Starman

Rating:
Summary: A movie for everyone!
Review: I rented this movie back in 1985, not really wanting to watch it and now I can't forget it. Not often do you find a film that will make you angry, laugh and cry like a baby. When you finally see this film, you'll be upset with yourself for waiting so long!

Rating:
Summary: As good today as when it was first released.
Review: "Starman" is a top notch sci-fi movie that boasts a wonderful performance by Jeff Bridges. It is a story of first contact with a twist--an alien flys to Earth after receiving a welcome message from Voyager, only to find the human race hostile (the U.S. Air Force shoots down his ship). The alien takes the form of a dead house painter via some DNA trickery (yes, the plot is thin), then abducts the widow and makes her drive to Arizona where he will meet his mothership. The 3-day journey is one of discovery, not only for the alien, but the bewildered widow as well. Alternatively funny and touching, "Starman" turns into a love story, and it works quite well. What doesn't work is the standard Government/Military 'capture-and-kill-the-threat' scenario. In spite of this weakness, "Starman" gets 8 out of 10. If by chance you haven't seen this film, by all means pick it up. It is well worth the time, even for people who don't normally like sci-fi.

Rating:
Summary: A warm yet bittersweet science-fiction/romance
Review: Starman was a sleeper from 1984. The film has very good acting and as always John Carpenter has several messages to convey about American society and humankind in general. A fine instance of genre coalescence ie. science-fiction and romance. Highly recommended for all audiences-4stars.

Rating:
Summary: Perhaps not an A movie, but a fine B one
Review: I admit the plot is not very original, but it is plausible. The actors' performances, especially Bridges', are exceptional. I particularly welcomed the alien not being depicted as fluently speaking English after 10 minutes and shopping in a NY mall - in my opinion, a MAJOR achievement. It might not be a real must see, but I preferred it to SF movies with to high a fx/plot ratio and to bloodbath galleries or psychothrillers with meagre stories. Give it a try and imagine you're the visitor.

Rating:
Summary: A surprisingly touching sci-fi/love story
Review: Usually when I hear the word "science fiction," a shudder runs down my spine. Films that have $50 million in special effects, and no plot whatsoever drive me crazy. This film, though labeled as "science fiction," is in fact more of a great love story. It is like E.T., because it involves an alien (Jeff Bridges, in one of his most incredible performances) being stranded on Earth. The alien takes human form and coerces a woman, Jenny (Karen Allen) into driving him to his final destination. If he does not get there in three days, he will die. Of course, they fall in love along the way, and of course, they are being chased by government agents. But what makes this sci-fi so different from the rest is that it concentrates less on dazzling special effects and more on the story between Starman and Jenny. What you end up with is a touching love story with one of the most bittersweet endings I've ever seen. I love this film, and I think that everyone else will, too.

Rating:
Summary: A Bothered Fan of The Film.
Review: Carpenter is a director with great highs and lows in his career. Who has managed to make special editions for just about everyone one of his movies except this one. Recently I just read Christine (The killer car Movie!) is getting special edition treatment as opposed to this great family film. Long time Jeff Bridges fan I realized that he gives an oscar nominated performance here, so I wonder whats the deal. Why no Starman Special Edition or even Superbit it. this film deserves better treatment.

Rating:
Summary: The movie seems like it was "born" not made.
Review: From the first frame to the last, this movie seems innately - "right".
This is perhaps one of the most miraculous achievements ever accomplished in the brief history of the cinema. The perfect merging of two seemly opposite styles - Romance and Science-fiction. And, it succeeds in both styles like few do in just either style alone. It is unequaled in that regard with the only movies like "Time after Time" and "Somewhere in Time" even coming close. Those latter films are unbalanced, however, with one style outweighing the other. Here the sci-fi element reaches incredible levels of relevance about what it means to be human in the universe. The heartbreaking love story could not be deeper and more poignant. The symmetry of both styles is perfectly balanced as well. It is scientifically very astute without being difficult. It breaks your heart but with restraint.
StarMan is not the greatest movie ever but for what it does it does almost perfectly. Everything is without any real flaw - The acting. The script and dialogue (witty, wise and memorable). The direction. The cinematography (among the best ever). Special Effects (they get the job done but this is NOT an "effects" movie). The beautiful musical score. And, the story.
...the movie simply seems like it formed naturally like a life-form.

The final scene is one of the most effective and original and is almost Orson Wellesian in its eminence. Instead of a flashy "starman entering his ship and leaving" with effects galore, we simply see Jenny's face as she looks on as the cinematography and lighting change around her in perfect succession off camera. The focal point is on her expression which describes everything... and everything.

In conclusion, there is great wisdom and morality in this movie, playfully embellished with wit and consummated with poignant beauty... It left me teary-eyed yet thinking.
A movie rarely comes to that.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic, Funny and Very Touching
Review: I first saw this movie way back in 1985 and at that time I thought it was fantastic, better than ET (hugely overrated).

Well, time has not diminshed this feeling and after recently purchasing the DVD I can only say that it's still just as good.

Jeff Bridges gives us a truly believable and touching performance, he was deservedly Oscar nominated and Karen Allen is simply gorgeous as the wide eyed widower who cannot quite believe what is happening to her. The two carry the film very well and the supporting cast especially Charles Martin Smith are also excellent.

The movie succeeds on just about every level, emotionally it's truly touching and scenes such as the deer outside the diner and when Karen Allen describes the definition of love are real chokers.

The gorgeous Arizona landscape looks sumptous and the filming overall is first rate, John Carpenter clearly demonstrates his mastery of filmmaking throughout every scene. Forget the fact that the special effects could have been better, hey this was 1984 and way before CGI overpowered us with overblown special effects. By contrast some movies made today are so full of totally unnecessary special effects that it's no longer clear whether what you are seeing is real or animated.

This movie doesn't need to rely on this level of interference, it works on an emotional and human level.

As a side note - some years ago my wife and I visited Meteor Crater near Winslow and we looked for the cafe where Jeff Bridges, Karen Allen and Charles Martin Smith played out the final scene but we couldn't find it, must have been created for the movie.

Anyway, all in all simply fantastic and easily one of my personal favourites.

Rating:
Summary: Very Good Movie
Review: First of all, its a fantastic film! I wonder if somebody know if there is some movie or continue on what happens with the unborn child in the movie?

Rating:
Summary: Really, really good
Review: Briefly: This movie is as good as virtually everyone else says it is. Keep one thing in mind, though: This movie is essentially a remake of "E.T." with a romance added. Alien trapped on earth. Humans hide him out. Has to contact home. Must get to rendezvous. Good Gov't agents and bad Gov't agents. Friendly alien weakens and nearly dies but timely arrival of ship restores him to health just before departure.

That said, a good story is a good story--and this is a good story, even redone. Carpenter's "take" on the story is very well done and hugely entertaining. Highly recommended.