Cognitive Science Movie Reviews

This movie(and commentary by Joel and the 'bots) starts out slow, really slow and gets funny mid way through. In the end it is great. Arch Hall Jr. provides most of the laughs. The MST3K shorts are better though.

Although this episode of MST3k featured one of the series funniest, and most memorable lines ("Watch out for snakes!!"), i still found the actual movie a bit too disturbing to really enjoy, even on the bad movie scale.
The basic premise: a young woman stumbles upon a "giant" living in the hills. and when her adventurer father goes in search of him, and ends up being kidnapped, she and her boyfriend set off on their own search. She ends up getting kidnapped herself, and the disturbing part...comes in the way her father basically "offers her" up to the giant in order for them not to be hurt. There are actually a few reasons this movie is uncomfortable to watch. There are some genuinely funny moments here, but unfortunitely, no amount of comic relief from Joel and the bots, can save this one.

I absolutely love this episode! There are so many funny things happening that every time I watch it I catch a new joke. This episode also contains some of the lines that have become "inside jokes" for later episodes, such as "Watch out for snakes!" I would recommend this episode, as it is one my favorites, as well as a favorite of many MST3K fans. I don't want to give too much away, just believe me - it is funny. Living in Minnesota I've been a fan of the show since they were on public television.

I sure hope Rhino keeps releasing these on DVD, since the reruns are no longer on the air. So buy this to show your support for MST3K so they keep on releasing!!

The main character is the only guy in town who seems to know what's going on here. Did nobody else in the town realize what was going on and report it to the authorities??

By any conceivable standard, the original INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS is one of the greatest Sci-fi films ever made. There was also an excellent sequel in 1978 starring Donald Sutherland, but it lacked the wider political situation that gave the original so much power. That the original is such a great film is a bit surprising. It was, on the face of it, merely another fifties Sci-fi film, with a cast of relatively unknown performers (except for Dana Wynter). The plot was excruciatingly simple: the residents of a small California town are being systematically replaced by clones produced by large pods that are being brought there in vast numbers. As various people that the central characters know get replaced by clones, the paranoia builds to a degree unmatched in any other film.

There has been an ongoing debate as to whether the film is best read as an attack on McCarthyism or a commentary on communist infiltration, or perhaps merely as an attack on conformity in general. In the end, I don't think it matters. What is important is the intensity of the paranoia that the situation engenders. Between the suspicion of one's peers and the incredible tension created by the need of the characters to not fall asleep (the pods take over the moment one falls asleep, if only for a brief second), this is one of the most emotionally stressful films ever made. The moment when, near the end of the film, Kevin McCarthy looks into the face of Dana Wynter and realizes that she has drifted off to sleep for a brief second is one of the most horrible moments I know in Sci-fi.

The film is just so incredibly well done that it is hard to find too many things to praise. The threat of alien invasion is greatly intensified by its taking place in a quiet, peaceful small town. The inhabitants all look so remarkably pleasant, and yet their goal is to rob each individual of his or her soul. The cinematography is extraordinary. If one watches the film on DVD and freezes the screen randomly, one thing that becomes obvious is how magnificently nearly every shot is framed. Everything-the acting, the script, the cinematography-blends together to make this not merely what is arguably the finest fifties Sci-fi film, but one of the greatest psychological thrillers ever made.

A classic sci-fi thriller made on a small budget with a relatively unknown cast and no special effects. A small American town is invaded by strange pods from outer space and the residents are replaced by soulless duplicates of themselves which hatch from the pods. Kevin McCarthy in one of his few roles as a leading man, stars as a doctor who tries to stop the silent invasion. The film's direction by Don Siegel is simple but effective: the sense of suspense and doom is created not by visual effects or elaborate settings but by consistently placing McCarthy where he has to hide in smaller and smaller and darker and darker places. At the end when McCarthy finally does break away, he bursts forth onto the freeway to warn the rest of the world before it's too late - one of the most famous moments in cinematic history. Originally the film was to end there but studio heads demanded a less depressing conclusion and a more conventional finale was added. The film has frequently been called an allegory for McCarthyism, but it can be enjoyed at face value as an excellent example of 1950s science fiction.

