply where parts of the story got chopped out.
The book tends to show how and why Psychlos are the way they are. How their cruelity was systematic and refined for centuries. There were reasons for their cruelity, and they did horrible things to their own just for the sake or security and profits for their race. The movie just kinda told you they were mean. Obviously, the books have tons of scientology overtones, anti-human, anti-government, anti-corporation, anti-everything messages, but beneath that is a pretty good story, same with Mission Earth IMO. It's obvious to me LRH meant for people to draw paralell lines between the Psychlos and your government entity of choice, just the same has Mission Earth was meant to show the worst of human beings, and downplay any good. I do wonder if he saw himself as Jetero Heller.

[Edit]

Oh Yea, must see? no, , it's not. .


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: Captain Tars Tarkas on November 07, 2008, 05:18:18 PM
The worst part of Battlefield Earth is the DVD version has many of the unintentional hilarious scenes cut out, including the scene where they try to see if man can fly by dropping a guy off a cliff.  The film itself is nothing special as far as badness goes, it is just hyped up by the hate for scientology.  The defining Battlefield Earth review is at Jabootu.


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: Nukie 2 on November 22, 2008, 05:00:09 PM
Watched it last night. I actually enjoyed watching it; it didn't drag.
The plot holes were amazing! :bouncegiggle:
Travolta was such a Ham, and the Psyclos were just dumb!
Anyone notice how the degenerated humanity dressed, and acted like people at a Renaissance fair?

Best line:
"Well since you able to smelt it into BRICK I will be expecting the rest of my gold in five days!"


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: the Rev. J. Darkside on November 22, 2008, 08:53:09 PM
I watched it once in 2004 and, unlike Ed Wood films (horrible as they are), I have not felt like watching it again. The wobbly camera work made me envy the blind and it was laced with a thinly veiled religious message. It was a truly painful experience. It probably would have been more enjoyable had they not attempted a plot and character development and just made it Hubbard's --cult propaganda epic-- (those can be quite enjoyable as you laugh and ingnore their silly pleads for your salvation [or fall for their crap]). To be fair, I've heard the BOOK is really good. I just haven't found the time to read that footstool made of paper.


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: KryptoTSD on November 22, 2008, 10:02:19 PM
I've had this book for a long time, and haven't had the urge to read it again, or even see the movie...
The book is always supposed to be better than the movie, but in this case, I'd say they're both lousy...
And only because of the links to Scientology...  :thumbdown: :buggedout: :hatred:


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: the Rev. J. Darkside on November 22, 2008, 11:05:00 PM
If you start openly attacking their cult on this site, Hubbard's b***hes might bring the fury of Xenu on our patron, Andrew. We don't want that, do we?


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: ghouck on November 23, 2008, 01:08:59 AM
Eh, , maybe a little, , just for comic relief. .


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: the Rev. J. Darkside on November 23, 2008, 01:47:46 AM
Well, my cult is at war with the Co$ cult. They have actually managed to make a film so horrible that not even I want to watch it, and I've viewed some of the lowest examples of cinematic excrement with feelings that were less than contempt and close to admiration and envy. People have consistantly disagreed with my choices on everything pop culture, so I'm used to being the sole fan of a film made by Dutch Satanists with a cheese fetish starring dead penguins or a New Jersey punk band described as "...instrument day at special ed class..." with a dirigidoo, a banjo and an inbred, twelve year old frontman with autism. I apparently love s**t. But this movie sucks so much ass, there is almost no ass left to be sucked. The "land of the golden arches" allusion and dropping a man to see if he could fly were the only redeeming qualities this film can claim, so I submit they rerelease it with all but the afore mentioned scenes omitted and then credits. Until that happens, this film will always be an abomination to celluloid and a slap in the face to the American public.


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: Ash on November 23, 2008, 02:46:08 AM
I've never understood the hate that BE received...and still receives.
When I first watched it, I had heard it was bad but found that it's nowhere near as bad as everyone makes it out to be.
I've watched it twice since then and it never bothered me.  I did notice the tilted camera more, but it was easily overlooked.

