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We need a Whovian thread for all Whovian stuff all the time! I'll start this off by posing a query in the final episode of the first season of Doctor Who there is this exchange between Rose and the Doctor. Rose: there was this singing Doctor: That's right I sang a song and the Dalek's ran away now on the surface this could just be a joke meaning that the Doctor can't sing... but I wonder if maybe it's a possible Macross reference. I mean Macross 7 or something ^^. But maybe not... to me it just made me think of Macross 7.... "listen to the Doctor's song!" But seriously now... I loved the new series and i'm kinda sad to see the 10th Doctor go... I don't like the new one so far but maybe he'll grow on me (but ooh his voice is so bad.) Everyone else like the first season?
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Old Thread: This thread is for non-Macross "just purchased" toys. Just Purchased Macross Toys thread here: -
I've been messing with my shelves alot lately with the introduction of all my new vinyls toys (both modern and vintage) and thought it'd be fun to show off where I'm at right now. The bottom shelf is my ~1/60 real robot shelf with Yamato valks, Patlabor machines, Gundam stuff, and some 28mm war gaming models all approximately in scale with each other. Next shelf up is the product of my recent discovery of all things vintage robots pre-Transformers. On top of that is some Transformers and some vinyls, and then on top of that some bigger Transformers and models I've built. I also snapped a shot of my Machine Robo shelf, and my 'shelfless' Jumbo-sized toys. I've got another set of modern vinyls and other stuff spread around on my bookshelves, but this is the bulk of what's out right now. It's a shame I'm out of room, because I've an Iron Man collection that fills a shelf on its own, and a huge storage bin full of more G1 Transformers that I tragically have nowhere to put. More pics here: http://prometheusrising.wordpress.com/2009/06/11/shelves/ -
This show just got released today and it's fantastic! Anyone else watching it? Chris
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Did anyone else catch the release of The Umbrella Academy on Netflix over the weekend? It's based on the comic of the same name by Gerard Way and artist Gabriel Bá. From what I understand, it's a very good small screen interpretation whose artistic license improves on the character stories. I haven't read the comics yet, myself so I would like to hear more from those who have. Anyway, as someone who is new to these characters and this universe, all I'll say up front is that I started watching it on a whim and got so very hooked. I binged it from Friday through Monday. Now I'm searching around for copies of the comics, but I find myself very lost on that front. Here's the official Netflix teaser, in case you have yet to see it.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwWLOrMrJYc AKIRA ( アキラ ) Toho Film/Bandai Visual, 1988 Pioneer/Geneon Entertainment, 2001-2002, 2004; Funimation, 2013 Directed by Katsuhiro Otomo (Memories, Steamboy). Rated R for violence and gore, nudity, suggestive sexual situations, drug use, and profanity. Cast (Japanese) Mitsuo Iwata (Itsuki in Initial D, Hyosuke in Please Teacher!/Onegai Twins) as Shotaro Kaneda Nozomu Sasaki (Yuusuke in Yu-Yu Hakusho, Enishi in Rurouni Kenshin) as Tetsuo Shima Mami Koyama (Karen in Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team, Chiren in Battle Angel) as Kei Taro Ishida (Duke Red in Metropolis) as the Colonel Takeshi Kusao (The Guyver, Trunks in Dragon Ball Z) as Kai Tessho Genda (Chief Dan Dastun in The Big-O, Sanders in Gundam 08th MS Team) as Ryu Fukue Ito as Kiyoko (#25) Tatsuhiko Nakamura as Takashi (#26) Kazuhiko Kamifuji as Masaru (#27) Mizuho Suzuki as Dr. Onishi Cast (English) Johnny Yong Bosch (Vash the Stampede in Trigun, Haruto in Witch Hunter Robin) as Shotaro Kaneda Joshua Seth (Cyborg 009, Eiji in Rurouni Kenshin) as Tetsuo Shima Wendee Lee (Faye in Cowboy Bebop, Angel in The Big O) as Kei Synopsis The year is 2019. Thirty-one years have passed since an experiment gone wrong triggered an explosion that destroyed Tokyo, Japan. This phenomenon was known by many as "Akira," named after the test subject of the experiment. Following this catastrophe and World War III, the city became Neo-Tokyo - a cesspool of gang violence, angry demonstrations and a corrupt government. Shotaro Kaneda leads his motorcycle gang of juvenile delinquents against