Fantasy is very much a sometimes thing for me. And I have to admit it's always interesting to see how genre fans respond to a given film. It's not always what you would expect. I found DRAGONSLAYER a little plodding at times, and the script didn't seem like much. In fact, I dozed more than once and had to thank the Force or the gods or whatever that I could hit my back button. So naturally, I was interested in what hardcore fantasy buffs would say about the film. Judging from the comments below, true genre films LOVE this film...and pretty much for the reasons you might expect: good special effects; beautiful and evocative settings; a couple of not-so-predictable plot twists.

On the other hand, there are those script problems. The dialog is not what you'd call scintillating. The best lines go to the minor characters (Sydney Bromley has a field day), whereas poor Peter MacNicol in the title role gets to say things like, "Yes, I'm in love, but not with the princess. I'm in love with you." Yeccchhh!

Peter MacNicol has one of those elfin faces that makes him a natural for a part like this. If you're doing a fantasy flick and Sam Neill is unavailable, you'd definitely want to consider Peter. Whether the now middle-aged actor would welcome that kind of casting after playing more grown-up roles on CHICAGO HOPE and ALLY MacBEAL is hard to say. But he's effective here and certainly looks the part.

Speaking of Sam Neill, here's where my not being a genre specialist leaves me scratching my proverbial head. I watched the series MERLIN a while back and rather enjoyed it. I was then pretty surprised to that series raked over the coals by fantasy lovers who posted on Amazon.com. I have no real clue why MERLIN left the fans cold, while DRAGONSLAYER seems to enthrall them. Well, DRAGONSLAYER had a bigger budget and it shows. Beyond that, well, I'm just not sure.

Bottom line: fantasy lovers will probably love this. Non-fans of the genre will probably find it OK. It's not a bad way to while away a lazy Saturday afternoon.

First of all, this IS a truly great movie. A good demonstration of how some gems can get lost in the dross. The favorable reviews here prove the point -- we can safely disregard that one who just doesn't "get it."

However, of all the DVD's I own, this is the only one that gives me trouble on my CyberHome CH-DVD500 player. Namely:

I CAN'T TURN OFF THE ENGLISH SUBTITLES!!!!!

They intrude beneath the picture no matter what I do. Perhaps this is a quirk of my player, but if you have the same problem, POST IT HERE and on epinions.com. And write Paramount.

With all of the high tech special effect films out these days, it is very easy to forget about a movie that is over 20 years old. If you never seen this movie and you enjoy dragon stories, don't hesitate buying this one!!! It is not overly violent or gross ( although the baby dragons in the cave chewing on that ankle was a little chilling ) the story does not fall into that type of meyhem. Even by today's standards if you are looking for a good late night dragon movie buy some popcorn and buy this DVD. You will be glad you did!!

ROUGHNECKS reminded me of the GI JOE cartoons I used to watch in the 1980s when I was a kid. Except instead of soldiers fighting a group of evil troops wanting to take over the world, in ROUGHNECKS a group of soldiers is fighting an army of giant alien bugs bent on destroying humankind. For a made-for-tv cartoon series, the animation is surprisingly well done. The plot of the episodes is solid and they run together smoothly, without much jarring commercial break-type interludes. This episode of the series tends to follow the movie, rather than the original novel, but if you can put that aside and view with an open mind, you might actually enjoy watching. Great video for middle school adolescents who like sci-fi.

The Starship Trooper Chronicles are one of the greatest series ever made and should be put back on T.V. immediatley. Never before have i been so attached to an animated series like have this one. It brings the developed storyline of an anime and the American styled shootem up action film in one. Not only is their great character development but a great entertainment; that is why i feel Roughnecks should be put back on T.V. immediatley.

The firtst time I saw starship troopers, I could not believe my eyes. The artistry of animation is truly impressive. A dream come true for any animation artist, to see the future of cartoons become reality. The story exceptional. The caracters realistic. And the bugs; the bugs are vicious and every horror lover's dream. How sad it is not on television anymore. Truly a big mistake.

