TotalTelly.co.uk

Devoted to Popular, Cult and Retro TV

The Last Starfighter [HD DVD] [1984] [US Import]


Our Price: £6.66 (subject to change)

REGION 1 BLOWS!
Review date: 2007-12-16 Rating: 10 out of 10

This is one on my list of many movies I enjoyed when I was a kid this movie is great for the whole family to enjoy though some bits are a bit freaky! Region 1? Why? this is totally unfair when this movie kicks ass and makes family films today (Family films? do they still make those or is it all gone Harry Potter?) look like cheapo pieces of crud. So many compare this to Star Wars but really its not, it is a great film in its own right with a great original story...nay sayers really need to watch this again. Buy this even if it means buying a region free player!

Similar Products

Reviews


Not in UK format - Beware!!
Review date: 2007-11-26 Rating: 2 out of 10

this HD DVD did not play in my toshiba HD-XE1 machine here in the UK - 'No Disc' error displayed. Was looking forward to rekindling my fond memories of this film. :-(

A good-natured tale of how the universe was saved, with a great lizard by Dan O'Herlihy
Review date: 2007-09-12 Rating: 8 out of 10

"Greetings, Starfighter," says the mechanical voice of the video game. "You have been recruited by the Star League to defend the frontier against Xun and the Ko-dan armada."

Alex Rogan (Lance Guest) is a teenager who lives in a desert trailer park "in the middle of tumbleweeds and tarantulas." He's reasonably smart, has a nice girlfriend and is a little shy. One evening he manages to set a world record on the flashy game set on the porch of the trailer park's ramshackle store. He soon finds out every word of the video game is true. Within hours he's been picked up by Centauri (Robert Preston), who takes him on an intergalactic visit to Star Fleet command. He learns the video game's purpose was to recruit potential Starfighters who have the skill and reflexes to take on the invading Ko-dan fleet. In fact, these Starfighters are all that stand between the Star League with it's mission of galactic peace and, in the words of Ambassador Enduran, "the black terror of the Ko-dan."

Alex is having none of this, even after he meets his lizard navigator, Grig (Dan O'Herlihy). Centauri reluctantly returns him to earth and tries to change his mind. "Alex! Alex!" he says, "you're walking away from history! History, Alex! Did Chris Columbus stay home? Nooooo. What if the Wright Brothers thought that only birds should fly? And did Galoka think that the Ulus were too ugly to save?" "Who's Galoka?" Alex asks. "Never mind." "Listen, Centauri," Alex says, "I'm not any of those guys. I'm a kid from a trailer park." Centauri looks at him and shakes his head. "If that's what you think," he tells Alex, "then that's all you'll ever be." Meanwhile the Ko-dan, aided by the traitor Xun, son of Enduran, break through the defense shield and destroy Starbase, the gunfighters and their pilots. Alex finally decides to return and reunites with Grig. They prepare to join the fight. Then something occurs to Alex. "So...how many Starfighters are left?" he asks Grig. "Including you? One."

Well, what would you do next? Alex decides to save the universe. That's what I would have done, too.

The Last Starfighter, in my opinion, is a sweet-natured story of a kid up to his neck in a situation he knows can't be true, and then finds out it is. And he rises to the occasion. Lance Guest makes a very sympathetic young hero. Even better are the the older cast members who back him up (the actors playing the residents in the trailer park and people -- things, I guess -- at Starbase) or who try to bring him down (the actors playing Xun and the evil Ko-dan.) Robert Preston as Centauri is a stand-out, all larceny with a heart, a fast-talker who does the right things in spite of himse -- itself. Best of all is Dan O'Herlihy as Grig in full lizard skin and make-up. He manages to show humor, compassion, roaring enthusiasm, courage...you name it...just with his voice, his body language and his eyes. Without him, the movie would lack far too much.

The film also has an amusing, affectionate script and special effects that, to my eye, still look good even with all the advances in Computer Generated Overkill. For shy kids who've ever secretly dreamed of doing something wildly heroic and then receiving everyone's praise, this movie probably has a lot of meaning. I'd think most adults might remember those days, themselves, and get a kick from it.

The DVD picture looks fine to me. There are a few extras including a "making of" documentary and a commentary by director Nick Castle and production designed Ron Cobb.

No Region 2?
Review date: 2007-07-26 Rating: 10 out of 10

Not having a Region 2 version is a travesty, this is a classic that set the trend using CGI on a Cray Supercomputer instead of plastic models.

I have just bought the Region 1, which plays on my PC. I am about to buy a Region Free DVD player just for this film!

A sci-fi film that the whole family can enjoy, cheesy but it doesn't take itself seriously and there are some great one-liners.

A forgotten gem crying out for Region 2 release.


Well worth the watch
Review date: 2005-12-24 Rating: 8 out of 10

I watched this movie some years ago. It was recorded for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is unbelievable but great fun to watch. Good sci-fi. Great for children and family.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Dan O'Herlihy
Catherine Mary Stewart
Kay E. Kuter
Dan Mason (III)
Lance Guest

Creators:
Kay E. Kuter (Primary Contributor)
Dan Mason (III) (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Universal Studios
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
EAN: 0025193293626
Binding: HD DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: AC-3, Colour, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen,
Release date: 2007-09-18
Universal product code (UPC): 025193293626
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Running time: 101 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1984-07-13
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: French (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: French (Dubbed)

Add to Cart

© 2006 Darren Hester, DesignsByDarren.com, Some Rights Reserved.
Valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional