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Battle Beyond the Stars
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by Warner Home Video
Sales Rank: 35178
Price: $9.99
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Twenty-first-century science fiction fans accustomed to special-effects orgies like <I>The Matrix</I> may snigger at the quaint, <I>Flash Gordon</I>-like spaceships in <I>Battle Beyond the Stars</I>. But executive producer Roger Corman's belated entry into the '70s sci-fi craze surpasses expectations with sharp performances and a witty script by John Sayles (his third for Corman, including 1978's <I>Piranha</I>). The story, lifted wholesale from Akira Kurosawa's <I>Seven Samurai</I> (1954), finds the dictator Sador (John Saxon) threatening the planet of Akira. Its pacifist inhabitants are no match for Sador's devastating weapon, the Stellar Converter, but young Shad (Richard Thomas) decides to fight back. Borrowing the ship of notorious mercenary Zed the Corsair, he recruits a band of mercenaries, each of whom has a personal reason to join the fight. Among them are a lizard-like humanoid (Morgan Woodward), an improbable space cowboy (George Peppard), a zaftig female warrior (Sybil Danning), and brooding killer-for-hire Gelt (Robert Vaughn, reprising his <I>Magnificent Seven</I> role). <I>Battle</I>'s final showdown is somewhat anticlimatic, but the surprisingly stellar cast (which includes Sam Jaffe and Darlanne Fluegel) and the indie spunk of Sayles' script, with its light meditations on death and honor, will charm newcomers and repeat audiences alike. New Concorde's digitally remastered DVD features commentary by Sayles and <I>Terminator 2</I> producer Gale Anne Hurd, <I>Battle</I>'s assistant production manager. Oh, and those spaceships? Designed by <I>Titanic</I> director James Cameron. Still laughing? <I>--Paul Gaita</I>
Viewer Reviews
BBTS was one of the many films that tried to capitalize on the Star Wars craze of the late '70s and early '80s. Unlike most of those films, this one actually succeeds pretty well.
The legendary Roger Corman was responsible for this film. That fact, in and of itself, is probably why this "poor man's Star Wars" deserves a look.
The special effects (for their time) were actually quite good. They were not of Star Wars caliber, but they were much better than other sci-fi films of the time.
The story is one we're all familiar with (a la The Magnifient Seven). Poor old planet Akir is being picked on by intergalactic baddie, Sador (sound almost like Vader, doesn't it?). The young and naive boy (a la Luke Skywalker) has to leave his home for the first time on an intergalactic trip to find some people who will help him defend Akir from mutant invaders.
The rest, you can pretty much figure out.
Even though the story is one we've heard and the plot is pretty predictable, this movie has so much charm and appeal that you can't help but watch.
The casting was well done (with Robert Vaughn, George Peppard, and the ever-dramatic John Saxon) and everyone gives decent performances. The costumes and sets are above average and the music is just fantastic (composed by Hollywood legend James Horner). Some of the ships, though (like the main character's ship which kind of resembles the female reproductive system) are pretty strage, but many of them are quite good.
Star Wars it ain't, but Battle Beyond the Stars is a fun sci-fi movie not to be taken too seriously.
I do want to own this title, but I'm just not willing to pay $30.00 to $40.00 (the current asking price) for it. I know the DVD is out of print, but maybe someone will come along that's willing to ask a reasonable price for it, or perhaps a re-issue of this film looms in the near future.
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