The year is 1971. A satellite has fallen to Earth and landed in Piedmont, New Mexico, population 68. The military has dispatched two men to retrieve it, but upon arriving in Piedmont, they discover the town littered with corpses. The men only have time to briefly contact their superiors before succumbing themselves. The military quickly realizes that the satellite, Scoop 7, which was intended to collect samples of microscopic extraterrestrial life, has brought back something very dangerous indeed. Emergency protocols are implemented and four top biologists from around the nation are called upon to investigate the threat. The leader of the team is nobel laureate Dr. Jeremy Stone (Arthur Hill). His colleagues are Dr. Ruth Leavitt (Kate Reid), Dr. Charles Dutton (David Wayne), and Dr. Mark Hall (James Olson), a surgeon and the only MD on the team. Drs. Stone and Hall first must go to Piedmont to retrieve the satellite. Once there, they find two persons still living, a baby who cries constantly and an old drunkard. They proceed to a top secret underground compound code named "Wildfire". Here, they must identify the contagion and find a method of containing it before the catastrophe spreads beyond the little town of Piedmont.

"The Andromeda Strain" is based on Michael Crichton's novel of the same name. The story's premise, a lethal extraterrestrial microbe on the loose, certainly presents opportunity for an entertaining, suspenseful sci-fi thriller. And the film does have its moments. But I found "The Andromeda Strain" overwhelmed with credibility problems and suffering from some basic storytelling mistakes.

The film is poorly structured. The movie spends too much time demonstrating the features and protocols of the Wildfire compound, none of which have any relevance to the story with the exception of Wildfire's self-destruct mechanism. I felt like someone was trying to sell me the place. I also found the film's conclusion to be very unsatisfying. The plot essentially resolves itself by means of a deus ex machina.

An awful lot of "The Andromeda Strain" just doesn't make any sense. Science fiction doesn't have to entirely make sense, but I've always felt that it should be consistent within the parameters of the world the author has created. Part of the problem is that the movie takes place in 1971, contemporary to its production. If a story takes place on the other side of the galaxy or in the distant future, it is easier to write off nonsensical plot elements as artistic license. But "The Andromeda Strain" sets out to be believable. The filmmaker's go so far as to claim that the events are real at the film's start. So they should have given more attention to the film's credibility. I won't list all of film's breakdowns in logic. But here are a few. You will undoubtedly find more: Where would a satellite come by an extraterrestrial microorganism? Satellites don't actually go anywhere; they just orbit. Why do the scientists go through those time-consuming decontamination protocols? Any containment measures which protect the scientists from the organism will obviously also protect the organism from them. How could the organism's rate of replication and mutation spontaneously and exponentially increase? If the organism had behaved like that all along, the crisis would have been averted before it had begun.

It's possible that I would have been more tolerant of "The Andromeda Strain"'s faults if I had seen the film in the early 1970's. Audiences were probably impressed by the film's high-tech gadgetry at the time. But many other movies from the 1970's have stood the test of time. I think that "The Andromeda Strain" is more useful as an example of cinematic technique and popular culture from its time than it is a good or entertaining film.

"Andromeda Strain" is one of my favorite movies because it stands the test of time. Although made in the early 1970's, the technology shown,
including the computers still looks up-to-date, with the main difference being that today, the graphical displays of the data would be much more colorful. However, the techniques used to analyze the "Andromeda" organism would be the same ones used today. Of course, much of the suspense of the movie is created by a stuck sliver of paper, and that would not occur today, but 99% of what is shown (including the threat to mankind for terrestrial biological warfare or extra-terrestrial organisms) is still very relevant. In fact, the society in which the film takes place is more "future-oriented" than our current one because reference is made to the Lunar Receiving Laboratory in Houston which processed the samples returned from the Moon by the Apollo astronauts, and which has since been idled by the loss of the spirit of exploration in our current society, so the makers of the film were able to do more futuristic thinking and make a story and laboratory that looks contemporary even decades later. Finally, the actors, led by Arthur Hill (one of my favorites) are all "cool, intellectual" types, and although there are differences of opinion between them, they all submerge their egos to get their vital work done. It is sad that films of this type are not made any more. Get it and see what I mean!

As a kid I saw this movie but had no idea what it was - my parents did not want to leave us with babysitters so we just tagged along. The scene that got stuck in my head and remained way in the back was the one where somebody is climbing a ladder and "getting shocked" - as I saw it then and finally getting to to some device to turn it off.

In 1999, I rented every 1970 sci-fi flick to find out what movie had this scene. I saw some pretty interesting flicks like Omega Man, Westworld, and Zero Population Growth(which I thought was it!). It just happens that a movie buff I ran into told me what movie that scene belonged to.

