Greetings Starfighter. You have been recruited to defend the frontier against Xur and the KoDan Armada.
Ahh…the 80’s. When arcade games were a going concern and high scores at your local establishment meant bragging rights. At least until someone else had the audacity to top your score. It was in this environment that Universal Pictures decided to “play along” with the genre. So in 1984, they released The Last Starfighter.
This film played right into many a game players fantasy. Normally setting a high score only gave you the satisfaction of being the best. But in The Last Starfighter, it gave you the chance to put your skills to the test for real.
You have been recruited
This was the premise of the film as young Alex Rogan (Lance Guest) dreamed of doing something with his life. He had his family (his Mother and Brother Louis) and his girlfriend Maggie (Catherine Mary Stewart). But Alex wanted more. Little did he realize his opportunity would come by beating the high score of an arcade game: The Last Starfighter. Although at the time, he only thought it would only lead to local bragging rights.
The truth of the “game” was revealed to him after he became the game’s highest-scoring player. He is soon approached by the game’s inventor, Centauri (Robert Preston). He claims that Alex has won a prize for setting the high score and invites him to take a ride in his futuristic car. What he finds out however, is that Centauri is actually an alien and his car is a spacecraft. Before he knows it, Alex finds himself essentially abducted. Centauri replaces him with an android named Beta, who is used to cover Alex’s absence.
The Gift to be Starfighters
Centauri reveals that the game was designed as a test to find those “with the gift” to be Starfighters. Originally, Alex is expected to be the gunner for a Starfighter spacecraft called the Gunstar. He is supposed to be but part of a larger fleet. Upon his arrival, Alex befriends a reptilian pilot named Grig (Dan O’Herlihy). He also learns that the “Frontier” is a forcefield protecting Rylos and its surrounding planets from invasion. Unfortunately, Xur has given the Ko-Dan the means to breach it.
Attack of the Zando-Zans
As Alex learns of the dangers he will be facing, he thinks better of it and asks Centauri to return him to Earth. Reluctantly, Centauri does so but gives Alex a means to contact him should he change his mind. What Alex doesn’t know is Xur has already recognized Alex as a threat and has dispatched alien assassins (Zando-Zans) to kill him.
Also during this time, a Ko-Dan saboteur has eliminated the Starfighter base defenses. In doing so, it causes heavy damage, killing the Starfighters, and destroying the Gunstars. Only Grig and one advanced prototype Gunstar survive.
Centauri to the Rescue
Once Alex realizes that Centauri’s Beta replacement is still on the planet, he calls Centauri to come retrieve him. However, Centauri arrives just as Alex and Beta are attacked by one of the Zando-Zans. During the skirmish, Centauri shoots off its right arm. He then explains to Alex that more Zando-Zan will be coming. He also assured Alex that the only way to protect his family (and Earth) was to embrace his ability as a Starfighter.
But before Alex can respond, the assassin attempts to shoot Alex. Realizing the danger, Centauri jumps in the way, taking the hit and killing the alien. Alex and Centauri fly back to the Starfighter base, where Centauri succumbs to his injuries. Alex finds Grig and they prepare their lone Gunstar to battle the Ko-Dan Armada.
Defending the Frontier
Alex and Grig attack the Ko-Dan mothership, crippling its communications. Once Alex’s weapons are depleted, he desperately activates a secret weapon on the Gunstar, the “Death Blossom”, that destroys the remaining Ko-Dan fighters. With the fleet destroyed, Lord Kril orders Xur executed for his arrogance and failure to ensure victory, but Xur escapes the mothership just before Alex cripples its guidance controls, causing it to crash into Rylos’ moon.
The Hero of Rylos
Alex is haled as the hero of Rylos and is given the task of helping to rebuild the Starfighter Legion. Centauri returns to assist him as he was only in a healing stasis. Before then, he returns to Earth. Grig tells them about Alex’s heroism. He also tells his brother Louis that he’s heard great things about him. Before they go, Alex asks Maggie to go with him. They leave as Louis begins playing the Starfighter Game to train for his turn.
A film before its time
The Last Starfighter was one of the very first films that incorporated CGI. In place of the usual physical models, 3D rendered models were used to depict space ships including the Gunstar. These spaceships were the design of artist Ron Cobb, who also worked on Alien, Star Wars and Conan the Barbarian. The film came in at a budget of 14 million dollars and made 21 million.
Reactions
Film Critics were generally positive. They acknowledge some of the films shortcomings but they also admit it is a guilty pleasure to watch. This is my outlook as well. The Last Starfighter may be dated, especially after 35 years, but it is definitely a guilty pleasure. It harkens back to a simpler time. And for what they had to work with at that time, it tells it’s story well. I give it a 3.5 out of 5.
For those who have seen The Last Starfighter, what do remember most about it? Did you like the film? Share your thoughts about Starfighter with us at GeekVibesNation.
Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 50 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove head first over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 18 year old boy with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.