A VERY DIFFERENT TREK TO THE STARS IS SET IN THE PRESENT & DEPARTS FROM A REMOTE TRAILER PARK !?

IN A NUTSHELL: A SWEET NICE FILM SET IN SPACE OR - - - - -

A terrific film about a young man's coming of age which requires that he takes the risks that are sometimes unavoidable when one desires to grab hold of the brass ring. In this case his opportunity comes in the form of being qualified to become a desperately needed starfighter. The risk comes in the form of being the object of an inter-galactic manhunt.

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL: "THINGS CHANGE - ALWAYS DO!" [WARNING -- plot spoilers below -- WARNING]

Alex Rogan [Lance Guest] is not a happy camper. He lives in a remote trailer court, has little prospect for the kind of exciting, upwardly bound future he desires, and he has very little time to spend with his lovely girl friend Maggie [Catherine Stewart]. Instead, Alex's days are spent patching together old fuse panels, plunging toilets and adjusting peoples TV antennas. Meanwhile, Maggie either waits for him, or goes on outings with their friends, that they had both planned to go on, but without Alex. Not a pleasant time for Alex, to be sure. However, as Otis [Vernon Washington] says, "THINGS CHANGE - ALWAYS DO!"

WHY I LIKE THIS FILM: BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR-YOU MIGHT GET IT!

"THE LAST STARFIGHTER" uses numerous devices that are new, not for having never been used, but for having never been combined. For instance, Alex Rogan is not from a far away place, long ago, instead he is from the here and now. Alex gets recruited into something universal via a computer game [of all things]. His score makes him an instant superstar in the galaxy, and vital to the continued existence of the "Star League" and Earth too!

Before Centauri [Robert Preston] showed up to collect Alex, after his record breaking game score, Alex was going through the motions of protesting against the prospects of a very dull and ordinary future. Almost as if Alex had made a wish upon a star, from the starlight trailer court, Centauri crashes into his life and wisks him away to another planet.

Upon taking Alex with him, Centauri leaves a Beta unit behind. Beta is a kind of cloned courtesy replacement to take Alex's place while he is gone. A nice touch that opens up numerous opportunities for sub-plots, comedy and danger on earth from the Kodan and the Beta unit's lack of worldliness.

And then of course there's the "MUSIC MAN IN OUTER SPACE", in the form of a galaxy weary but still irrepressible Rylan, by the name of Centauri [Robert Preston]. Still talking a light-year a minute, and in different interstellar languages, we now know where Professor Harold Hill has gone.

BUT THERE'S STILL MORE ---

We have aliens; good aliens - bad aliens and traitors. We have starfighters [before Alex became the Last Starfighter], hit-beasts, and "gung-ho iguanas" - Grig [Dan O'Herlihy]. We have a Xurian cult, led by Xur [Norman Snow], who is the son of the Rylan leader. Xur has provided the Kodan with secrets that will allow the black scourge of the Kodan to penetrate the Rylan defense perimeter, known as the "Frontier". Scary stuff, sort of, at least enough to make Alex feel rather threatened.

So, for Alex Rogan to escape his toilet plunging future in the trailer court he will have to take some very real risks because that is what will ultimately set him apart from everyone else - not just his score on the test, but more importantly his mettle and character. How ALEX ROGAN faces the challenges in space that will either make or break him is what this film is all about.

-- THE CAST --

*Lance Guest - Alex Rogan
*Robert Preston - Centauri
*Dan O'Herlihy - Grig
*Catherine Stewart - Maggie
*Barbara Bosson - Jane Rogan
*Norman Snow - Xur
*Kay Kuter - Enduran
*Dan Mason - Lord Kril
*John O'Leary - Rylan Bursar
*Peggy Pope - Elvira
*Wil Wheaton - Louis' Friend
*Bunny Summers - Mrs. Boone
*Vernon Washington - Otis
*Meg Wylie - Granny Gordon

-- THE CREW --

*Nick Castle, Jr. - Director
*Jonathan Betuel - Screenwriter
*King Baggot - Cinematographer
*Craig Safan - Composer (Music Score)
*Ron Cobb - Production Designer
*James D. Bissell - Art Director



ABOUT THE DVD: LIGHT-YEARS AHEAD OF THE VHS - here's why:

* First, the DVD is Widescreen [2.35:1 aspect ratio] and remastered, so it looks very clear and sharp. However, it is the documentary, "Crossing the Frontier: The Making Of The Last Starfighter", hosted by Lance Guest that makes this DVD an easy sell for me.

* It also has commentary with Director Nick Castle and Production Designer Ron Cobb

BOTTOM LINE:

The CGI was a brand new art form at the time and this film is a milestone in its development. However, that's not the reason this film is worth seeing. "The Last Starfighter" is quite novel, and different from other space fantasy films. The combination of romance, hope, taking a chance for the brass ring with enough humor inserted to prevent it all from getting too heavy, makes this film a very satisfying experience.

I wish there were a sequel, as I did see a ray of hope for one when Xur [Norman Snow] made a hasty escape before the Kodan command ship crashed, BUT -- --

A Good-Natured Tale Of How The Universe Was Saved, With A Great Lizard By Dan O'Herlihy

"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.

A wonderful fantasy/Sci-fi

Great movie for young and old alike. Our hero saves the universe and gets the girl, all without foul language or sexual content. No nudity, which makes it even more pleasurable to view.