Since then I saw it 9 times in 1999 and 3 more times in 2003, this now beats out Pricilla Queen Of The Desert.

This movie maximizes on Suspence and of course Michael Crichton's book. Now this is not some cheesy sci-fi about aliens invading or monsters. There is not much action, it's a slow-poker. What makes it so good is the way it engrosses you and keeps you tagging along all the way with it.

Some in a review says the acting is terrible. Now I am not much on detecting good and bad acting jobs (unless it's really fouled up) and I did not notice. However here is a note about the acting: In the DVD's "Making Of" feature the Director said he deliberately went for low-profile actors because he felt it would compromise the story. This makes sense because of it's documentary nature. (Like I said, it's a slow going movie that uses suspense for all it's worth).

Here you have 5 scientists who get pulled out of their lives, brought to the Wildfire installation to research a new virus or bug. They must go through rigorous sterilization procedures before they can begin their work. You get a realistic view of what goes on inside a scientist's laboratory and well, it's not all action and and focused on stud-men or sexy women love scenes etc (Although Kate Reid did turn me on, and Paulla Kella was hot). I am delighted that there were no love scenes in this film.

I really like the secret installation. This movie is not set in the future so it comes off as ahead of it's time in technology. It's not a stretch to imagine such an installation existing today with even more advanced equipment and procedures. The secret elevator, was sooo cool. It reminded me of when I read Independence Day because there was a secret elevator in that one but it was not in the movie. Who would expect a storage closet to be and elevator! I would have loved this as a kid.

Even thought this is a suspence-thriller sci-fi, the movie gets off a few elements of comedy but nothing that would detract from the seriousness. Kate Reid's "attitude-ee" character is mostly responsible for these, the most obvious one: "I MEAN IT STONE, YOU CAN TAKE YOUR BODY ANALYSER AND YOU CAN....{Thump! we see/hear. the door close on her face.}"

Great movie for drama, suspense, sci-fi gadetry and NO LOVE SCENES!!!!

The year is 1971. A satellite has fallen to Earth and landed in Piedmont, New Mexico, population 68. The military has dispatched two men to retrieve it, but upon arriving in Piedmont, they discover the town littered with corpses. The men only have time to briefly contact their superiors before succumbing themselves. The military quickly realizes that the satellite, Scoop 7, which was intended to collect samples of microscopic extraterrestrial life, has brought back something very dangerous indeed. Emergency protocols are implemented and four top biologists from around the nation are called upon to investigate the threat. The leader of the team is nobel laureate Dr. Jeremy Stone (Arthur Hill). His colleagues are Dr. Ruth Leavitt (Kate Reid), Dr. Charles Dutton (David Wayne), and Dr. Mark Hall (James Olson), a surgeon and the only MD on the team. Drs. Stone and Hall first must go to Piedmont to retrieve the satellite. Once there, they find two persons still living, a baby who cries constantly and an old drunkard. They proceed to a top secret underground compound code named "Wildfire". Here, they must identify the contagion and find a method of containing it before the catastrophe spreads beyond the little town of Piedmont.

"The Andromeda Strain" is based on Michael Crichton's novel of the same name. The story's premise, a lethal extraterrestrial microbe on the loose, certainly presents opportunity for an entertaining, suspenseful sci-fi thriller. And the film does have its moments. But I found "The Andromeda Strain" overwhelmed with credibility problems and suffering from some basic storytelling mistakes.

The film is poorly structured. The movie spends too much time demonstrating the features and protocols of the Wildfire compound, none of which have any relevance to the story with the exception of Wildfire's self-destruct mechanism. I felt like someone was trying to sell me the place. I also found the film's conclusion to be very unsatisfying. The plot essentially resolves itself by means of a deus ex machina.