I thought Travolta was perfect as Terl.  No other actor could've played him as far as I'm concerned.  :smile:

Give it a shot.   :thumbup:


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: the Rev. J. Darkside on November 23, 2008, 03:50:24 AM
I did give it a shot. It ruined my childhood. A chainsaw enema would have been more fun. Only Ewe Boll could make a more unwatchable dung heap and I was surprised to find he was uninvolved with this project. The damn camera almost gave me motion sickness. Travolta did all right, but there is no redemption for this theatrical abortion. Could I warm up to it? Yes, I could. It's incredibly unlikely without a lobotomy, however. Are there worst films? Yes, there are. You could probably count them all on the fingers of one hand after holding a lit firecracker in your fist.


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: Nukie 2 on November 23, 2008, 03:02:36 PM
But this obvious vechicle for religious conversion, with epic intentions was such a flop that it's hillarious in its own right!

Come on; Travolta as an alien with a dreaded beehive hair-doo and on stilts! :bouncegiggle:

It felt and looked like a b-movie that had too much time, money, and effort going into it.
I'm not saying buy it, I'm saying barrow it atmost.

Anyways, Co$ won't come here because they aren't the type of people to approach people, unless they are rich or are useful to them.


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: the Rev. J. Darkside on November 23, 2008, 03:35:54 PM
Have you forgotten about their war on the internet and their vow to silence all criticism by all means legal or illegal? However, I've decided that maybe I was a little too harsh. I'll give it one more chance. I haven't seen it since about 2004 or so. I'll borrow it, though. They're not getting any of my money. Finding it will be difficult, though, because I've made sure I have no friends who like that "film" or whatever it's supposed to be. That's one of the few films I believe should be mass pirated to drive down their profits. Why are so many of my favorite actors in that church? It's not that their beliefs differ from my mine, but that they're such a***oles about it. Every religion has their kooky, nutjob, orthodox fundamentalists. Everyone from Christianity to Islam. But nutjob fundamentalists include every Scientologist. They're just real jerks. Even LeVeyan Satanists are nicer, and they consider themselves evil and use words like "diabolical" in their self desciptions. But this isn't a theological argument. The fact that they're all radical extremists that attack psychiatrists and they tried to sell us this $75,000,000 ($44,000,000 in real money) turd is the argument.


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: Andrew on November 23, 2008, 03:42:42 PM
The book is fair to good.  The film is awful, but some of the idiocy and awful performances make it worth watching.  I don't know how many times the line, "Stupid man-animal!  Hahahahaha!" is shouted during the movie, but it's quite a few.

Scientology is considered a cult by Germany and was denied status as a religious organization.  Just last year Germany tried to ban it (they failed).  It's probably a good thing for personal freedoms that the effort failed, but I can agree with their reasons for pursuing it.

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1695514,00.html


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: the Rev. J. Darkside on November 23, 2008, 11:04:41 PM
Germany has an almost Naziesque censorship of the media. I find it odd that Germany would classify them as a cult and refuse to recognize them as a religious group, which is what classifying them as a cult pretty much was. Germany has a few good ideas like banning all racist speech altogether, which we can't do here with freedom of speech and whatnot. I've been a cleric since the sixth of February as a Lutheran (probably the youngest in my area), but I've pretty much converted to SubGenius (also a "cult"; we wear the term like a badge of honor). I am still authorized to perform Lutheran sacrements and I believe the BASIC message is good. I tend to defend various misunderstood faiths and fringe cults because of my studies in theology and metaphysics. I've defended Satanists, Wiccans, Mormans, Muslims, Hebrews and a host of others from people who don't know what they're talking about and follow rumors. The Church of Scientology, however, has no redeming qualities that I've been able to find. They're conglomerate bullies (like all fundamentalists). As a marine, Andrew, you no doubt come into contact with people of a lot of faiths (the military has been accused of being Christian-centric, but I heard they're rectifing that). Have you met Scientologists in the Corps? My mother is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, but her religious tolerance is a bit narrow so discouse on religion in the military is a difficult topic to stomach with her sometimes. Not that she's intolerant, per se.


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: ghouck on November 24, 2008, 04:58:38 PM

Scientology is considered a cult by Germany and was denied status as a religious organization.  Just last year Germany tried to ban it (they failed). 

The fact is that the "Cult Awareness Network" in the United States clearly and concisely points out that Scientology is NOT a cult. I repeat, It is NOT a cult.










Of course this may be because CO$ legally wrangled the C.A.N. into bankruptcy, then bought them up. Yes, that's right, the "Cult Awareness Network" is OWNED by the CO$. How convenient.


