Pictures of "The Last Starfighter"

[Favelle]

Cool, thanks for the menu shot. But don't all the menus on HD-DVD's basically look like that?

[Franin]

I watched it last night and thought the picture was a better improvement over the dvd.The opening scene had black fleks appearing(Not much really).I thought the night scenes were awesome(but then again everyones setup is different).The picture for me was clear, very clear but there was a scene here and there that was out of focus, just one that I remeber when alex's mum was calling him to go and patch the old ladies electrical as alex was heading with his friends to the lake, she seemed out of focus but thats the cameras work.Now I know it's the way the film is made and it's the way it's intended but they could really have spend money in improving the space scenes.With the technology we have today, they could have made it look more real.The audio is ok, but it could have improved, again spending more money on the film.

[DM2006RI]

Originally Posted by schick85

In other words, it doesn't compare to Paramount's The Warriors but it is nice to see this "one-and-only" classic in high def finally.

Paramount spent a load of money restoring THE WARRIORS. Most any "regular" catalog title isn't going to ever get that kind of attention, so if that's what you were seriously expecting, I'd probably stop watching HD altogether as you will be sorely disappointed by 99.9% of "old" movies being released in HD.

IMO I think THE LAST STARFIGHTER looks as vibrant as I'd ever anticipate it looking, so I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

[schick85]

Originally Posted by Favelle

Cool, thanks for the menu shot. But don't all the menus on HD-DVD's basically look like that?

Universal just messed with the aesthetics; it functions pretty much the same.

[bboisvert]

If anyone loves this movie but was on the fence for the HD DVD... buy without hesitation.

I just watched this tonight. It looks fantastic. No fan of this film will be disappointed with this disc.

[A.VOID]

I just finished watching it tonight.

Certainly a cleaned up movie, although it won't do much to wow you with PQ or audio. Once you watch "The Making of " then you'll see how much work they did to clean this thing up. Some of those mid-80's movies have not impressed me with their transfers. This one is better than others, but still kind of meh.

It's funny, I tried to show this to my kids because I remember enjoying it in the 80's. My 10 year old got bored and left the room. Quite honestly, I couldn't blame him. The thing didn't stand up well to time. The story is pretty slow. It was all about the special effects at the time it was made, and the special effects are nothing compared to today.

Oh well ...

[bboisvert]

Originally Posted by A.VOID

It's funny, I tried to show this to my kids because I remember enjoying it in the 80's. My 10 year old got bored and left the room.

I think it's definitely a movie of a certain time and place. I wouldn't expect any modern audience member to react favorably seeing it 25-ish years later for the first time... especially to the effects, which were groundbreaking at the time, but are obviously primative by today's standard.

Still, it's a fun movie. And the transfer is very crisp and clean. I was happy with it.

[Djoel]

How about some 100+ shots



DJoel

[DM2006RI]

It was all about the special effects at the time it was made, and the special effects are nothing compared to today.

Couldn't disagree more. You make it sound like TRON, which it never was -- the film actually received a lot of good reviews for things like the performances...O'Herilhy and Preston are terrific, Catherine Mary Stuart was always easy on the eyes, and Craig Safan's score are all kick-ass.

As far as it being "slow," seems like everyone has developed ADD -- especially kids. Unless there's an edit every 1.5 nanoseconds people can't sit still anymore. It's pretty sad, and it's why most major films today all have better effects but nothing else in comparison with films from decades past. But if FX are all you think this movie is about, seems like you ought to stick to the present day any way.

[DeathStalker2]

Originally Posted by DM2006RI

Couldn't disagree more. You make it sound like TRON, which it never was -- the film actually received a lot of good reviews for things like the performances...O'Herilhy and Preston are terrific, Catherine Mary Stuart was always easy on the eyes, and Craig Safan's score are all kick-ass.

As far as it being "slow," seems like everyone has developed ADD -- especially kids. Unless there's an edit every 1.5 nanoseconds people can't sit still anymore. It's pretty sad, and it's why most major films today all have better effects but nothing else in comparison with films from decades past. But if FX are all you think this movie is about, seems like you ought to stick to the present day any way.

I couldn't agree with you more about disagreeing more. I just finished watching this and it still holds up for me. I LOVE THIS MOVIE!! Great picture quality! It's the best I've ever seen it for sure.

[lemonhead99]

Originally Posted by DM2006RI

Couldn't disagree more. You make it sound like TRON, which it never was -- the film actually received a lot of good reviews for things like the performances...O'Herilhy and Preston are terrific, Catherine Mary Stuart was always easy on the eyes, and Craig Safan's score are all kick-ass.

