A kitschy sci-fi extravaganza recently restored in 4K, Star Pilot (2+5 Missione Hydra, 1966) is a wildly colorful adventure through the vastness of space. Aliens from the constellation Hydra crash-land on the island of Sardinia. A prominent scientist, his daughter, several young technicians, and a pair of spies are taken hostage by the beings so they can use them to repair their spaceship’s broken engine. With that done, they take off towards their home planet, taking the Earthlings with them. However, the humans attempt to mutiny against their captors, inadvertently sending their tiny spaceship hurtling into the infinite beyond.
For thoughts on Star Pilot, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
[youtube https://youtu.be/Nj7nOR-2yJ8?t=4485]
Video Quality
Star Pilot debuts on Blu-Ray with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in its original 1.85:1 from a stunning 4K restoration. From the opening moments of the journey, you can tell how much work has been put into restoring this to its full glory with so much detail and texture in every shot. The natural film grain always resolves well with no instances of swarming or clumpiness. Colors are saturated favorably in a way that pops off the screen, especially when it comes to the clothing and production design. Black levels are robust with nice detail in shadows and no major instances of crush. There is virtually nothing in the way of nicks or scratches to be found. Raro Video has provided a top tier presentation for this one.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray disc comes with a great DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track in the original Italian with optional English subtitles. There does not appear to be any obvious instances of age-related wear and tear with only a few spots that show some deficits. Dialogue stays focused on the center channel as it emanates clearly without being overwhelmed by competing elements. Environmental sounds such as car engines or ray guns are rendered well alongside everything else. The score flows through with nice fidelity throughout the duration of the film. This audio presentation is a good effort for the feature.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Film Historians David Del Valle and Matteo Molinari provide a fun and informative commentary track in which they discuss where this fits into the time period, the campy and satiric nature of the piece, the background of the performers, the Italian film industry, the blending of the genres and much more that is well worth a listen.
- Alternate English-Language Cut of Star Pilot: An option to watch the film in dubbed English in a version that is about five minutes shorter.
- German Trailer: A three-minute German trailer is provided here.
Final Thoughts
Star Pilot is a thoroughly fun satire that provides a bit of spectacle along with some campy good times. The narrative is all over the place in a way that suits the needs of the film. The construction of the film is impressive, especially when it comes to the costumes and production design. If you are expecting a truly captivating space adventure, you will likely be disappointed, but there is much to enjoy if you know what you are getting into. Raro Video and Kino Classics have delivered a Blu-Ray with a faultless A/V presentation and a couple of good supplemental features. Recommended
Star Pilot is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Raro Video and Kino Lorber have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