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: the Rev. J. Darkside on November 24, 2008, 05:11:56 PM
I know. That was a long and bloody war. The trick is Hubbard taught his lackeys to fight dirty and deny everything.


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: Andrew on November 24, 2008, 07:08:56 PM
As a marine, Andrew, you no doubt come into contact with people of a lot of faiths (the military has been accused of being Christian-centric, but I heard they're rectifing that). Have you met Scientologists in the Corps? My mother is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, but her religious tolerance is a bit narrow so discouse on religion in the military is a difficult topic to stomach with her sometimes. Not that she's intolerant, per se.

I have yet to meet a Marine who was a Scientologist.  As for religions of Marines, we have a lot of Christians, but that is not the product of any intentional focus.  I would say it's just a reflection of the demographic who usually enlists in the Marine corps.  Obviously we're not going to get a lot of volunteers from religions that push pacifism, nor ones whose members are also usually members of political groups who oppose military service.

I'm a bit strange as I am 1 generation removed from Amish, and they are not the sort who enlist.


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: ghouck on November 24, 2008, 07:27:12 PM
I knew one person that I can think of that was some weird religion that I believe was or was similar to CO$ when I was in the Army. The only people I've ever talked to that were devout scientologists were pretty arrogant and I'm sure they would have seen military service as beneath them. I'm not saying that's standard for people of that faith, just my severely limited experience. I knew at least one person that was Muslim, and quite a few that were LDS. I knew a few that claimed  to be Pagan, Druid, Wiccan, , but never anyone that wasn't a bored kid looking for attention. I think they spent too much time staring at their dog tags, trying to come up with something creative to put down as their relegion.

I find it interesting that you are of Amish ancestry, that's something you don't hear of often, and I grew up in Ohio, there were quite a bit of Amish nearby, many of the local small general stores got some of their product from the Amish. What intrigues me is how did WHOEVER in your family that parted ways from the Amish lifestyle do so? I had always heard that if you leave an Amish community, you leave penniless and empty handed, with only the clothes you are wearing and enough food for one meal. Not sure how one survives like that or how it happens otherwise.

We did have 'Amish Gypsies' in Ohio also, but haven't heard the term for a few dozen years. This was people that dressed like the Amish, and proclaimed to be Amish, but were really rip-off artists. They would often sell stolen food to stores Or buy a bunch of old, frozen chickens in bulk, thaw and unwrap them and sell them for more as fresh. They were notorious as shoplifters, since their clothes made it easy to hide things. A kid I knew worked at K-Mart and used to bust them regularly.

Anyways, Andrew, are you really coming up to Alaska, and if so, what for?

L8r


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: the Rev. J. Darkside on November 24, 2008, 09:18:20 PM
Amish, huh? I used to defend the Amish and still do from time to time, but the problem is that if someone tells an Amish joke on television, will any Amish really hear it? I love the Amish lifestyle and I thought about joining them if not for their stupid punishment system. One of them had been raping his daughter for six years since she was two, and their punishment was to shun him for a month. But other that that, I admire them. They are tolerant of those outside their church, but they vehemently villify those who leave the church, or at least the majority do. Can you speak Pennsylvannia Dutch, Andrew?

Ghouck, could that "weird religion" that was similar to Scientology have been the Church of the SubGenius? www.subgenius.com (http://www.subgenius.com) I am a member. One of our sacrements is watching really bad films in a devotional, trance-like state. In fact, our entire church is like one giant B-Film. The mystery here is: why wasn't I defrocked?

I feel a little bad that the Roma or "Gypsies" have such a bad reputation that racism against them is not discouraged or frowned upon. A lot of them are scammers, but that brings suspicion on all of them, unfortunatly. We even have racist terms like "Man, what a gyp!", which are allowed on television.


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: Nukie 2 on November 24, 2008, 10:10:52 PM
It all goes back to owning property or having a homeland-- gypsies have neither so some them are forced into scamming to make a living.


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: the Rev. J. Darkside on November 24, 2008, 10:19:15 PM
Well, each culture has those they despise. For most United States Americans, it's the United Stated Mexicans or Arabs and Muslims. The Netherlands also complains about Arabic immigrants. For the Czech Republic, it's Gypsies. For most of the entire world, it's "Americans." This hostility needs to end.


