Own the rights?
36 out of 37 people found the following review useful: A "gem" from the 80's, 13 January 2004 Author: dirvine-2 from Selma, North Carolina
This is a lost gem of a movie from the generation of "E.T.", Indiana Jones, Star Wars, etc...When a friend showed it to me on VHS in 1984 I loved it for its originality, warmth & humor, as well as being impressed with the first-time computer-generated special effects for this kind of sci-fi film.When I saw the 'special edition' DVD in Widescreen I snatched it right up and found that I enjoyed it as much as I did 20 years ago! The movie's special effects still looked good to me, especially the "Star Car" (my personal favorite).But the special effects are not the centerpiece of this film. It has plenty of charm of its own to offer in plot, story, warmth, humor & good performances. Craig Safan's music score for this film is one of my all-time favorites. It almost outsizes this movie but it fits just the same."Starfighter" is a real gem from the 80's I will treasure in my movie collection.
31 out of 34 people found the following review useful: Fantastic Sci-Fi Movie that captures the spirit of 80's Cinema, 23 June 2005 Author: Sean B from United States
The story is simple and has probably been retold in every heroic setting possible. It's also a bit of wish fulfillment for those of us that grew up pumping quarters into arcade video games.In my opinion the acting is above average for a movie like this. It is much helped by veteran actors Robert Preston and Dan O'Herlihy. Lance Guest does a great turn as Alex as well.The effects were not appreciated at the time, I think, but hold up fairly well. They were drawn on that Holy Grail of computers to us children of the 80's; a Kray Supercomputer.The score is well done, the humor timed well and the overall good feeling I get from watching it never fades. You can't go wrong with this gem.
30 out of 34 people found the following review useful: A fun movie and... hey in it's own way... Legendary, 21 January 2004 Author: radiopal from United States
I love THE LAST STARFIGHTER... it's a good, fun movie. A matinee type of film. It's not as great as Star Wars or some of the big budget movies of the time... (hmmm, where there any big budget Sci Fi movies other than Star Wars at the time?) The acting, though not great was charming. Lance Guest (brillantly playing Alex and the very naive Beta), Greg O'Herlihy (sp) playing the loveable Lizard creature Grig and of course.... Robert Preston as rascalous Centauri. And something that I forgot for a long time (until I saw it at a local store and had to buy it on DVD) was that this was one, if not THE, first movie to utilize CGI. Yeah, it's a far cry from what filmakers can do now with Apple Rendering software. But when I saw the movie in the Theater, I was impressed and thought that if Computer Graphics were this good in the this first movie... how much it will grow. It's a movie well worth having in your library. And as I'm watching it right now, I'm glad that I have it in mine.
25 out of 28 people found the following review useful: Silly, enjoyable, fun, 18 September 1999 Author: stills-6 from california
Granted, I'm a child of the 80s, so there's some nostalgia at work here, but I'm surprised at how interesting and enjoyable this movie is. It sounds like a turkey when you read the main plot line, but it's very well-done and charming for what it is. Sure, it has its problems, but it never claims to be anything other than teenage sci-fi. A good ride.
13 out of 13 people found the following review useful: Juvenile Space Opera Fun, 19 August 2003 Author: Space_Mafune from Newfoundland, Canada
This video game/ STAR WARS inspired space opera epic is more fun than it probably has any right to be. While there is an instant or two where the film suffers greatly from a case of the "cutes", the great casting here makes this one remain worthwhile. In particular Dan O' Herlihy, with his performance as Alex Rogan's alien friend Grig, absolutely steals this movie and gets to deliver most of the best lines. And when he's not stealing the picture, another veteran character actor named Robert Preston (Centauri) is. Good stuff especially suitable for teenage sci-fi fans but even as an adult I cannot help but have a soft spot for this cast...even Lance Guest and Catherine Mary Stuart do alright here.
10 out of 10 people found the following review useful: Its not the plot or effects, its the characters that work..., 7 November 2006 Author: davehawk-1 from United States
None of the other reviews of this film (at least those that I have seen) understand what makes this movie so wonderful. This is one of the few movies I can recall that treat teenagers with some respect, instead of as cartoon characters. Alex has the same kinds of dreams and problems we all had at the age of 18, but he really does try to do the right thing, even when it goes against his desires. The film does not show the generation gap as a battlefield, but as a fact of life that Alex has to live with, and not one that is entirely negative.This film is totally driven by the characters. The plot, and even the CGI, while groundbreaking for the day, are not the real magic here. It is the characters.
9 out of 9 people found the following review useful: Cool really cool, 8 June 2005 Author: arthurclay from Italy
Another film from my youth and fabulous. A kid from a trailer park is recruited to fight in an intergalactic battle against an evil madman and his unstoppable armada in a star fight to the death. And he doesn't want the job. I really got into this one it's totally enjoyable. There is a lot of humor and action mixed quite well. Robert Preston is like butter he's good no matter what. He delivers the quips and jokes with just the right amount of wit and energy. And he warms your heart. I miss that guy I was very sorry to find out he had passed on. I remember him from many films like Beau Geste and the Music Man. I simply cherish this film and many other people do too.
10 out of 11 people found the following review useful: War Beyond the Stars., 23 May 2005 Author: tfrizzell from United States
With the original "Star Wars" trilogy still fresh in the public's mind in 1984, "The Last Starfighter" was produced. Commercially the film did only fairly well at the box office, but that is not saying that this is not a more than adequate little science fiction entry. High-schooler Lance Guest is approached by a couple of aliens (Robert Preston and an unrecognizable Dan O'Herlihy) to go to a galaxy far, far away and fight an evil empire. Sound familiar? He is recruited for his mission via an arcade game of all things. Catherine Mary Stewart shines as Guest's love interest. Nothing spectacular and somewhat dated, but still a pleasant surprise that you will not regret watching. 4 stars out of 5.
9 out of 10 people found the following review useful: Entertaining, family-friendly sci-fi., 22 February 2006 Author: Scott LeBrun from Winnipeg, Canada
Teenager Alex Rogan (Lance Guest) is despondent over the fact that he can't seem to escape from his mundane trailer park existence. Little does he know that the arcade game that he has mastered is actually a recruiting tool to find individuals who can help an alien civilization defend themselves from interstellar villains."Cute" probably *would* be the most apt description of this 1980's product, a harmless, effects and design driven "Star Wars" variation with a most likable cast. Guest and his love interest Catherine Mary Stewart have a real earnestness and down-to-earth quality (Guest also has an amusing scene where's he's acting opposite himself). Veteran actors Robert Preston, as "Centauri", and Daniel O'Herlihy, as 'gung-ho iguana' Grig, are a pleasure to watch, with O'Herlihy stealing all of his scenes.There's no real objectionable content, and not much in it that might prove to be too scary for the younger viewer.Overall, it *is* kind of lightweight and not terribly memorable, but it does have its charms.7/10
10 out of 13 people found the following review useful: Cool movie., 2 January 1999 Author: Peach-2 from USA
If you enjoy a Star Wars-type science fiction film, then you will probably enjoy The Last Starfighter. The special effects are very interesting and the story is very cool. I liked this movie quite a bit and really enjoyed Robert Preston's performance. A little trivia for you guys, Nick Castle,the director, played The Shape in John Carpenter's original Halloween.
Add another review