An awful lot of "The Andromeda Strain" just doesn't make any sense. Science fiction doesn't have to entirely make sense, but I've always felt that it should be consistent within the parameters of the world the author has created. Part of the problem is that the movie takes place in 1971, contemporary to its production. If a story takes place on the other side of the galaxy or in the distant future, it is easier to write off nonsensical plot elements as artistic license. But "The Andromeda Strain" sets out to be believable. The filmmaker's go so far as to claim that the events are real at the film's start. So they should have given more attention to the film's credibility. I won't list all of film's breakdowns in logic. But here are a few. You will undoubtedly find more: Where would a satellite come by an extraterrestrial microorganism? Satellites don't actually go anywhere; they just orbit. Why do the scientists go through those time-consuming decontamination protocols? Any containment measures which protect the scientists from the organism will obviously also protect the organism from them. How could the organism's rate of replication and mutation spontaneously and exponentially increase? If the organism had behaved like that all along, the crisis would have been averted before it had begun.

It's possible that I would have been more tolerant of "The Andromeda Strain"'s faults if I had seen the film in the early 1970's. Audiences were probably impressed by the film's high-tech gadgetry at the time. But many other movies from the 1970's have stood the test of time. I think that "The Andromeda Strain" is more useful as an example of cinematic technique and popular culture from its time than it is a good or entertaining film.

"Andromeda Strain" is one of my favorite movies because it stands the test of time. Although made in the early 1970's, the technology shown,
including the computers still looks up-to-date, with the main difference being that today, the graphical displays of the data would be much more colorful. However, the techniques used to analyze the "Andromeda" organism would be the same ones used today. Of course, much of the suspense of the movie is created by a stuck sliver of paper, and that would not occur today, but 99% of what is shown (including the threat to mankind for terrestrial biological warfare or extra-terrestrial organisms) is still very relevant. In fact, the society in which the film takes place is more "future-oriented" than our current one because reference is made to the Lunar Receiving Laboratory in Houston which processed the samples returned from the Moon by the Apollo astronauts, and which has since been idled by the loss of the spirit of exploration in our current society, so the makers of the film were able to do more futuristic thinking and make a story and laboratory that looks contemporary even decades later. Finally, the actors, led by Arthur Hill (one of my favorites) are all "cool, intellectual" types, and although there are differences of opinion between them, they all submerge their egos to get their vital work done. It is sad that films of this type are not made any more. Get it and see what I mean!

As a kid I saw this movie but had no idea what it was - my parents did not want to leave us with babysitters so we just tagged along. The scene that got stuck in my head and remained way in the back was the one where somebody is climbing a ladder and "getting shocked" - as I saw it then and finally getting to to some device to turn it off.

In 1999, I rented every 1970 sci-fi flick to find out what movie had this scene. I saw some pretty interesting flicks like Omega Man, Westworld, and Zero Population Growth(which I thought was it!). It just happens that a movie buff I ran into told me what movie that scene belonged to.

Since then I saw it 9 times in 1999 and 3 more times in 2003, this now beats out Pricilla Queen Of The Desert.

This movie maximizes on Suspence and of course Michael Crichton's book. Now this is not some cheesy sci-fi about aliens invading or monsters. There is not much action, it's a slow-poker. What makes it so good is the way it engrosses you and keeps you tagging along all the way with it.

Some in a review says the acting is terrible. Now I am not much on detecting good and bad acting jobs (unless it's really fouled up) and I did not notice. However here is a note about the acting: In the DVD's "Making Of" feature the Director said he deliberately went for low-profile actors because he felt it would compromise the story. This makes sense because of it's documentary nature. (Like I said, it's a slow going movie that uses suspense for all it's worth).

Here you have 5 scientists who get pulled out of their lives, brought to the Wildfire installation to research a new virus or bug. They must go through rigorous sterilization procedures before they can begin their work. You get a realistic view of what goes on inside a scientist's laboratory and well, it's not all action and and focused on stud-men or sexy women love scenes etc (Although Kate Reid did turn me on, and Paulla Kella was hot). I am delighted that there were no love scenes in this film.

I really like the secret installation. This movie is not set in the future so it comes off as ahead of it's time in technology. It's not a stretch to imagine such an installation existing today with even more advanced equipment and procedures. The secret elevator, was sooo cool. It reminded me of when I read Independence Day because there was a secret elevator in that one but it was not in the movie. Who would expect a storage closet to be and elevator! I would have loved this as a kid.