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: ghouck on November 24, 2008, 11:28:10 PM


Ghouck, could that "weird religion" that was similar to Scientology have been the Church of the SubGenius? [url=http://www.subgenius.com]www.subgenius.com[/url] ([url]http://www.subgenius.com[/url]) I am a member. One of our sacrements is watching really bad films in a devotional, trance-like state. In fact, our entire church is like one giant B-Film. The mystery here is: why wasn't I defrocked?



I'm not sure, I don't remember many real specifics, I do remember some talk of different 'levels' that were to be attained, and something about 'turning into light'. The guy was a weirdo, got kicked out mainly because he didn't know how to take care of his kids. DHSS stepped in and was going to take them away, I believe he got out so he could leave the state and avoid them.


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: Rev. Powell on November 24, 2008, 11:44:39 PM

I'm a bit strange as I am 1 generation removed from Amish, and they are not the sort who enlist.

1 generation removed from the Amish?  Well, that explains... um... nothing.  Carry on.


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: the Rev. J. Darkside on November 24, 2008, 11:48:11 PM
He wasn't one of us, then. We are billed as "The first secular church," and "a church that's proud to pay its taxes!" We don't take ourselves seriously. We are Scientology and the Freemasons mixed with the dumb crap removed. We watch badfilms, listen to obnoxious music and read trashy novels. We count Bruce Campbell, Wiley Wiggins, Mark Mothersbaugh (as well as most of Devo), R. Crumb, Mojo Nixon, Paul Reubens (half member), Frank Zappa (half member), Penn Jillette, most of Sublime and others as proud members. We follow the path of least resistance. If somethings hard to do, it's not worth doing... unless you want to. I don't know what that guy was. He could have been in one of those Scientology spin-off groups that oppose the main church for one reason or other. He might have been a Raelian (I doubt it).


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: Rev. Powell on November 24, 2008, 11:50:03 PM

Ghouck, could that "weird religion" that was similar to Scientology have been the Church of the SubGenius? [url=http://www.subgenius.com]www.subgenius.com[/url] ([url]http://www.subgenius.com[/url]) I am a member. One of our sacrements is watching really bad films in a devotional, trance-like state. In fact, our entire church is like one giant B-Film. The mystery here is: why wasn't I defrocked?



My fellow Rev., if you haven't been defrocked yet, then you are simply not devout enough.  I was probably defrocked before you were born.  Don't worry, your time will come before someone else is born.  

Now, I profess the religion the Almighty and me worked out betwixt us.


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: the Rev. J. Darkside on November 25, 2008, 12:35:26 AM
By being defrocked, I meant by the Lutheran Church, of course, from whence I was ordained. For whatever reason they have not felt the need to take away my powers of the ministry. I do my Christian part well; I preach, perform baptisms, officiate marriages, hear confession (most Lutheran churches have quit confession, even though the Lutheran Church officially offers it; it is seen as an optional spiritual service and not mandatory), give communion, perform exorcisms (haven't done one yet, but I'm studying). Perhaps I haven't given them a reason to kick me out. The congregants and fellow clergy seem to enjoy my presence and speak highly of me, despite some of my radical ideas. I've read the book about twelve times so far, and I studied it immensly. About my fourth time around, the doubts set in. I wouldn't let the others know, because I'd lose my credibility. I mostly believe in what I'm doing, and I do it well. If I am defrocked, so what? If not, I can still do some good because I believe the basic message is good. I encourage good morals in the young and discourage the bigotry that ultimately comes from all organized religions. It's all about dogma and basic doctrine. I understand it, but the source is ambiguous for me now. Do I tell the fellow clergy that I doubt? No. Does that make me a bad person? I'd like to hope not. I found out early on, though, that the clerical collar is a girl repellant.

By the way, that was a quote from Night of the Hunter, right?


