The Last Starfighter Review (Updated)

The Last Starfighter

Release Date: 13th December 1984 – Australia

Production Companies

Universal Pictures

Lorimar Film Entertainment

Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: PG

Runtime: 101 minutes


Budget: $15,000,000

Box Office Gross: $28,736,154 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary
Alex Rogan leaves his
trailer park home behind
when he gets recruited by
an alien called Centauri to
join the Star League after
impressively completing
the Starfighter video game.
He gets thrust into outer

space and suddenly

becomes the Star League's

last hope after almost all

their elite fighters got

destroyed. He must

defend his new allies and

hundreds of worlds

(including Earth) from

the clutches of Xur and

his Kodan Armada.

Cast

Lance Guest – Alex Rogan/

Beta Alex

Dan O'Herlihy – Grig

Catherine Mary Stewart –

Maggie Gordon

Norman Snow – Xur

Robert Preston – Centauri

Kay E. Kuter – Enduran

Barbara Bosson – Jane Rogan

Chris Hebert – Louis Rogan

Dan Mason – Lord Kril

Vernon Washington – Otis

John O'Leary – Rylan Bursar
Peter Nelson – Jack Blake
Meg Wylie – Granny Gordon
Peggy Pope – Elvira
Ellen Blake – Clara Potter
Britt Leach – Mr. Potter
Bunny Summers – Mrs. Boone
Owen Bush – Mr. Boone
Cameron Dye – Andy
Geoffrey Blake – Gary

Kimberly Ross – Cheerleader II

Wil Wheaton – Louis' Friend

Bob Kenaston – Uncle Bob

Scott Dunlop – Tentacle Alien

John Maio – Friendly Alien

Charlene Nelson – Rylan Technician

George McDaniel – Kodan Officer

Robert Starr – Underling

Al Berry – Rylan Spy

Marc Alamo – Hitchhiker

Ed Berke – Cop #1

Crew

Director – Nick Castle
Writer – Jonathan R. Betuel
Associate Producer – John Whitney Jr.

Producers – Gary Adelson and

Edward O. Denault

Animal Handlers – Gary Gero and

Gwen Johnson

Production Designer – Ron Cobb

Art Director – Jim Bissell

Set Decorator – Linda Spheeris
Costume Designer – Robert Fletcher
Design Makeup – Terry Smith

Technical Makeup – Werner Keppler

Mechanical Effects Makeup – Lance Anderson

Director of Photography – King Baggot

First Assistant Director – Brian E. Frankish

Stunt Coordinator – Glenn R. Wilder
Special Effects – Kevin Pike,

James Camomile, Michael Lantieri,

Darrell Pritchett and Joseph C. Sasgen

Visual Effects Coordinator – Jeffrey A. Okun

Technical Executive: Digital Productions –

Gary Demos

Unit Supervisor: Digital Productions –

Claudia Summer

Senior Drafter/Encoder: Digital Productions –

Kevin Rafferty

Senior Technical Manager: Digital Productions –

Jim Rygiel

Film Editor – Carroll Timothy O'Meara

Supervising Sound Editor – Fred J. Brown

Sound Editors – Bub Asman and

Michele Sharp

Assistant Sound Editor – Juno J. Ellis

Re-Recording Mixers – Robert L. Hoyt,

B. Tennyson Sebastian II and John J. Stephens

Music – Craig Safan

Review

THE LAST STARFIGHTER was a rare science fiction film that premiered in 1984 and was a cult classic. Its plot was like Star Wars, but it was an engaging step in adopting a video game concept on film. I enjoyed its early computer graphic effects since it was only the second movie to use them (the first being Tron), even though it looks dated by now. It marked the beginning of new possibilities for visual effects to use computer animation in other films and was a big step forward.

The acting from Lance Guest was terrific, especially when he plays a nice dual role as the android Beta. It was a shame that he never got to be a well-known actor with a prolific career. The same goes for Catherine Mary Stewart, who plays the love interest Maggie. The late Robert Preston shines in his final role as Centauri. He deliberately modelled the character after the famous con man he played in The Music Man. Also worth mentioning is Dan O'Herlihy, who is marvellous as the alien Grig. The humour is top-quality despite being corny. I identify it as a teen/sci-fi comedy movie. I also praise the rousing music score by Craig Safan, which sounded similar to the Star Wars music by John Williams and liberally borrowed its cues.

I admit that this has been a good movie. I will have to wait for THE LAST STARFIGHTER to be released on Blu-ray and DVD in Australia before I re-watch it. Like any other Aussie, I have only seen the film on digital television and VHS. Whether you have it on VHS or not, you may want to experience it.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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