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Cth's DVD Buys

or

Commander Powell Would Have Named This Review..

by Cth (cth@clickcom.com)

   

This Weeks DVD selections were brought to you by:

The letter "B" and the number "19"

Dark Star

Cover                        2/5  (Better than most 70s films; Misleading with scenes not in film, cultish look)

Direction/Story          4/5  (Innovative; G Rated "Alien"; "Smart bombs"; Excellent Budget Use)

DVD Layout              2/5 (Slideshow syndrome; no animation; simple design)

Extras                       2/5 (Extended version that's about it)

OVERALL                 3/5  (If you enjoy GOOD bad movies; Funny; Great first effort)

                                  2/5  (If you don't like seeing a watered down "Alien"; G rated; Kid friendly)

COVER

At least the credits don't take up as much space like other 70s movie posters.  The main problem is there's no toilet paper scene in the film.  You can tell this is a bad movie even though you see John Carpenter and Dan O'Bannon's name attached.  Another painted cover from the 70s which makes you glad they got out of that phase of poster design.

DIRECTION

STORY

The story of 3 men (formerly 4, before their commander died in a radiation leak explosion), traveling the galaxy blowing up unstable stars with "smart bombs".  During a storm, part of the ship is damaged leading one of the smart bombs to think it received the order to detonate.  The ships computer talks the bomb down and the crew comes out of stasis after the storm passes.   Sometime during all of this, the ships' "mascot" escapes and it's up to Pinback to track it down and kill it.   Commander Dolittle is forced to deal with an existential bomb who becomes solipsist.  A philosophical discussion

between the commander and the bomb ensues until the bomb reaches it's conclusion.

LAYOUT

Simplistic.  Can't ask for easier than this.  Of course, if there was something to actually look at, then this might have gotten a better score. 

EXTRAS

Extra footage restored that you can toggle on or off.

DON'T MISS              

The space ship that stops on the drop of a dime, that strangely resembles a small "Dustbuster". The mindless alien that looks like a slightly deflated beach ball.

The elevator shaft scene filmed by tilting the camera and overacting.

Etc, etc, etc..

FINAL WORD

The student film of John Carpenter and Dan O'Bannon (of Alien fame) is one of those bad movies you have to see. 

Copyright©2000 Cth