After writing a thread: Arcade Cabs: Prototype and Urban Legends Released, I hadda get the movie to see the real Arcade remake cabinet in action. In the DVD bonus features section sure enough, the replica Cab is in it running at full glory. Used as intro to documentary Crossing the Frontier: The Making Of The Last Starfighter, unfortunately the original actor who is narrating didn't demonstrate the running Arcade in front of the camera. Well looks fully fuctional though.
A pre Eco clear case and the movie is Anamorphic, yes!
One of the first movies to use CGI as Tron for scenes. generated with a Cray Super computer easily outpowered by your cell phone today. What I liked about the movie was not the CGI, but the story in its simplicity small town atmosphere. Funny how a lost era captured the amazement of an arcade game, now just taken for granted.
But what really makes this movie is the wonderful characters and dialog. Especially these two:
Robert Preston reprises his role as Music Man, a fast talking con artist.
He uses an Arcade game to find the best Starfighter.
"You may have thought it was a game, but it was also a test! AHA!"
"To find those with the gift to be Starfighters and here you are my boy!"
When Alex wants to quit:
"Do you know how long it took to invent the game, the merchandising, to get it in the stores by Christmas?"
Dan O'Herlihy as the horse laughing alien character Grig
"How many Starfighters are left?"
"One"
"It'll be a slaughter!"
"Thats the Spirit!"
"No my slaughter! One ship against the entire Armada?"
"I've always want to fight a desperate battle against incredible odds."
Yes the movie is 80s effects and a little campy. But be a kid again for a couple hours and as Ebert says my "Guilty Pleasure."
Last Starfighter Theater Trailor