Even thought this is a suspence-thriller sci-fi, the movie gets off a few elements of comedy but nothing that would detract from the seriousness. Kate Reid's "attitude-ee" character is mostly responsible for these, the most obvious one: "I MEAN IT STONE, YOU CAN TAKE YOUR BODY ANALYSER AND YOU CAN....{Thump! we see/hear. the door close on her face.}"

Great movie for drama, suspense, sci-fi gadetry and NO LOVE SCENES!!!!

NASA had the sense to quarantine it's astronauts after the first moon landing and that was space travel in it's infancy. Are you seriously trying to tell me an advanced technological alien culture wouldn't have taken germs into consideration, especially in the light of their anaemia?

What would the military do without Professor Forrester? "You'll need reinforcements", "we can't hold them, you'd better tell Washington!" Gosh, thanks, oh Professor of stating the bleedin' obvious. Next time you're wondering where the bread goes in the toaster, you'll know who to call for advice.

Wow! One would think, given the fact that this is a bonofide classic movie, that the people at Paramount would've given this DVD release just a little bit more attention than they did. How ironic that the 50's technology that brought this cool film to the screen far outshines the present day technology used to put it on a DVD. I sometimes hafta wonder if some of those who are in charge of actually putting these things together don't have a clue as to what place certain flicks hold in cinema history and just lets this stuff slide. Someone was definitely asleep at the wheel with this DVD release.
I'd picked this up hoping to be treated to a near to a total archival print of this film but what was contained on this disc was very reminiscent of what you'd see on the television at 3am, just minus the commercials. The print is fairly scratchy and lacking clarity in parts, that if you don't hold high quality expectations or want to just casually view it, then you might be satisfied with this purchase, as it is definitely watchable on that level. However, if you're expecting a wonderfully clean film print with bright, vivid 50's Technicolor, you will be sorely dissappointed when you stop to think that so much more could've been had given the DVD medium (insert tears & violin strings here--;-). And anyone who's seen this film can tell you, it's a wildly colorful flick that needs to be seen in all of its glory for the full effect. I'd hafta say that the slickest that you'll see this as far as this DVD is concerned is via the box art. The art looks pretty cool despite not having that 50's flair for drama & hype that's indicative of the period.
The poor product presentation aside, what else needs to be said about this classic sci-fi romp? Definitely fun escapism that just captures the 50's Atomic drama via an H.G. Wells update/adaption perfectly. The design of the war machines is still cool even today, and I remembered how fascinated I was by the look and the now classic sound effects as a kid and how I'd never missed a showing at the theater or convention. It's a definite nostalgia trip if you're an old school sci-fi geek like I. Even the occasionally showing SPFX strings that supported the war machines were then and still is a welcome sight. Digital FX nowadays are cool, and I love them, but there's just a little sumthin' about the limited SPFX of that time period (and actually, back then, this *was* state of the art as mentioned by other reviewers). And Anne Robinson's role of coffee server to the men 'in control' during a time of crisis was an ...uh....interesting, almost funny insight into society back then for sure ( I mean really, *THAT* was the best they could come up for her to do while the world was being annihilated? lol!) My how times have changed!
This is another favorite flick of mine. It stands up as entertainment through repeated viewings since not only is the story itself a classic, but here, the Martians land at the beginning of the film, so it literally starts off with a bang....or crash that is, and the ride starts from there. I hafta knock of a ratings point simply because of the lacking film transfer since casual AND serious viewers need to know what they're gonna get before putting down their hard earned cash for this. The film itself,on the other, hand gets FIVE STARS!

I was born 2 years after this movie's release, and my family did not have a color TV, so my earliest memories of this movie would have been from watching "Chiller Theatre" on a Pittsburgh TV station in black and white. Even on the small screen this movie just blew away all of the other contemporary sci-fi movies. Eventually I was able to view the movie in color, but still on TV. Years later I acquired the VHS version and was able to appreciate the movie in vivid color and sound. This movie is now 50 years old and is still one of the finest of its genre even when compared with its contemporary competition. Along with the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers, the original Invaders From Mars, Forbidden Planet, and the original Thing, this is simply a "must have" for any sci-fi afficionado.
It just doesn't get any better than this.

