The Last Starfighter
January 13th 2009 22:00
Fighting Stars
Man, I thought this film was so cool back in the day. Everyone did, I guess – it was a childhood classic.
I am, however, sad to report that on recent replay, this movie does not hold up well.
Most 80s films don’t, but this was particularly disappointing. The idea is cool, the poster was cool, and even the lead character was pretty cool too.
CGI graphics were used for the first time in this film (and Tron), and yes, they are dated, but pretty darn good for the time.
Both start as one thing and somewhere turn into something else, but manage to bring it back to that original idea by the end.
The one thing it was successfully good at, was taking me back to my childhood – when playing video games was prerequisite training to becoming an X-Wing Pilot.
It is especially evident when our hero is nearing the highscore for Starfighter and the black janitor dude starts screaming "Alex Is goin’ for the record! Alex Is going for the record!” Before you know it half the caravan park is out of bed to watch him get the highscore in a video game?
There were several plans at the time by Atari to make a real version of the game, but after several attempts, nothing was ever finished.
But in 2006, a company called Rogue Synapse created a version of the game seen in the movie that is designed to run on Windows, and they even show plans for how to make the game cabinet. Sweet.
Like every other movie, it is also being slated for a remake/sequel simply called Starfighter in 2010. This one could actually be cool.
“Greetings, Starfighter. You have been recruited by the Star League to defend the frontier against Xur and the Ko-Dan armada.”
| 128 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
Comment by Paul
Surreal Short Stories
Comment by Jarrah
Back to the Eighties
I was looking at 'body-swap' movies for a post and saw that Freaky Friday has been remade 3 times in 30 years.
And the Punisher (haven't seen any) Has been made 3 times in under 20 years...
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
When I was a kid, this was the ultimate fantasy... so good at video games that you get called up to fight in an intergalactic war!
Comment by Jarrah
Back to the Eighties
Comment by PopulistConservative
Angry Electorate
Catherine Mary Stewart
Simply a stunning woman.
Comment by GeekGrrl
Games Ramble
Science Fiction Ramble
I LOVED this movie and had it on VHS and now DVD and if it appears on Bluray you bet your ass I'll be buying it. I'm a huge gamer so this film ticked all the right boxes for me as a teen and I still love it now, cheesy though it may be.
Cool post Jarrah.
Comment by Jarrah
Back to the Eighties
Comment by Damo
'Gung ho Godzilla' was the only funny line in the film.
However I did enjoy explorers if only the aliem singing the theme from Mr Ed.
Comment by Nomad
Awesome Food
remember flight of the navigator?
Comment by Jarrah
Back to the Eighties
I loved that. I haven't seen it for the longest time though.
Might have to ask around for it...
Comment by Wilson Pon
Health 2 Know
Adventure Toes
Techno Stuffs
boxing sound
Business Rope
Comment by Johnny Rico
Comment by Anonymous