the Clowns for road supremacy. But things go awry when Kaneda's best friend Tetsuo Shima is involved in a deadly accident and taken into custody by the military. The accident unleashes physical and mental powers hidden inside Tetsuo, which he uses indiscriminately to wreak havoc all over the city. With the help of a political activist named Kei, Kaneda must stop Tetsuo before he releases the powers of Akira and destroys Neo-Tokyo. Story: A It's not easy adapting a manga into the big screen, but Otomo managed to keep the film as close to the original story as possible in a two-hour span. Many viewers may not understand the film at first, but they'll slowly realize its meaning. Animation: A+ Akira became the benchmark in Japanese animation with its vibrant mix of 2D and 3D graphics. It's hard to believe that this movie is nearly two decades old, but is still technically superior to most anime titles released in the past five years. Soundtrack: A+ (Available through AnimeTrax) Akira is highly regarded as having one of the greatest soundtracks in film history. Composed by Shoji Yamashiro and performed by Geinoh Yamashiro-Gumi, the film score uses a perfect blend of Malay, Indonesian and Japanese instruments with synthesizers and powerful vocals. Sub vs. Dub When Streamline Pictures first released Akira, it was marred by horrible dubbing and a bad English script. Pioneer re-translated the script to make it closer to the original Japanese version. I'm glad to say that the new produced by ZRO Limit Productions/Animaze dub is very good. DVD Extras: A+ If you bought the 2-disc version, you definitely got your money's worth. Disc 2 is loaded with the following features: - AKIRA Production Report (The making of the movie). - AKIRA Sound Clip (The original soundtrack production). - Interview with Katsuhiro Otomo. - Production Materials (Still images, unused storyboards & backgrounds, character design sketches, manga art, movie posters and promotional items). - Original Japanese trailers and TV spots. - Features behind the film restoration and English re-dub. - Glossary. The Bottom Line AKIRA is one movie you must own in your film collection, whether you're into anime or not. Reference Anime News Network The Internet Movie Database
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.....What is it? No cheating. A single movie, not a series (LOTR for example). I think I have to go with Aliens. -
TRON 3 is in the works, with Garrett Hedlund returning to the Grid as Sam Flynn. Olivia Wilde will also reprise her role as the ISO Quorra. Tron 3 to be Filmed in Vancouver This Fall
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The Iron Giant Warner Bros. Pictures, 1999 Directed by Brad Bird (The Incredibles, Ratatouille) Executive Producer: Pete Townshend (the guy from The Who that used to destroy his guitars every night...) Based on the novel The Iron Man by the late Ted Hughes (1930-1998) Running Time: 86 minutes Rated PG for sci-fi violence. Cast Eli Marienthal (Stifler's brother in American Pie 1-2) as Hogarth Hughes Vin Diesel (Riddick, Dominic Toretto in The Fast and the Furious) as The Iron Giant Jennifer Aniston (Tory in Leprechaun, Joanna in Office Space) as Annie Hughes Harry Connick, Jr. (Narrator in My Dog Skip, Jimmy in Independence Day) as Dean McCoppin Christopher McDonald (Jor-El in Superman: The Animated Series, Superman in Batman Beyond) as Kent Mansley John Mahoney (Marty in Frasier) as Gen. Rogard Synopsis In 1957, a mysterious object from space crashes on a stormy night off the coast of Maine. The next night, in the small town of Rockwell, a boy named Hogarth discovers the object as a giant robotic being with an appetite for metal and the ability to repair itself. He befriends the robot after saving it when it clumsily traps itself between power lines. Shortly afterward, Hogarth has the Giant stay at a junkyard run by a Beatnik named Dean. At the same time, Hogarth must keep the Giant's existence a secret from Mansley, a nosy government agent sent to investigate strange anomalies in the town. Story: A+ It's such a shame that this film flopped at the box office due to Warner Bros.' inability to properly market it, as this is how an American animated story should be told. The Iron Giant is a classic tale of boy-meets-alien. The Cold War-era works perfectly with the story, as well as the Giant's interaction with its surroundings and its struggle to differentiate good from evil. In addition, outstanding performances are given by the main cast. Yes - even by Vin