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: Rev. Powell on November 25, 2008, 11:09:46 AM
By being defrocked, I meant by the Lutheran Church, of course, from whence I was ordained. For whatever reason they have not felt the need to take away my powers of the ministry. I do my Christian part well; I preach, perform baptisms, officiate marriages, hear confession (most Lutheran churches have quit confession, even though the Lutheran Church officially offers it; it is seen as an optional spiritual service and not mandatory), give communion, perform exorcisms (haven't done one yet, but I'm studying). Perhaps I haven't given them a reason to kick me out. The congregants and fellow clergy seem to enjoy my presence and speak highly of me, despite some of my radical ideas. I've read the book about twelve times so far, and I studied it immensly. About my fourth time around, the doubts set in. I wouldn't let the others know, because I'd lose my credibility. I mostly believe in what I'm doing, and I do it well. If I am defrocked, so what? If not, I can still do some good because I believe the basic message is good. I encourage good morals in the young and discourage the bigotry that ultimately comes from all organized religions. It's all about dogma and basic doctrine. I understand it, but the source is ambiguous for me now. Do I tell the fellow clergy that I doubt? No. Does that make me a bad person? I'd like to hope not. I found out early on, though, that the clerical collar is a girl repellant.

By the way, that was a quote from Night of the Hunter, right?

Shoot--I didn't realize you were a Lutheran minister!  I assumed you meant being defrocked by the Subgeniuses--which, of course, is the only way to obtain enlightenment.

I am not sure about whether you should remain in the ministry.  That's a question of conscience.  Of course, you point out that you're doing a lot of good for the community.  Everyone has doubts, so I wouldn't think that would automatically disqualify you from service.  I think your attitude right now is thoughtful and wise, and either alternative will be fine.  You're in a win-win situation there. 

Yes, the quote is from NIGHT OF THE HUNTER.  It's Powell's answer when Ben, suspicious of the questions the preacher has been asking him in the jail cell, asks the question "What religion do you profess?"


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: ghouck on November 25, 2008, 11:36:25 AM
The mystery here is: why wasn't I defrocked?

Defrocked? Is that another name for circumsized?


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: asimpson2006 on November 25, 2008, 12:16:11 PM
The mystery here is: why wasn't I defrocked?


Defrocked? Is that another name for circumsized?


Defrocked:
1.  To strip of priestly privileges and functions.
2. To deprive of the right to practice a profession.
3. To deprive of an honorary position.

Taken from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Defrocked


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: Andrew on November 25, 2008, 12:18:58 PM
Well, each culture has those they despise. For most United States Americans, it's the United Stated Mexicans or Arabs and Muslims.

Perhaps the outspoken racists qualify, but most Americans do not despise anyone.  After Christians, I would say that Muslims are the next most common religion the the Marine Corps.  The only Muslims I have a problem with are those who believe that I am an infidel and need to die.  They're on the same level as violent skinheads or other groups that advocate violence against others based on religion or race.

My relatives all knew German.  I haven't spoken much German in years (more than a decade).  My grandparents spoke it fluently, along with two of my aunts, but I haven't seen much of my aunts in years and both of my grandparents have passed away.

My father left the Amish ways.  At this point, I would say that side of my family is about 20% Amish, 40% Mennonite, and the last 40% are indistinguishable from the rest of middle America.  25 years ago at the family reunions it was quite different.  My dad and I were the only two in blue jeans.  Never had any problems with all my cousins over the difference.  We still ran around the farm playing like kids do.

Oh, and my Borntreger family traces back to Ohio, vice Pennsylvania.


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: AndyC on November 25, 2008, 05:03:44 PM
Didn't have as much experience with Amish growing up, but we were right in the middle of Ontario Mennonite country, and I used to hang out with a lot of guys who were only a generation or two away from horses and buggies. The thing about Mennonites (and other Anabaptist faiths as well), is that they aren't a single group. They're a collection of various sects that split off over the decades due to differences of opinion. Anabaptists are congregationalist, so they don't really have a national church telling them what to do. Each community is autonomous.

My friends were not really distinguishable from anyone else if you didn't know better. They were members of a mainstream Mennonite church. Some of their relatives were members of the Old Order - black clothes and horses. And in between those groups was the "Markham" church, which allowed cars, but only black ones without visible chrome. Families can actually migrate from the conservative to the modern in steps.

Of course, those were the groups most closely connected to my town and the people I knew. There are other sects. Not far away from my hometown are the "David Martin" Mennonites, who are free to use modern technology for business but not for personal comfort. They carry cell phones and use computers in their workshops, but they have no power or running water in their homes, and drive horse-drawn buggies. And I've heard of sects more conservative than the Old Order.

Anyway, my experience with Amish is limited, as the Ontario Amish live further west, but I've heard they have a similar situation. Opting for a more modern life is not necessarily a clean break, but can be more of a transition.


