The spectacle of Aliens taking over the World is hardly a new concept. Throughout the years this idea has plagued insightful writers to bring their version of what life would be like on an Alien dominated World. The big screen is no exception. From the black and white days of Ed Wood's 'Plan 9 From Outer Space' to the more modern, comedic star studded luster of 'Mars Attacks', the versatility of this very plot proves to be one that viewers of all ages take to.

Battlefield Earth now takes center stage amidst all the rest. Adapted from the book by L. Ron Hubbard and directed by Academy Award-winning Roger Christian, this epic adventure now arrives on the big screens.

The movie itself is quite an epic, at ten minutes short of two hours in length. Right from the start one is strapped to the seat as the movie quickly moves on from one sub-plot to another with many fast paced 'chasing' scenes, fights and alien energy weapons blowing smithereens of it's surroundings. Yet there remains a tantalizing build up throughout the movie towards its climactic ending, when Humans battle the Aliens (Psychlos). Christian certainly played his cards right on the cinematics.

One can't fault the amazing sound effects either. When experienced in a full THX hall, the sound of the jets of the Psychlo aircraft is just amazing, with its reverberating low hum as it hovers just feet off the ground, or it's sonic screech as it speeds off.

The props, though not as sophisticated as expected in a top notch sci-fi adventure fits nicely into the setting of a post apocalyptic earth's mining colony. From the mechanized mining equipment to automated doors and computers, there is the feeling of 'Power Tools'; hard machinery which can take quite a beating.

And what is Sci-fi without special effects? Battlefield Earth quickly hops on the massive scale destruction bandwagon. From a complete devastation of the Psychlos protective glass dome encompassing a city to the complete destruction of an entire planet!! Massive is certainly what the explosions in Battlefield Earth are. For that all round effect, a couple of mid-air dogfights, collisions and ground troop combat is also thrown in.

To top it off, multiple Academy Award Winner John Travolta heads the show as Terl, the leader and head of security of the Psychlos working in the Earth sector. His established persona takes this movie to another level, with Terls' hard-burn character, yet foolish and unaware nature driven by selfish greed, which ultimately leads to the Human uprising and the Psychlos downfall.

Of course, as in all time-tested feel good movies, the 'good guys' have to win. And in Battlefield Earth, needless to say, Humans are the good guys. This movie once again reaffirms the ingenuity of humankind to rise up against a tall, insurmountable impounding force far more technologically advanced than ourselves through sheer will, sacrifice and the unstoppable strive for freedom!

Battlefield Earth may not be enough the whet appetites of sci-fi fans drooling for state-of-the-art computer generated scenes covering more than half the movie, but therein lies the realism. The technologies relied upon by the Psychlos; in their ships, in their weapons and in their buildings resemble very much our own. Maybe not of today, but certainly achievable within the next decade or so. It is believable (if you believe in Aliens) and it is comprehensible… and that was what was intended by Roger Christian, to portray realism and something believable out of a story-book epic.