Diesel, who still has yet to outdo his role as the Giant. Despite the film failing at the box office, director Brad Bird went on to find greater success in 2004 with Disney/Pixar's The Incredibles. Animation: A+ This is how a great American story should be animated. The Iron Giant displays some of the best examples of different forms of animation - old-style rotoscoping (which is much better than the style Don Bluth used to kill his career in Titan A.E.) for the human characters mixed with cel-shaded CGI for the Giant and various military vehicles. Soundtrack: A The film score by the late Michael Kamen (1948-2003) (Metallica's S&M live album, Pink Floyd's The Wall) is not as loud as his other theatrical works, but it works really well and doesn't detract from the storytelling. The Bottom Line Probably the last great American 2D animated theatrical release and undoubtedly one of the best sci-fi stories ever told. DVD Extras: A The Special Edition DVD is loaded with extras such as additional scenes cut from the film (in animated storyboard form, with commentary by director Bird), the full "Duck and Cover" song, numerous behind-the-scenes footage that's accessible in the middle of the film, a motion gallery and some trailers. There's also a mini-documentary featuring Vin Diesel - not that anyone cares, anyway. In addition, the DVD-ROM has some bonuses that may probably crash your computer. Links The Iron Giant Official Site References The Internet Movie Database
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Star Trek Beyond (the not The Search for Spock)
areaseven posted a topic in Anime or Science Fiction
With J. J. Abrams now doing Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Paramount Pictures, Skydance Productions, and Bad Robot announced the new director of the third Star Trek installment. Lens flares will now be replaced with neon lighting and NOS. "Ask any Starfleet Officer, any real Starfleet Officer. It don't matter if it's by an inch or a parsec. Winning's winning." "I live my life a warp factor at a time; nothing else matters. For those 10 seconds or less, I'm free." Star Trek 3's New Director Will Be Fast & Furious 6's Helmer Justin Lin -
Twenty years ago, French director Luc Besson (Nikita, Leon: The Professional) gave us The Fifth Element, which was actually a good sci-fi film not made in Hollywood. On July 21, 2017, he'll give us Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, a theatrical adaptation of the popular French sci-fi comic book series Valérian and Laureline (which was one of the inspirations for The Fifth Element). The film stars Dane DeHaan (Andrew in Chronicle, Harry Osborn in The Amazing Spider-Man 2), Carla Delevingne (Enchantress in Suicide Squad), Clive Owen (Dwight in Sin City, Mr. Smith in Shoot 'Em Up), Rihanna (overrated pop singer who helped sink Battleship), Kris Wu (some Chinese singer, as these films must somehow appeal to the Chinese market), John Goodman (Hound in Transformers: Age of Extinction, Fred in The Flintstones), Ethan Hawke (Vincent/Jerome in Gattaca, Jesse in Before Sunrise/Sunset/Midnight), and Rutger Hauer (Roy Batty in Blade Runner, Cardinal Roark in Sin City). Will it be as good as The Fifth Element, or will it be Jupiter Ascending bad? Only time will tell. Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets @ IMDb
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From Timo Vuorensola, director of the Star Wreck parody film series, comes his first-ever major motion picture. Iron Sky is a sci-fi comedy set in the year 2018, where Nazis who colonized the dark side of the moon after World War II set a full-scale invasion of Earth. The film is set to premiere at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival between February 9 and 19 before its international release on April 4. Official Site
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Arrival is the latest film by director Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners, Sicario), starring Amy Adams (Brenda in Catch Me If You Can, Mary in The Muppets), Jeremy Renner (Hansel in Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, Aaron Cross in The Bourne Legacy), and Forest Whitaker (Charles in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Ker in Battlefield Earth). Based on Story of Your Life by Ted Chiang, it is a sci-fi film about the arrival of an alien ship and mankind's attempt to communicate with it. The film will make its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on September 2 before hitting theaters on November 11. If this is as good as Villeneuve's other works, there will be high hopes for his Blade Runner sequel. Arrival @ IMDb