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: the Rev. J. Darkside on November 25, 2008, 05:54:56 PM
The Amish have been known to seperate on a difference of opinion on hat or button color or the shape of a wagon's wheels. As far as outspoken racists go, maybe it's just my area. My nation is in mid Arkansas where outspoken racists are common. All I hear is crap like "They took our jobs!" or "That towel-head that runs the jewelry store's gonna bomb the courthouse!" or the one I hear from my father "If they come to our country to live, they need to speak the language. They need to learn English or go home," and other such nonsense. The south had a field day with the election. My area may not be be typical for everyone, but I've never left the south as far as I can remember and I'm quite used to ignorant racists, much to my chagrin. I strongly dislike them. As far as Muslim extremists go, I've mentioned that each group has extemists. If you believe the whole "holy war" mumbo jumbo, then the Christians struck first with the crusades and a host of other campaigns. The Quran explicitly forbids the terrorism expressed by Al Quaeda and the Taliban. We have Christian terrorists, too, but they're mentioned in the news as nutjobs (there's a lot of them in Africa killing "witch children" right now) but they pass off Middle Eastern terrorists as typical Muslims for some reason. As the great Saint George (Carlin) put it, "The more devout they are, the more murder seems to be... negotiable. More people have been killed in the name of God than for any other reason. It's because they gave the wrong answer to the 'God' question. It tends to go something like this: 'Do you believe in God?' 'No.' *BAM* Dead. 'Do you believe in God?' 'Yes.' 'Do you believe in my God?' 'No.' *BAM* Dead. 'My God has a bigger dick than your God!'" Whatever, I guess.

I speak poor German. My ancestors came here from Palatine, Germany in 1734 and settled in Fredrick County in the province of Maryland before gradually moving south over the next two hundred years. I even have my ancestor Michael's will from 1770, which I think is cool. He left his wife two cows.

Thank you for the encouragement, Rev. Powell. I'm glad that you understood where I was coming from. The official plural of SubGenius is "SubGenii," although both plurals are used in our "holy books" (there are three). Anything a SubGenius priest says at anytime immediately becomes part of official orthodox church dogma. The closest thing we've actually had to a SubGenius defrocking was David Byrne from the Talking Heads.


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: Rev. Powell on November 25, 2008, 06:24:21 PM

Thank you for the encouragement, Rev. Powell. I'm glad that you understood where I was coming from. The official plural of SubGenius is "SubGenii," although both plurals are used in our "holy books" (there are three). Anything a SubGenius priest says at anytime immediately becomes part of official orthodox church dogma. The closest thing we've actually had to a SubGenius defrocking was David Byrne from the Talking Heads.

Years ago, I declared the official plural to be "Subgeniuses".  It's been part of official church dogma since. "Subgenii" is the usage of the infidel heretic schismatics.  No offense.   :wink:

You don't know about the defrocking process because you haven't penetrated far enough into the cult yet.  I have penetrated so far that I only needed to read the first book; "Bob" himself gave me a store credit for the other two, on the condition I never redeem it.

About defrocking: it may not be worth it.  The paperwork is awful, and the welts last a lifetime.   


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: the Rev. J. Darkside on November 25, 2008, 06:49:14 PM
I made my own paperwork, and "Bob" completed that. I retroactively declare your doctrine as apocrypha.


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: AndyC on November 25, 2008, 06:49:38 PM
The Amish have been known to seperate on a difference of opinion on hat or button color or the shape of a wagon's wheels.

Yep, some Mennonite groups I know can be distinguished by black hats or straw hats, steel-clad or rubber-faced wagon wheels, and little things like that. I can remember friends referring to people as "Black Hats."


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: the Rev. J. Darkside on November 25, 2008, 07:50:05 PM
Man, the Amish are cool. "I never wear buttons, but I got a cool hat and my homies agree that I really look good in black; fool..." And they are one of the few groups that actually "turn the other cheek." I think it's cool that their clergy recieve no formal training and are elected by lot. They elect the bishop out of the preachers, and he heads the community. Some groups will allow one telephone in the middle of the community that is for emergencies only. There was one case in which a farmer was too old and had a bad back and couldn't till his lands. Since he had no sons to till the lands for him, the bishop ordered him to get a tractor or something. Some do what they can so they can get medical treatment with minimal hassle and mortality rates. My cousin likes the Amish because they'll treat bullet wounds without informing the police.


