Last Starfighter, The

Released by:

Universal Home Video

Features:

1984; 101 Min; Rated PG; Dolby Digital: 5.1 English (feature film only); Anamorphic Widescreen (2.35)

Extras:

"Crossing the Frontier: The Making Of The Last Starfighter,"  narrated by Lance Guest ; Audio Commentary with Director Nick Castle and production designer Ron Cob; Theatrical Teaser and Trailer; Production Notes; Production Photographs; Cast & Crew Listings.

Review:

It's always been said, good things come to those who wait. I've experienced this with many films that I have bought over the years.  (A note to Fox, ID4 is not in this category, I'll get into that when I review the laser disc.) Most of this joy has centered around Universal's Signature (LD) and Collector's (DVD) Series. I have spent hundred of dollars on their SE products. The list is as follows: 12 Monkeys (LD/DVD); Dragonheart (LD/DVD); 1941 (LD/DVD) - no matter how much other's bash the quality of this disc, I still like it; Dragon (LD/DVD); Apollo 13 (DVD) - see, I do learn eventually; Frighteners (LD) - still not finished... need an editor... you get the point. I probably own every SE Universal Home Video has released, even the For Richer or Poorer LD ($14.98 blow out at Tower Video a few month's back. SCORE!).

When The Last Starfighter was announced for release in widescreen on DVD I was shocked. I never though I 'd see this film in widescreen. On top of that, it was announced as an SE, but wait, there's more... on Tuesday June 29th, they'll even release it on LD! Considering how little Universal has released/re-issued on LD the past seven months, that a major accomplishment. This is a multi-format score for everyone. Except one of my customers who had just bought the P/S edition of the film a month earlier.

The story of The Last Starfighter, is a very simple premise. It's everyone's childhood dream, to be whisked away to another place, and become the hero. Lance Guest plays Alex, the teen who becomes the unlikely hero of the galaxy, after being recruited (kidnapped?) by an outer space con man named Centauri (Robert Preston).  I don't feel there's a real need to review the film, most people buying this wont care what I have to say about it anyhow. The story is absurd, but fun. I think that sums it up.

The story is not what set this film apart from others of its time, it was it's elaborate use of computer generated effects. By today's standards, the special effects look catoonish, but without this film, many of today's computer enhanced blockbusters would have never been possible. This is the  main focus of "Crossing the Frontier: The Making of The Last Starfighter" a documentary produced by Sharpline Arts, for this Universal release.

Lance Guest narrates the outline of this well produced documentary, his cue card reading performance aside. It is broken in to three parts. The first section deals with Johnathan Betuel's creation of the story, and the bringing together of the main players, such as producer Gary Adelson and director Nick Castle. The next focuses on the execution of the visual effects by John Whitney Jr (Digital Productions), production designer Ron Cobb and the visual effect coordinator, Jeffrey Okun. Finally, there are reflections as to what The Last Starfighter has meant to the whole computer effects industry.

I found the "reflections" section the most interesting, since Sharpline Arts went to ILM for their own input about The Last Starfighter. Denis Murren reveals a computer test of x-wings from 1978 for Star Wars. John Knoll (Visual Effects Supervisor, ILM) and Kevin Rafferty (CG Supervisor, ILM) also chime in with their thoughts.

Universal and Sharpline have created a great special edition. As I understand it, Sharpline Arts was the company that suggested this special edition. With a track record of the previous LD editions of Alien, Aliens, The King and I and The Sound of Music, as well as the current Alien, Aliens and The Thing SE DVD's, one could see why Universal let them take control of this production.

As for the other aspects of the disc. The basic set up of the production notes, cast and crew biographies, and the like, are what has become standard for Universal's SE's. There are some moving menus, which is a nice touch, plus the trailer of another Nick Castle effort called, Major Payne. The only gripe I have about this disc, is the new, cheese-ball interface icon's Universal is using. If I wanted to look at a video game, I turn on my Playstation. As a matter of fact, I think the round icons are similar to the Playstation's menu icons. Yuck.

On a scale of 1 to 10, the movie ranks a 6, childhood memories die hard.

On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this disc a 8.5 with 1 bonus biscuit for Sharpline Arts efforts to get this disc made.

Dan Linzmeier, FIT Productions
Fitprod@aol.com
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