In the tradition of "TRON" (1982), we have the classic challenge. This formula movie is a bit technically challenged due to being released in 1984. However this is one "rite of passage" tale that would have interested Joseph Campbell author of "The Hero with a Thousand Faces."
Alex Rogan is stuck in a small trailer community and dreams of being more. Due to a misplaced video game (a game? No a test) he gets the opportunity to save The Star League form Xur and the KO-DAN armada as the last starfighter.
Well selected actors including Robert Preston. Also Catharine Mary Stewart who has appeared in episodes of "The Outer Limits."

Can he do it? In the mean time who is looking out for his girl?

The Movie:
When I was young, "The Last Starfighter" always held my attention with it's awesome CG effects. Now I'm older, CG Film Effects are far more advanced, but this film still holds up! With its mix of exciting action, romance, and CG effects that are as fresh now as they were in 1984, "The Last Starfighter" is a remarkable film that will remain a masterpiece for years to come! Movie Grade: A+
DVD Review:
"The Last Starfighter" is given an exceptional DVD release! The picture has never been mor exquisite, the sound never more clear. The behind-the-scenes documentary is one of the best ever produced. With DVD, "The Last Starfighter" will last forever! DVD Grade: A+

One of the first major Sci-Fi movies with computer drawn special effects, but the real star is Preston as something like a Star Trek/Harold Hill. Nice, light entertainment, no profanity, and a fun show to watch

I first saw this movie when I was three years old. It is one of my most vivid memories from childhood. I just watched it again tonight. I remembered GODZILLA destroying Tokyo. I didn't remember Raymond Burr. As an adult, this movie seemed a lot more boring than it did back in the day. The original version was deemed too "japanese", so we added our own americanized scenes to placate american audiences. I see this as a mistake. The scenes with Burr (as a reporter) were totally unnecessary. They are obvious afterthoughts, and delay the attack of our true hero for far too long! Let's face it, this isn't Othello. Bring on the big lizard! Start the explosions already! I love Godzilla and will always get a warm feeling whenever I think of him, but his mass destruction and radioactive-fire breath are the only reasons to watch him. GODZILLA KING OF THE MONSTERS does have an excellent final 20 minutes or so. It's worth the wait. I recommend fast forwarding through the dull narrated parts. I still give it 4 stars because of Godzilla's march through Tokyo. An absolutely perfect scene of total mega-carnage! This is the ONLY time I've ever seen the guy in the rubber suit look good! Check it out for yourself...

I stare at this blank form in wonder of what i should say. Words alone cannot praise this film (and all of its sequels, for that matter) enough. It is a true master piece, not only for the generation - but for all time. This is the one that started it all. Not just my obsession, but the obsession of millions across the world. Enter, Godzilla - King of the Monsters. The film begins with a narraration by Steve Martin (Raymond Burr, who is not in the original Japaneese version) - and his description of an odd occourence the night before. Then we are visited by a nightmarish montage of people dead, dying or wounded. The film continues on with the 'adventures' of Martin and a doctor, Doctor Serizawa (a brilliant one for that matter, he has discovered the formula to kill oxygen) - both trying to discover a way to kill a beast that has been stalking the harbors of Japan for a while. That beast - is Godzilla. This film is flawless. Steve Martin (Burr) add's alot of realism to this with his new editorial like commentary, and the image of Godzilla has burned an image in everyone's mind who has viewed this film. As the final scene in glorious black and white rolled, tears came to my eye. This film began a lifelong obsession with me. The Godzilla suit is the best one. The most fearsom and menacing, with razor sharp teeth, sinster and narrow eyes and cat-like ears. As the film moves along, you are no longer a part of this word - you enter a world much like this one, only there is a giant, lizard like, mutated, atomic monster in this one. The story wraps around your brain and doesn't let you go. You cheer and jeer as the image of Godzilla's image flashes onto the screen, but shiver in fear at the same time. You feel the terror of Steve Martin, Doctor Serizawa and the rest of the cast - and the joy of Godzilla as he breathes his Radioactive Breath onto hoards of helpless citizens. Godzilla Is, most definetly, and always will be - The King of the Monsters.Now about the DVD. This is a very good transfer. Although the picture is a bit murky, it is still very crisp and sharp, and a bit scratchy here and there. The sound is great! On a sorround-sound Dobly Digital 5.0 setup, the sound quality is very very good, the kind you need to view a Godzilla Flick. This disc is a region 1 disc, if anyone really needs to know - if you all have strict Region-1 players. Sony really did a good job on the transfer (unlike Simitar who had a video-like transfer) but they could have added some special features for this historical film.. Maybe even a 2nd disc, with the Japaneese Version. But that is a bit of a high hope. But this is still a great-quality DVD, for a flawless, beautiful, perfect film.Godzilla - Charge Free Power-Line Destroyer since 1954.Long Live The King of the Monsters!