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As if we had enough of these sequels. Milla Jovovich and Paul W. S. Anderson are back to piss off Resident Evil fans once again with Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, and judging by the title, it will hopefully be the last time. The film invades Japan on December 23 and in the U.S. on January 27, 2017. Resident Evil: The Final Chapter @ IMDb Crew Member Crushed to Death on Resident Evil: The Final Chapter Set Resident Evil Stuntwoman Injured on Set Out of Coma Star Wars Stunt Double Reveals She Will Lose an Arm After Horrific Accident on Resident Evil Set
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"Identify." Kill Command is an upcoming sci-fi film directed by veteran visual effects artist Steven Gomez. No U.S. release date has been set, but it premieres in the UK on May 13. Kill Command @ Protagonist Pictures Kill Command @ IMDb
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Morgan is a sci-fi film by Luke Scott (Ridley Scott's son) in his directorial debut. It is yet another tale of an artificial lifeform gone wrong. The film opens on September 2, but critics have not taken it very well. "I'm not gonna remember Morgan in T-minus 1 day (Yep, already forgot it)" "B-" "55% and 67%" Official Site Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 41% - "Morgan neglects to develop its decent premise, opting instead to settle for a garden-variety sci-fi thriller with more action than ideas." Metacritic Score: 50 out of 100
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Lazer Team is a sci-fi comedy film produced by Rooster Teeth (RWBY, Red vs. Blue) and is a result of a successful Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign (collecting pledges of US$2.4 million against a campaign target of US$650,000). In the film, four friends stumble upon an alien battle suit and find themselves in a dilemma when they split the suit among themselves. Reviews for the film have been surprisingly positive: "If you want to see the greatest cinematic usage of the jerk-off hand motion (to date), watch Lazer Team. It’s a bit of satirical sci-fi comedy that only the guys at Rooster Teeth can dream up, given a strong love for egregious dick jokes and non-stop references to Independence Day." - Matt Donato, We Got This Covered "3 super-robotic burritos out of 5. Lazer Team might not be a non-stop laugh-a-minute type of movie, but taken as a low-budget, high-energy, quick-witted homage to the best in 1980s matinee movies, it manages to be a pretty good time." - Scott Weinberg, Nerdist "3 1/2 out of 5 skulls. Comical, surprisingly intelligent, and entertaining, Lazer Team is a movie that’s worth watching, and stands a step above other popcorn flicks of its nature. Although the formula is somewhat predictable, and the plot admittedly pretty silly, the film still manages to be a success, based partially on a script that provides some interesting notes on today’s individualistic-driven generation, and the raw power that comes from good old teamwork." - Kalyn Corrigan, Bloody Disgusting Lazer Team premieres in select U.S. theaters on January 27. Official Site
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Syfy Channel originals, they are low budget classics that are primarily creature features that have been going on since 2002 with over 200 some film titles having the honor of being classified as such. With that said I figured we need a thread and I'll start by posting every original I've seen to date: What are your thoughts on this classic legacy?
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Coming to theaters on July 24 is Pixels, a sci-fi comedy remake of the 2010 French short film of the same name. Directed by Chris Columbus (Home Alone, Bicentennial Man), the film is about an alien invasion in the form of '80s video game icons such as Pac-Man and Donkey Kong. Unfortunately, it also stars Adam Sandler, which means this film will be a likely entry on the Worst Science Fiction Film of All Time thread. Pixels @ IMDb
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Coming to theaters on June 3 is Approaching the Unknown, directed by Mark Elijah Rosenberg and starring Mark Strong (Merlin in Kingsman: The Secret Service, Sinestro in Green Lantern) as an astronaut on a lone mission to Mars that goes wrong halfway, pushing his mission and sanity on the edge.
