Explorers
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Movie Reviews of Explorers
Movie Review: Guided my daydreams for almost 2 decades
Summary: 5 Stars
I agree the ending leaves a LOT to be desired, but even the ending can't ruin the real meat and potatoes of this film, and in it's own silly way somehow actually works.
I must emphasize that this film is as much about nostalgia for me, as it is about a simply good family film. As a child I loved Sci-fi, and this was one of the films that truly captured my imagination. I cannot look at a truly starry night without almost hearing the harmonica music Ethan Hawke's character plays on the rooftop, and knowing exactly what that character was thinking and feeling at that moment. Beyond awe, beyond wonder, beyond hope.
As I child spending my summer in upstate New York, occasionally the sky would be so clear you could see something akin to what he saw, so deep so vast, so wonderful.
I could also see a seriously good sequel being made to this film if the powers that be ever considered it. One that could wipe away the goofiness of the ending of the original and replace it with a more grown up ending. Sadly however I'm sure the magic, dreamlike quality of a movie set in the 80's will never be recaptured. To say nothing of the childlike wonder the movie inspires in me even today.
So needless to say I'm more than a fan of this film, one of these days I'm going to clear out the garage, find a tilt a whirl, and build my own version of the ship, even if it doesn't have force field bubble technology, it will be one hell of a conversation piece.
Anyone who was of the age at the time of this movies release and likes sci-fi, and doesn't mind the goofy ending, will enjoy this film, and nobody that I know who recalls this movie would ever say it wasn't a wonderful film. Maybe not quite on a par with the Dark crystal, or as popular as the last star fighter, or Flight of the Navigator, but this film has a magic that is undeniable. A magic that's certainly due in no small part to the great casting of the main trio. I recommend this film highly, Nuff said.
Movie Review: Three soulmates, two aliens and a spaceship in a pear tree.
Summary: 5 Stars
I fell in love with this film when I first saw it some time ago in spite of the ending. The first two thirds of the film is really great, showing good potential for a real sci-fi kids film.
This is the type of movie you watch just to escape from life. River Phoenix, Ethan Hawkes and Jason Presson, play three soulmates, who meet in life, and go on an amazing journey into space. The boys share their dream states with each other, allowing them to receive alien technology from outer space, via their dreams. This results in them building a space craft using advanced transport ability to visit beings from another world who call to them. How they get there is allot of fun.
It starts first when they learn how to build a "static-antigravity warp bubble", for lack of a better expression, that they can house themselves in for space travel. The creatures they meet and the message those beings have to bring to all of us, the audience, is best seen, not talked about in this review or I'll give the story away. This part of the story proved to be a bit of a let down given the way the film was going two thirds into it all. It kept a very serious down to earth tone until the aliens showed up making the whole thing a comedy in the last third of the film. In spite of this I still give it 5 stars as the first 2/3rds of the film make it great sci-fi before it takes on a camp turn in the formula. The music in this is excellent as well. Wish I could find the soundtrack on CD.
Otherwise, if you remember being this age, when you flew in your dreams and dared to achieve great things, you'll enjoy this movie. It's great fun for the entire family in my book. The boys do a great job with the acting as well. Very down to earth for a way out space adventure type of film.
Movie Review: A must for any sci-fi fan or space enthusiast.
Summary: 5 Stars
Explorers is a must for all true science fiction film collectors. The plot elegantly captures the dreams of a typical young sci-fi fan / space enthusiast. Hawke, then about 12, receives schematics from outer space in his dreams. His buddy Phoenix builds a circuit from the dream-diagram and hooks it to his computer, generating a miraculous force field capable of driving a space ship - which they build, with a third pal from school (Presson), from junkyard parts!
Joe Dante's 1985 space adventure pays homage to classic sci-fi in a number of allusions: the videos Ethan Hawke watches in bed (The War of The Worlds and This Island Earth), the old sf paperbacks and Classics Illustrated comics in River Phoenix's basement, the mouse named Heinlein (after the great American science fiction writer Robert A. Heinlein), and the usual supporting roles of Dick Miller and Robert Picardo (The Burbs, Matinee, etc.). Watching this movies always puts me in the mood to reread the Heinlein juvenile novels (Have Space Suit, Will Travel, Rocket Ship Galileo, etc.).
If anyone says they're disappointed in the ending, that's only because the first 90 minutes of the film are so excellent, it's hard for any ending to live up to the oustanding buildup, including exploring the interior of a huge alien spacecraft. Take it for what it is, and if you're into space ships or sci-fi, you'll love it.
Movie Review: One of my favorite childhood films
Summary: 5 Stars
As a kid, I loved this film. I can't wait for the DVD so I can give it to my kids.
Background - If an alien race wanted to make contact with humans, and do so in a way as to assure that we wouldn't shoot at them, what would they do? Contact our children.
Story - This kids in the story are contacted in their subconscious with dreams of computer components and circuit boards. They begin building the parts and find that they are building equipment that could allow them to travel into outer space. They allow the 'auto-pilot' to take them to a predesignated location where they make contact with the alien race.
The film goes through the usual childhood angst. It has the childhood crush, the school bully, etc. It stars some of Hollywood's brightest child actors including River Phoenix and Ethan Hawke, and it's easy to see why they became excellent adult actors (if only temporarily in the case of River Phoenix).
Some people have given this film poor reviews, but to me it's obvious that they are watching it from the perspective of an adult. Since I never grew up, this isn't a problem for me! Get this for your kids, or just for yourself.
Movie Review: Its a brand new car! The Rolls Canardly ... Rolls down one hill CanArdly get up the next!
Summary: 5 Stars
I love this film. I saw it when I was pretty young and absolutely loved it, as I do much of Dante's flicks from this time - The Burbs, Gremlins, InnerSpace - and I still love it to this very day. in fact, I understand the ending a little better now. I remember the ending being quite disappointing in some senses. The aliens just dont live up to the majesty that proceeds them, and this is exactly how the main character played by Ethan Hawke feels. So in some senses this could be seen as truly amazing film-making. But maybe I am being a little silly through my love of the film, which also I must add, has one of the best themes. A theme which only arrives half way through the film, when their craft is almost finished in its building. I love this film, but I can understand that some people may not enjoy it or even find it to be that good a film.
By the way, just for good measure I thought, that I would use the word (I) as many times as possible in this revIew. You like?? Yes? If you don't you can get the Fu@k out...