Can’t say I’d recommend The Last Starfighter. Are you shocked? Does it surprise you? I can’t help but dissect movies the way I would a book or a painting or a symphony. The best examples of all of these are the ones that give me something to work with. Starfighter didn’t.
I can, however, praise the film on two counts. That’s right. I found two things to appreciate.
1. The beginning really had me going. Despite some mediocre performances by the leads, I really was interested in this young man’s future. I was engaged in the story all the way up until the Ferrari-minivan showed up.
2. Costumes were dead-on right. The good guys wear matte finish suits with nice contrasting color details to let you know that they have souls and depth. Plus, they look vaguely human which curries our sympathy all the more. Not the bad guys. Their glossy, solid color (orange--ewww) uniforms give them all the personality of a storm trooper, and about that much individuality. They drool, ooze, and are otherwise repulsive. The evil villainous traitor wears black eyeliner. Eyeliner on men = evildoer, which is simple enough.
Here’s a plot summary:
Teenager dreams of getting out of his trailer park and doing something with his life, but spends all his time playing video games (and is therefore really good at it). One day, a stranger lures him into his Ferrari-minivan and informs him that the video game was designed to locate gifted intergalactic warriors, and whisks him off to the join the fray. Said teenager isn’t sure that is what he wants to do with his life, and while he is having second thoughts back on Earth, the intergalactic elite are massacred in one fell swoop. It then becomes clear that if the galaxy is to remain free for democracy our hero must rise to the occasion and fight the entire enemy fleet single-handedly. Upon saving the galaxy, he returns to his trailer park, triumphant, to say good bye to mom, and pick up his girlfriend. They return to distant worlds to devote their lives to restoring the defenses of the good guys.
--Mary Ann
8 comments:
i think i remember this movie. since you mentioned the bad guys ooozing then my bet is mom would let me watch it. it seems to fit for an 80s movie htough. i must say ther eare movies that i consider classics and by the time i get josh to watch them he is pretty dissapointed.
man, I can't believe you gave it away....now when I finally get to watch it all the excitment will be out of it because I already know the good guys will win in the end....
Karin
Well Mary Ann I think you hit the nail on the head.
The issue is can you say that you would not recommend the movie? With your analysis I think that you must at least say that you would not tell someone to not watch the movie. The beginning is much better than the ending and the mentor to the last starfighter is a nice addition in the movie. The last fight scene is definitely weak but the trailer court people were priceless. Just remember this is not a chick flick and is not supposed to have any substantial redeeming value other than good conquers evil again. Dad
Dan,
You are right about the trailer-park folks. They were all quite convincing. While I don't think I would go so far as to say, "NO! Whatever you do DON'T see this movie!" I would never recommend it.
I remember it as a slightly campy remake of Star Wars. I do remmber liking the mentor dispite his cat fish wiskers covered in slim.
do any of you remmber Earth Star Voyager?
yes it was dodgy and camp, and yes the plot was painful and the acting unbelievable... but its still a classic movie. i watched it one night on tv at about 12pm and fell in love with it... they just dont make movies like that anymore.
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