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Turbo Kid EMA Films/Timpson Films/Epic Pictures Group, 2015 Written and Directed by François Simard, Anouk Whissell and Yoann-Karl Whissell Running Time: 95 minutes Rated R for extreme violence and profanity. Cast Munro Chambers as The Kid Laurence Leboeuf as Apple Michael Ironside (Richter in Total Recall, Katana in Highlander II) as Zeus Edwin Wright as Skeletron Aaron Jeffery (Thomas Logan in X-Men Origins: Wolverine) as Frederick Romano Orzari as Bagu Synopsis It is the year 1997. Wars and nuclear fallout have created a post-apocalyptic society called "The Wasteland", ruled by the tyrannical Zeus. A lone teenage scavenger known only as The Kid spends his days riding his BMX bike and trading junk for supplies and issues of Turbo Rider, a comic book from the old civilization. One day, he meets a girl named Apple and reluctantly brings her to scavenging trips after she entraps him with a tracking device. But after Apple is kidnapped by a bandit, The Kid stumbles upon a crashed ship, where he discovers and puts on the suit of his childhood hero. Using his new abilities, Turbo Kid races to save his girl from execution at the hands of Zeus. Lowdown Much like Kung Fury, Turbo Kid is a love letter to the '80s - particularly the action and sci-fi B-movies of that decade. The sets look simple, the cinematography feels like a Cannon film, the costumes are loud in color, and the acting is over the top. Being also a tribute to Peter Jackson's earlier works, this film is an extreme splatter fest that rivals Bad Taste and perhaps even Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky. The CG effects add to the overall cheesiness. Of all the cast members, Laurence Labeouf steals the show as Apple, a rather schizophrenic girl with Jem hair and makeup. Michael Ironside really hams it up as the main antagonist Zeus. But if there's one thing that seals the deal, it's the music. The synthpop score by Le Matos is simply mesmerizing, with shades of John Carpenter and Jan Hammer. It easily rivals Mitch Murder and Lost Years' works for Kung Fury. The cast of Turbo Kid know it's silly, but they just roll with it. And in the end, it comes off as one of the most rad movies to come from the independent scene. Rating: A- Links Official Turbo Kid Website Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 88% - "A nostalgic ode to kids' movies of yesteryear, Turbo Kid eyes the past through an entertaining -- albeit surprisingly gory -- postmodern lens." References The Internet Movie Database
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Ex Machina is an upcoming sci-fi thriller by writer/director Alex Garland (28 Days Later, Dredd), starring Domhnall Gleeson (Bill Weasley in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows), Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis, Prince John in Robin Hood), and Alicia Vikander (Kitty in Anna Karenina, Gaby in The Man from U.N.C.L.E.). It premieres on January 23, 2015 in the UK and April 10, 2015 in the U.S. Ex Machina @ IMDb
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Book Two of the Spiral War Saga, In Death's Shadow is now available on Amazon Kindle. Still reeling from the attack on their academy, that cost the Monstero Nach their squadron commander, the cadets proceed into Special Operations training. There they come under the tutelage of the menacing Tadeh Qudas, a fearsome Telshin warrior. Their instruction will be fraught with danger and not all of them will make it through. Forces all around the Blade Force tear at them as they proceed, endangering their lives, loves, and the Confederation itself. Back on their homeworld of Anul, the Electrolites, a long dead cult of Energy Gatherers, sets their sights on Blazer's sitster, Jell. In doing so, they resurrect a ghost from Blazer's family's past that threatens not only the Vaughnt siblings, but all that the cadet's fight for. Only their training can save them, but will that training be enough? Character cover art by our own Greg Lane. BUY NOW Also available: Spiral War: On The Cusp Novella, Book 0 of Spiral War Saga. Jard's job was simple: investigate spacecraft wreckage. He never expected this to lead him to discover a stellar empire that would threaten the Confederation. But investigating a destroyed alien cruiser embroiled him in a political firestorm that would change not only his life, but the whole galaxy. On the Cusp tells a galaxy-spanning tale of first contact gone wrong, seen though the eyes of an engineer as he get swept up in events beyond his control. BUY NOW Still Available: Spiral War Book1: On Dagger's Wings Peace is a fleeting state. The last written words of Blazer Vaughnt’s father echo through his mind after he comes of age and joins the UCSB Space Forces Academy . His hope, to become an officer. He does not join alone and his three comrades from the Navigator’s Guild join him. There they will join the Blade Force and meet the alluring Marda Sciminder., driving a wedge between Blazer and his closest friend. His time at the academy will test his loyalty to his friends and his faith in himself as conflicts arise from within and without. Will Blazer rise to the call and become the leader of the Blade Force? Will he allow his heart to distract him from his destiny? Will he gain his wings and take his Dagger into the heavens to end the centuries long conflict? Character Artwork by our own Alex Villareal, aka EXO. BUY NOW!!! The holidays are coming up and Books make great gifts.