Godzilla : King of the monstersGives birth to a generation of campyhorror films.But this gothic is the best.The ending makes me cry.There are more happening in this shortfilm than in a hundred other movies.It has to be seen over and over to fully appreciate.

I first saw this movie when I was three years old. It is one of my most vivid memories from childhood. I just watched it again tonight. I remembered GODZILLA destroying Tokyo. I didn't remember Raymond Burr. As an adult, this movie seemed a lot more boring than it did back in the day. The original version was deemed too "japanese", so we added our own americanized scenes to placate american audiences. I see this as a mistake. The scenes with Burr (as a reporter) were totally unnecessary. They are obvious afterthoughts, and delay the attack of our true hero for far too long! Let's face it, this isn't Othello. Bring on the big lizard! Start the explosions already! I love Godzilla and will always get a warm feeling whenever I think of him, but his mass destruction and radioactive-fire breath are the only reasons to watch him. GODZILLA KING OF THE MONSTERS does have an excellent final 20 minutes or so. It's worth the wait. I recommend fast forwarding through the dull narrated parts. I still give it 4 stars because of Godzilla's march through Tokyo. An absolutely perfect scene of total mega-carnage! This is the ONLY time I've ever seen the guy in the rubber suit look good! Check it out for yourself...

I stare at this blank form in wonder of what i should say. Words alone cannot praise this film (and all of its sequels, for that matter) enough. It is a true master piece, not only for the generation - but for all time. This is the one that started it all. Not just my obsession, but the obsession of millions across the world. Enter, Godzilla - King of the Monsters. The film begins with a narraration by Steve Martin (Raymond Burr, who is not in the original Japaneese version) - and his description of an odd occourence the night before. Then we are visited by a nightmarish montage of people dead, dying or wounded. The film continues on with the 'adventures' of Martin and a doctor, Doctor Serizawa (a brilliant one for that matter, he has discovered the formula to kill oxygen) - both trying to discover a way to kill a beast that has been stalking the harbors of Japan for a while. That beast - is Godzilla. This film is flawless. Steve Martin (Burr) add's alot of realism to this with his new editorial like commentary, and the image of Godzilla has burned an image in everyone's mind who has viewed this film. As the final scene in glorious black and white rolled, tears came to my eye. This film began a lifelong obsession with me. The Godzilla suit is the best one. The most fearsom and menacing, with razor sharp teeth, sinster and narrow eyes and cat-like ears. As the film moves along, you are no longer a part of this word - you enter a world much like this one, only there is a giant, lizard like, mutated, atomic monster in this one. The story wraps around your brain and doesn't let you go. You cheer and jeer as the image of Godzilla's image flashes onto the screen, but shiver in fear at the same time. You feel the terror of Steve Martin, Doctor Serizawa and the rest of the cast - and the joy of Godzilla as he breathes his Radioactive Breath onto hoards of helpless citizens. Godzilla Is, most definetly, and always will be - The King of the Monsters.Now about the DVD. This is a very good transfer. Although the picture is a bit murky, it is still very crisp and sharp, and a bit scratchy here and there. The sound is great! On a sorround-sound Dobly Digital 5.0 setup, the sound quality is very very good, the kind you need to view a Godzilla Flick. This disc is a region 1 disc, if anyone really needs to know - if you all have strict Region-1 players. Sony really did a good job on the transfer (unlike Simitar who had a video-like transfer) but they could have added some special features for this historical film.. Maybe even a 2nd disc, with the Japaneese Version. But that is a bit of a high hope. But this is still a great-quality DVD, for a flawless, beautiful, perfect film.Godzilla - Charge Free Power-Line Destroyer since 1954.Long Live The King of the Monsters!

Godzilla : King of the monstersGives birth to a generation of campyhorror films.But this gothic is the best.The ending makes me cry.There are more happening in this shortfilm than in a hundred other movies.It has to be seen over and over to fully appreciate.