The Last Starfighter

The Last Starfighter 1984
Director: Nick Castle
Writer: Jonathon R. Beteul
Starring Lance Guest, Catherine Mary Stewart, Robert Preston, Dan O'Herlihy, Barbara Bosson, Norman Snow, Chris Hebert, John O'Leary and Vernon Washington

There are certain films you grow up watching that lose their luster as you get older, but there are some that get better as you get older. The Last Starfighter is one of the latter. It is just one of those films that make you feel good as you watch it, with its rousing score and exciting space dog fights, it is a film that just gets better with each viewing. It also has a tremendous cast for the film that really puts it head and shoulders above some of the other SF films of the time. IT was one of the first films to use computer generated effects well, and the SFX in the film still look good by today's exacting standards. It is funny I cannot stand the film Tron, but This film is one of my favorites and even though I just watched it I could put it on and watch it again. It is just amazing sometimes how you react toward a film, re watching it sometimes is like visiting a old friend.
The plot basics are this, Alex Rogan is a young man who seems to be stuck in a trailer park with his dreams of going to college and building a better life dashed. His only outlet seems to be a video game at the park that lets him air out his grievances. He beats this game and he soon finds out that the game is actually a test to recruit new fighters for a real intergalactic battle. Alex meets Centauri (Preston) the creator of the game and enlists him to fight the tyrannical Xur )Snow), but Alex is not ready for that. He makes Centauri return him to Earth, but soon sees that a alien bounty hunter is after him and after Centauri is gravely wounded he decides to go back and fight Xur and when he gets there he discovers he is the only Starfighter left, along with his pilot Grig (O'Herlihy). They face overwhelming odds, but with the skill of Alex they may have a chance to beat Xur and his armada.
This is a entertaining and bravo inducing film. The direction by Castle is done expertly. The film has a light and deft touch to it, but also has great action sequences along with some emotional heartwarming moments. Castle balances all of these varied themes very well. The script is great too, the characters are very much alive and you really sympathize with Alex and Maggie's characters, and you hope to see them make it together at the end. The finest point of the script though, is the character of Centauri, he really steals the show in the film and is one of the most memorable things about the film. The cast is exceptional. Guest is great as Alex and really makes a sympathetic hero that you can empathize with. Stewart as Maggie is very good too, as the love interest who does not know what to make of all the strange goings on's. O'Herlihy as Grig is very boisterous and amusing and is a great addition to the cast. Preston as Centauri really steals the show as the slick salesman for the Alliance, and every scene he is in he really lightens up the screen. The SFX and effects are done very well, for this early stage of computer effects though somewhat rudimentary is done really well here. The space ship battles are riveting and a hell of a lot of fun to watch. The score by Craig Safari is the final ingredient in this film that really makes it soar. It is rousing and bombastic and you cannot help but hum it after the film is finished. This is a great SF adventure and highly recommended for fans of this type of space opera.
This one gets 5 out of 5