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: Rev. Powell on November 25, 2008, 08:33:50 PM
My cousin likes the Amish because they'll treat bullet wounds without informing the police.

I take it your cousin is a mugger?

Man, are we off topic...  :bouncegiggle:


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: Nukie 2 on November 25, 2008, 08:55:27 PM
Hmmm, "my friend" had trouble copying the DVD onto VHS, they gave up after three tries. They said the picture kept shaking and colours faded in and out to black and white; anyone know anybody who had this same problem?


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: the Rev. J. Darkside on November 25, 2008, 09:35:54 PM
No, he's a Scientologist (now we're almost back on topic!). Seriously, though, he's into some "questionable" self indulgences that get him shot at.


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: ghouck on November 29, 2008, 02:57:12 PM
Hmmm, "my friend" had trouble copying the DVD onto VHS, they gave up after three tries. They said the picture kept shaking and colours faded in and out to black and white; anyone know anybody who had this same problem?


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macrovision

Sounds like Macrovision, read in the 'Analog Copy Prevention' section.

Keep in mind that 'your friend' was trying to do something that is illegal in some countries and looked at as unethical my many. I am all for people supporting the artists, if you watch an illegal copy of something and like it, do buy a legit copy.


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: Fausto on November 30, 2008, 10:25:51 PM
While we're on the subject...I have something to confess. I'm a pagan. First of all, I'm not some kid looking for attention (though I have to admit, many of those do join up,  they usually quit when they realize it doesent make them popular or give them special powers). I had been struggling with my faith for a while, and after reading about it for years decided paganism was the right path for me. I dont have anything against Christianity (I was raised Lutheran, and still attend church on occasion, when my family wants me to), its just that I never felt connected to it. I always hated prosteletyzing, and the idea that anyone who didnt believe exactly what the church believed was going to burn in hell. Whatever feels right is what you should go with, whether its Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, even the Church of the Flying Spagetti Monster, its all good. That said, what I hear about Scientology kind of makes me nervous. 


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: the Rev. J. Darkside on November 30, 2008, 11:29:10 PM
Pagan? Can you be more specific? Wicca? Hindu? Odinist, maybe? Pagan is a broad catagory.


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: Fausto on December 01, 2008, 11:51:21 PM
Pagan? Can you be more specific? Wicca? Hindu? Odinist, maybe? Pagan is a broad catagory.

Closer to Wicca, but I'm kind of non-denominational. The circle I'm part of meets at a Unitarian church, and we include anyone from Wiccan/Druid/Hindu/Asatru/Native American  paths, even Christians and Athiests have attended. The rituals are mainly Wiccan, though, with the Lord and Lady (male and female aspects of divinity) being the main focus.


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: Nukie 2 on December 02, 2008, 12:03:17 AM
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macrovision[/url]

Sounds like Macrovision, read in the 'Analog Copy Prevention' section.

Keep in mind that 'your friend' was trying to do something that is illegal in some countries and looked at as unethical my many. I am all for people supporting the artists, if you watch an illegal copy of something and like it, do buy a legit copy.


My friend says he supports everyone but Axek Rose and John Travolta.

Anyone notice how Jason X had way better production values, CGI, and Spfx; yet cost only one-third of Battle Earth? Ontop of that, the Jason X people knew they were making a sort of comedy.


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: the Rev. J. Darkside on December 02, 2008, 12:04:57 AM
I know some "Christian Wiccans." Quite interesting group.


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: the Rev. J. Darkside on December 02, 2008, 12:09:59 AM
Horror films nowadays (especially 'slasher' flicks featuring old school characters) either have an action comedy feel or (in the case of most everything else) aren't made for repeat viewings.


Title: Re: Is Battlefield Earth a must see?
Post by: Nukie 2 on December 02, 2008, 12:19:48 AM
Closer to Wicca, but I'm kind of non-denominational. The circle I'm part of meets at a Unitarian church, and we include anyone from Wiccan/Druid/Hindu/Asatru/Native American  paths, even Christians and Athiests have attended. The rituals are mainly Wiccan, though, with the Lord and Lady (male and female aspects of divinity) being the main focus.

You should be Asatru cos then you believe Thor made those craters in Scandinavia with his hammer!