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When an aristocrat dying of cancer has his mind transferred to the body of a younger man, he gets more than he bargains for when he discovers that his new body is not the "empty vessel" he was promised. Self/less is directed by Tarsem Singh (Immortals, Mirror Mirror) and stars Ben Kingsley (Gandhi, Mandarin in Iron Man 3), Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool, Green Lantern), Matthew Goode (Ozymandias in Watchmen), and Michelle Dockery (Nancy in Non-Stop). The film premieres on July 10. Self/less @ IMDb
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu6Nymps5WA The Last Starfighter Lorimar/Universal Pictures, 1984 Directed by Nick Castle (Major Payne, Mr. Wrong) Running Time: 101 minutes Rated PG for violence and strong language. Cast Lance Guest (Jimmy in Halloween II, Michael in Jaws: The Revenge) as Alex Rogan/Beta Unit "Alex" Dan O'Herlihy (1919-2005) (The Old Man in RoboCop, Franklin D. Roosevelt in MacArthur) as Grig Catherine Mary Stewart (Gwen in Weekend at Bernie's) as Maggie Gordon Robert Preston (1918-1987) (Harold Hill in The Music Man) as Centauri Norman Snow (Springfield in Manhunter, Torin in Star Trek: The Next Generation) as Xur Dan Mason as Lord Kril Kay E. Kuter (1925-2003) as Enduran Barbara Bosson (Fay in Hill Street Blues) as Jane Rogan Chris Hebert as Louis Rogan Vernon Washington (1927-1988) (Rev. Mills in Roots: The Next Generations) as Otis Heather Locklear (Tommy Lee and Richie Sambora's ex) as a Rylan indoctrinator (uncredited) Wil Wheaton (Wesley in Star Trek: The Next Generation) as Louis' friend (deleted scene) "Greetings, Starfighter. You have been recruited by the Star League to defend the Frontier against Xur and the Kodan Armada." - Starfighter Videogame Introduction Synopsis Alex Rogan is a normal teenager who has dreams of getting out of his trailer park neighborhood and achieving long-term success. But all of that is put on hold when his dream college rejects his request for admission. Then one night, after achieving a record-breaking score on a videogame machine called "Starfighter," he is paid a visit from Centauri - an elderly man who invented the game. Alex reluctantly steps into Centauri's car and is brought to the distant planet of Rylos. To his surprise, Alex has been recruited by the Star League as a gunner for the force's Gunstar units. Alex turns down the offer and requests to return to Earth, not knowing that the evil Xur and the Kodan Armada launch an attack on the Star League headquarters on his way home. He returns to the decimated base and teams up with ace pilot Grig to commandeer Gunstar-1 - an advanced version of the Star League's fighter. But with the Star League defenseless and the Kodan Armada on the move to conquer the Frontier, does Alex have what it takes to be The Last Starfighter? "Things change. Always do. You'll get your chance! Important thing is, when it comes, you've got to grab with both hands, and hold on tight!" - Otis Lowdown When it comes to science fiction, many people first think of Star Wars or Star Trek, as they both revolutionized the genre in the 20th century with their intricate storytelling and groundbreaking special effects. But in 1984, there was one movie that dared to challenge both film franchises with a down-to-earth plot and special effects that no one had ever seen. "I must congratulate you on your virtuoso performance, my boy. Centauri is impressed. I've seen 'em come, and I've seen 'em go, but you're the best, my boy. Dazzling! Light years ahead of the competition! Centauri's got a little proposition for you. Are ya interested?" - Centauri Inspired by the videogame craze mixed with T.H. White's classic story The Once and Future King, The Last Starfighter takes the basic concept of space opera and an unlikely hero and adds a slice of Americana to it. Instead of a distant desert planet, the main character is just a plain guy living in a trailer park on the hills of