As far as it being "slow," seems like everyone has developed ADD -- especially kids. Unless there's an edit every 1.5 nanoseconds people can't sit still anymore. It's pretty sad, and it's why most major films today all have better effects but nothing else in comparison with films from decades past. But if FX are all you think this movie is about, seems like you ought to stick to the present day any way.

Great post, I completely agree. Kinda like the older Bond movies. Can't wait to pick this up.

[briankmonkey]

I'm definitely jealous of this bad boy. Atari pre-rendered 3d graphics for the win!


Side question. Does anybody know of any good sites/forums for trying to figure out an old space movie (I'm guessing the same time frame as Last Starfighter)? All I remember is it had some ship that was I'm thinking tan colored with a design similar to the Enterprise without the dish (not nearly as big either), but two side capsules similar to the the engines on the enterprise. If I remember correctly the main character was some kid. I remember he encountered a traditional UFO style spaceship with I think friendly aliens as well. Movie was definitely in color. I just remember seeing it when I was a kid but have never been able to find anything on it as I have no idea how to search for it.

[wormraper]

Originally Posted by briankmonkey

I'm definitely jealous of this bad boy. Atari pre-rendered 3d graphics for the win!


Side question. Does anybody know of any good sites/forums for trying to figure out an old space movie (probabl same time frame as Last Starfighter)? All I remember is it had some ship that was I'm thinking tan colored with a design similar to the Enterprise without the dish, but two side capsules similar to the the engines on the enterprise. If I remember correctly the main character was some kid. I remember he encountered a traditional UFO style spaceship with I think friendly alients as well. Movie was definitely in color.

Are you thinking of "The Flight of the Navigator"????

http://www.deepdiscount.com/viewprod...ductId=5740697

[Kable]

Originally Posted by sdlehman

Cheesy or not, I will be getting this HD DVD.

Stace

Same here, all cheese aside, its one of my all time favorites. Glad to see its getting some HD lovin'.

[briankmonkey]

Originally Posted by wormraper

Are you thinking of "The Flight of the Navigator"????

http://www.deepdiscount.com/viewprod...ductId=5740697

No, but thanks for trying. Definitely fully in space from what I remember.

I think it is a little older than that, maybe even 70's but definitely color. The ship was more like the Enterprise shape but with out the saucer portion, but very rounded and tan if my memory serves me right. Kid was probably about the same age as the navigator kid but its been a long time.

[DeathStalker2]

Originally Posted by briankmonkey

I'm definitely jealous of this bad boy. Atari pre-rendered 3d graphics for the win!


Side question. Does anybody know of any good sites/forums for trying to figure out an old space movie (I'm guessing the same time frame as Last Starfighter)? All I remember is it had some ship that was I'm thinking tan colored with a design similar to the Enterprise without the dish (not nearly as big either), but two side capsules similar to the the engines on the enterprise. If I remember correctly the main character was some kid. I remember he encountered a traditional UFO style spaceship with I think friendly aliens as well. Movie was definitely in color. I just remember seeing it when I was a kid but have never been able to find anything on it as I have no idea how to search for it.

Did the the ship have a pair of nuts?
http://www.lonaf.com/phpBB2/files/69...37gcdr_186.jpg

[briankmonkey]

Originally Posted by DeathStalker2

Did the the ship have a pair of nuts?
http://www.lonaf.com/phpBB2/files/69...37gcdr_186.jpg

Awesome, you nailed! Thanks a bunch! I did not remember the nuts, lol

Holy, starting at $45 on amazon..

Just watched the trailer, brings back some of the memories:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=DcjDJ0SdOjs

[DeathStalker2]

Originally Posted by briankmonkey

Awesome, you nailed! Thanks a bunch! I did not remember the nuts, lol

Holy, starting at $45 on amazon..

Just watched the trailer, brings back some of the memories:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=DcjDJ0SdOjs

Haha. I pulled that one out of my arse.

I paid about 25 on ebay for it. It's definitely a fun cheese fest that you can enjoy with some friends and BEER of course.

Galaxina and Star Crash are good (CHEESE) ones too.

[briankmonkey]

haha, I just watched the trailer for Galaxina. Fabulous and she's hot!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=KbfkdfUip1E

lol, Star Crash looks great as well. Thanks for the suggestions!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=pzfuNSpP0RA

[StarmanTHX]

Originally Posted by DeathStalker2

Did the the ship have a pair of nuts?
http://www.lonaf.com/phpBB2/files/69...37gcdr_186.jpg

Those are breasts, not nuts.

