It’s Not A Star Wars Ripoff: The Last Starfighter

To conclude our series of movies that were called Star Wars ripoffs, we end on a high note. Probably one of the most beloved sci-fi films of the ’80s, a story of a kid, a video game, and fighting the Kodan Armada, The Last Starfighter.

Unlike other heroes of ’80s sci-fi, our hero Alex Rogan is not a prince with a magic weapon, heir and destined user of The Force, or even an explorer running into a black hole. He’s an average kid wanting to have a better life. Having recently graduated high school, Alex is waiting for his scholarship acceptance letter, spends time at the Starlite Starbrite trailer park as a resident handyman/boy scout, and spending time with his girlfriend Maggie (aka Mags), and dealing with his wild-child younger brother.

All while trying to help out his overworked single mother shoulder her burdens. Alex suffers from much of the same wanderlust of most young heroes and that sometimes causes him to be a little short-tempered at times.

His one escape, however, is the Starfighter video game located in the trailer parks rec area and fast food stand. Here is where he excels and finds a way to live his dreams through pumping hours of quarters and training his reflexes to help handle his disappointments.

After one particularly bad day, Alex starts playing his favorite game and actually breaks the all-time record for the game. This leads to an in-depth conversation with the aforementioned Mags, about staying at home, or going to see where life leads. She disappoints Alex stating her Grandma needs her to stay.

The next day, a very unique car shows up looking for our hero, and Alex just happens to be on the same road the car is on. Alex trustingly gets in, shakes hands with a complete stranger. He then gets a mild electrical shock and gets whisked to the planet Rylos where he gets recruited into the world of the video game he just beat 24 hours ago. He meets and sits down with others like him, a Starfighter.

The Last Starfighter is one of my favorite sci-fi movies of my youth. It joined my love of space, computers, and video games. Yes, it is a story told a million times of the kid from nowhere shoved into something over his head and becomes the hero because of that something special he has. He also of course gets the girl Maggie at the end and they blast off into the space to help restore the Star League. The villains were over the top and I can’t forget the Death Blossom maneuver. What a spectacle for the eyes. I still look if there are rumors of a remake or sequel from time to time. There have been whispers for the last 15 years that something is being written or whatnot. I first learned of the movie being made from a computer magazine I used to buy at the book store mentioning they were using the Cray supercomputer to render some of the graphics in the movie. Technologically it and TRON ushered in the computer graphics we see in practically every action sci-fi movie we watch today. – Jason Griffin, Houston,TX

The Last Starfighter although compared often to Star Wars is probably closer to Iron Eagle in wish-fulfillment aimed at teenagers in the ’80s. However, Alex Rogan is not, an automatic hero from start to finish of the movie. From his overwhelming desire to do something bigger with his life to his reluctance at helping save a planet in desperate need of help, he is shown to be flawed and utterly human, which breaks the mold from quite a few movies of its time.

Also, it’s special effects were ahead of its time. Although considered simplistic by today’s supersaturation of CGI, The Last Starfighter was a standout for it’s time in the use of computer graphics and rendering of space environments in the movie.

The Last Starfigter , was one of the first like Tron , in blue screen and digital renders. both groundbreakers in digi effects, and that’s all that matters. George Giordano-Owner at PCND/fx and greenscreen studios

Also, unique, although sometimes missed by many is the fact that while at the trailer park, Alex’s mentor and boss, is an older African-American man. Also, when he arrives at Rylos, although slightly, but, understandably overwhelmed by the situation and otherworldy war he’s put in, he tales the differences of the aliens he is around as well as his co-pilot and partner, Grig, in stride.

During the Cold War, don’t trust your neighbor ideals of it’s time, these character traits show, despite his flaws, our hero has the kind of heart we want our reluctant Starfighter to have.

Probably the best part of this movie though is the fact, that, despite the incredible occurrences in the film, one doesn’t need to use the Force, or have a superweapon to be a hero. It shows that an ordinary guy can push through win the day, and save the galaxy. And that may be playing video games may not be as bad as your parents thought.