Santa Clarita, CA. As a result, you have a Luke Skywalker that just about anyone can identify with. While Lance Guest does a superb performance playing Alex, it's the late Robert Preston who steals the show as the alien con artist Centauri, with his non-stop wit and humor. Sometimes, you have the urge to tell him to shut up, but you just can't help but listen to and sometimes laugh at his memorable quotes. And they really stick to your head. "The amusing thing about this, it's all a big mistake. That particular Starfighter game was supposed to be delivered to Vegas, not some flea-speck trailer park in the middle of tumbleweeds and tarantulas. So it must be fate, destiny, blind chance, luck even, that brings us together. And as the poet said, the rest is history." - Centauri For every sci-fi film, there's a hero to cheer for and villains to hate. The villain of this film is Xur, the former son of Star League leader Enduran who has turned his back on the federation and joined the Kodan Armada. The band of villains are what you may normally find in every sci-fi movie, but where else can you find a second-in-command with a mechanical eyepiece? "Well, you may have thought it was a game, but it was also a test. Aha, a test! Sent out across the galaxy to find those with the potential to be Starfighters. And here you are, my boy! Here you are!" - Centauri If Star Wars has the X-Wing Fighter, The Last Starfighter has the Gunstar-1 - a fast and powerful spacecraft armed to the teeth with lasers, missiles...and two words: Death Blossom. If only someone made a model kit of this... Grig: "Remember, Death Blossom delivers only one massive volley at close range...theoretically." Alex: "What do you mean, 'theoretically?'" Grig: "After all, D.B. has never been tested. It might overload the systems, blow up the ship!" Alex: "What are you worried about, Grig? Theoretically, we should already be dead!" As for the special effects, The Last Starfighter caught everyone by surprise with its high-quality computer-generated action scenes. Using the powerful Cray supercomputer, Digital Productions produced realistic, mind-blowing effects at a lower budget than using animatronics and miniatures. It didn't introduce CG (TRON and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan experimented with it two years earlier), but it made audiences and filmmakers aware of the full potential of computer graphics. Today, nearly every sci-fi show or movie relies heavily on CG for their effects. And you have The Last Starfighter to thank for that. Craig Safan (Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins) is no John Williams, but his soundtrack captures the essence of the film. You can't help but hum to the movie's main theme, as it's just as memorable as Williams' theme for Star Wars. "Death is a primitive concept; I prefer to think of them as battling evil - in another dimension!" - Grig Overall, The Last Starfighter is one of the best science fiction films ever made. Highly recommended for movie buffs who want a piece of late 20th century sci-fi nostalgia. Rating: A "Teriffic. I'm about to get killed a million miles from nowhere with a gung-ho iguana who tells me to relax." - Alex Rogan DVD Extras: A+ To celebrate the film's 15th anniversary, Universal Pictures threw everything and the kitchen sink into their 1999 DVD release of The Last Starfighter. The movie has been perfectly remastered in an anamorphic widescreen format with crisp Dolby 5.1 surround. In addition, the disc has an exclusive special on the making of The Last Starfighter, hosted by Lance Guest. You get to see how computer-generated special effects evolved from a niche medium to a mandatory standard in today's science fiction features. If you don't have this DVD yet, pick it up now. The Last Starfighter is a sci-fi masterpiece in its own right. "Victory or Death!" - Star League Battle Cry Reference The Internet Movie Database SF Movie Data Bank: The Last Starfighter (Japanese/English)