[bboisvert]

Originally Posted by briankmonkey

haha, I just watched the trailer for Galaxina. Fabulous and she's hot!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=KbfkdfUip1E

Oddly enough, that one was actually announced for HD DVD release way back in the early days. BCI/Eclipse decided to hold back and not release, after finding that many retailers weren't willing to stock thier titles in HD.


And, yes, Battle Beyond the Stars is a really fun movie. (With effects work by a young James Cameron.) I had no idea the DVD was out-of-print. It's worth picking it up if you can find it for a reasonable price.

[Sxrd55]

Well I needed another item in my amazon cart to get the free shipping! And it has been 6 moths or so since I last watched TLSF so what the hell! No I just have to wait for amazons 2-3 week shipping!

[Vincent Kennedy]

Originally Posted by briankmonkey

Awesome, you nailed! Thanks a bunch! I did not remember the nuts, lol

Holy, starting at $45 on amazon..

Just watched the trailer, brings back some of the memories:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=DcjDJ0SdOjs

Is that Col. John "Hannibal" Smith there? Its nice to seet he A-Team in space!

Did they use all the unused Buck Rogers footage for Special effects and Sound Effects?

[Gruson]

Just a special effects movie?

Come on!

It's a movie about finding yourself and it does a great job at it. Small town, girlfriend, family, future, friends, etc.

I just watched it and still love it. A couple of slow sequences but overall it's still a classic IMO.

I cannot imagine how Hollywood would make this today. My only complaint is the bad guys should have been cooler and more menacing. They have always been kind of lame....especially the main one.

Back to the movie, what a great score from Craig Safan! Hearing the main theme really adds to the movie.

There are some great, magical moments during it that give me the chills, especially Alex's last speech trying to get Maggie to leave with him and then the music leading up to her joining him. Classic.

Centauri and Grig are still as funny as ever.

On another note, I also loved Nick Castle's The Boy Who Could Fly.

It's funny the guy who played Michael Myers in Halloween could make such great movies!

[bboisvert]

Originally Posted by Vincent Kennedy

Did they use all the unused Buck Rogers footage for Special effects and Sound Effects?

Battle Beyond the Stars used all brand-new effects (as mentioned, James Cameron worked on them) in addition to an original score by James Horner. The whole thing was the most expensive movie Roger Corman had ever done (at least at the time) with a budget around $2 million.

Of course, Corman being Corman, he then recycled all of the score and effects work and used them to make a second movie, Star Raiders a couple of years later. Made sure to get his money's worth out of that work.

[v1001]

I picked up The Last Starfighter today at Frys

Going to watch it right now.

[Rastor]

Is it just me, or is there some kind of noise reduction filter applied on this disc? I think I would rather have had the grain...

[eatenbacktolife]

I also think this movie held up very well! Except for the special effects, which look like Virtua Racing, it did not feel dated to me. Any fans should buy.

[Dave Mack]

Originally Posted by briankmonkey

I'm definitely jealous of this bad boy. Atari pre-rendered 3d graphics for the win!


Side question. Does anybody know of any good sites/forums for trying to figure out an old space movie (I'm guessing the same time frame as Last Starfighter)? All I remember is it had some ship that was I'm thinking tan colored with a design similar to the Enterprise without the dish (not nearly as big either), but two side capsules similar to the the engines on the enterprise. If I remember correctly the main character was some kid. I remember he encountered a traditional UFO style spaceship with I think friendly aliens as well. Movie was definitely in color. I just remember seeing it when I was a kid but have never been able to find anything on it as I have no idea how to search for it.

Battle Beyond The stars, a Roger Corman SW knockoff. Not bad, either.

Just watched the trailer. Holy crap, I remember 1/2 of those lines!

I saw it opening weekend at the long gone Paramount movie theater in the old GW building in manhattan.

[Dave Mack]

Originally Posted by bboisvert

Battle Beyond the Stars used all brand-new effects (as mentioned, James Cameron worked on them) in addition to an original score by James Horner. The whole thing was the most expensive movie Roger Corman had ever done (at least at the time) with a budget around $2 million.

Of course, Corman being Corman, he then recycled all of the score and effects work and used them to make a second movie, Star Raiders a couple of years later. Made sure to get his money's worth out of that work.

yep, and James Horner recycled alot of the score for Wrath of Khan if memory serves.