WASHINGTON (May 12, 2000) -- Battlefield Earth is an attack on self-respecting movie viewers, advises the Catholic Communication Campaign's toll-free movie line for the week of May 12-18. At once chaotic and simplistic, the futuristic vision portrayed by the film is based on a book by the late L. Ron Hubband, founder of Scientology. The film stars John Travolta, one of the philosophy's adherents.

The movie line number is 1-800-311-4CCC. Movies are evaluated according to artistic merit and moral suitability by the U.S. Bishops' Office for Film and Broadcasting. The list includes the following theater releases and their classifications:

• Battlefield Earth -- because of much stylized violence, explosive mayhem and brief sexual innuendo, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. Battlefield Earth is a post-Apocalyptic tale set on Earth in 3000 A.D. when enslaved cavemen-like humans rebel against an occupying alien race personified by their corrupt security head (John Travolta). The virtually unwatchable adaptation of scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard's 1982 sci-fi novel has no particular spiritual dimension; its basically a chaotic jumble of one-dimensional characters in muddled action sequences.
  

• Gladiator -- Because of recurring stylized violence and a depiction of a character's incestuous longings, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-IV -- adults, with reservations. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Gladiator is a larger-than-life epic set in 180 A.D. when Rome's leading general (Russell Crowe) escapes the vicious new emperor's execution order but is enslaved as a gladiator determined to survive the bloodthirsty arena spectacles so he can wreak revenge by usurping the new ruler. The gruesome mortal combat scenes suggest that might is right, but an absorbing narrative and staggering visuals are nonetheless impressive in capturing the brutal era of human sacrifice offered as entertainment for the masses.
  

• Up at the Villa -- Because of fleeting violence, references to adultery, an implied sexual encounter and a suicide, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned that some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. Up at the Villa is a romantic melodrama set in 1938 Florence, Italy, where an English widow's misguided pity for an Austrian refugee has drastic consequences involving a womanizing American, which then jeopardizes her engagement to an English diplomat. Based on W. Somerset Maugham's novella, the film blends pre-war political intrigue into a dreamy narrative about romantic choices made for all the wrong reasons.
  
  
• Center Stage -- because of implied sexual encounters and fleeting rough language, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. Center Stage is a lightweight musical drama following a talented group of ballet students whose normal teen-age experiences are heightened by a cutthroat atmosphere as they compete for a choice spot in a professional dance company. Energetic choreography and elegant dancers keep the pace moving, but the musty narrative is cluttered with predictable subplots about eating disorders, parental pressures and teen-age self-doubt.
  
  
• Screwed -- because of some violence, fleeting drug use and sporadic profanity with an instance of rough language, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. Screwed is a worthless comedy in which a fed-up chauffeur kidnaps a beloved dog owned by his mean millionaire boss anticipating big ransom money, except that the plan goes awry leading him to fake his own kidnapping. Dreadful performances and an unnecessarily complicated script, devoid of even mildly humorous moments, add up to an awful film.
  

• Frequency -- Because of some harsh violence, a few disturbing images and fleeting crass language, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned that some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. In Frequency, a young cop (Jim Caviezel) communicates with his firefighter dad (Dennis Quaid) thirty years in the past through a ham radio, and, saving him from a fatal blaze, sets off a chain of events, including the grisly murder of the cop's mother -- unless the father-son time-travelers can prevent it. The intriguing fantasy thriller is too neatly tied-up with a sappy resolution, but its twists and surprises are gratifying as is the appealing period detail.

• Ruggles of Red Gap -- The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-I -- general patronage. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America. Ruggles of Red Gap is a droll and sentimental tale about a British butler (Charles Laughton) transplanted to the Wild West after an American cattle-baron wins his services in a poker game with an English lord. The comedy pokes fun at the social pretensions while centering on Laughton's gradual transformation from straitlaced servant to red-blooded frontier patriot.

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