The Last Starfighter (Widescreen Collector's Edition)
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Movie Reviews of The Last Starfighter (Widescreen Collector's Edition)
Movie Review: Yes, It's Still That Good
Summary: 5 Stars
Alright, there's no real use in going into the plot of the movie here because everyone should have seen this by now and if you haven't, there are plenty of other places to find reviews on the plot, characters, etc. Let's just say that this is a very charming and fun science fiction film from the 80's that I loved from the very first time that I saw it.Now, let's talk about why you should or should not buy this in it's DVD reincarnation. First off, the picture quality and sound are not fantastic, but it's important to note that they never were. This movie is old! However, they're not horrible by any stretch. The computer animated sequences have fantastic detail. It's in the widescreen format, which is slightly annoying. The top and bottom margins are very wide. I think they should have taken less room for that, but I'm not sure if there's a standard format for widescreen movies. I'm watching it on a 27" TV, so I'm guessing that's fairly average for the size of a TV. Watching it on much less would be like having no picture at all since a good 35% of the screen isn't used. Still, I did enjoy it very much and I only noticed it a couple of times. It's just a warning for those who have smaller TV's. The infamous "extras" actually turn out to be truly extra in this case. There's great documentary-type footage on the making of the film, which goes into great detail about the trailblazing effects that went into making this great movie. Lance Guest, the star of the film, actually hosts this as well, which is a nice bonus. They've also included the movie trailer, which is pretty standard.
All in all, I highly recommend this be added to your DVD collection. It's a great movie that can still be enjoyed today, almost 20 years after its initial release. It's definitely something that you should see if you have not done so before.
Movie Review: Greetings, Starfighter!
Summary: 5 Stars
"Greetings, Starfighter! You have been recruited by the Star League to defend the Frontier against Xur and the Kodan armada..."
One of the movies I have loved when I was a kid and still love watching even now. In fact, it's the only movie I have watched a lot more than my other favorites. And I have loved it so much that until now I can still say most of the key dialogues! ha-ha!
The main attraction of this movie is that it's a sci-fi movie that has great special effects. In fact, it is the first movie to really incorporate massive CGI (computer graphics interface) sequences.
Most of you might say, "So what? It's just another sci fi movie."
Well, if you take time to watch it, then you'd agree that it's not just a sci-fi movie. It's about growing up and making important decisions that will shape one's future. It's about "when the opportunity comes, you must grab it with both hands, and hold on tight." It's about having dreams and striving to reach them.
The story centers on Alex Rogan, a simple suburban lad who had dreamed of getting a better life and got more than he imagined, but with dangerous risks and mind-blowing feats which only he and a very "gifted" few in the galaxy have.
This DVD is recommended for those who appreciate good old movies with substance. Must buy for collectors and fans, and a great movie for good old fashion entertainment.
Movie Review: Great fun to watch over and over
Summary: 5 Stars
This space fantasy offers action, adventure, humor, great characters, and many memorable scenes. Robert Preston's character Centauri is a wonderful parody of his famous portrayal of Professor Harold Hill in "The Music Man." Dan O'Herlihy plays the wise and lovable alien pilot Grig and manages to convey an amazing amount of facial expression through his full-head prosthetic makeup. Catherine Mary Stewart is incredibly appealing as Maggie, the girlfriend next door. Lance Guest does a great job as our hero, the talented, ambitious, but frustrated Alex Rogan who finds himself whisked to another part of the galaxy to join a battle against an evil force that he had thought only existed in a video game. But as Alex learns, Earth's in danger too.
Using computer-generated imagery for all the space scenes was a pioneering move in the mid-1980s when most studios were still using models. Yes, we've come a long way in digital animation since then, but the quality is good enough so that it still holds up well, never detracting from the storytelling. Besides, they never could have used Death Blossom in the battle scene if they had stayed with physical models. (You'll understand when you see it.)
Underneath it all is a dynamic musical score that can stand proudly next to the other space classics. The only thing this movie lacks is a sequel. It leaves you wondering what Alex's next adventure will be.
Movie Review: Science Fiction on the Grand Scale
Summary: 5 Stars
Whereas some are simply content to save the world, "The Last Starfighter" aspires to saving the universe; the way this comes about is the theme of this movie.
The future hero is presented as a young man on the road to nowhere; frustrated by his circumstances he has developed phenomenal skills with a particular video game. Unknown to him, the video game he has excelled in is connected to a universal search for those few with the natural skills to pilot a starfighter.
His amazing ability results in a visit from an alien, ably played by Robert Preston, who invites him to join the forces of good to help in defeating the forces of evil. He has a beautiful girlfriend, played by Catherine Mary Stewart, whose presence complicates his decision as to what he should do.
The adventures which follow include light-speed trips to space stations, meetings with many alien races and the challenge they all face in confronting a determined enemy.
The movie is fun to watch and has a very satisfying ending; I don't think I'll spoil the ending by saying the forces of good triumph over the forces of evil, thanks in no small part to our young hero.
Regardless of which version you buy, this one is a worthy addition to the library of any sci-fi enthusiast.
Movie Review: It's one of the few films of the 80s that I really liked
Summary: 5 Stars
It was on a level with Tron in the quality of computer graphics, before computer graphics was affordable for films. Some sequences in the movie were computed on Cray super computers which cost millions of dollars to run and cool.
These days nobody actually renders 8000 lines to film (for instance Bugs Life used something like a monte carlo sampling at 1200x1600, and was the first ray-traced film from Pixar).
As for the movie itself, it contains one of Robert Preston's (protagonist of "The Music Man") last performances.
The story in a nutshell: trailer-park boy plays video game well, video game machine is really a recruiting post for an intergalactic federation, boy gets selected to protect earth from evil empire.
The dream of the movie is that the video games people played (in the 80s) might secretly be recruiting posts for intergalactic wars/adventures. Some movies were like this, such as "War Games" was about a kid who could use his computer to start world war three. "Cloak and Dagger" was about a kid obtains a game cratridge that secretly contains blue prints for a weapon. "Labyrinth", "Never-ending story" and "Time Bandits" follow a similar theme of a non-technical nature.