Dark Star (1974)

[Esioul]

Heh.

I liked th eintelligent bomb thing, although the ending seemed very dramatic/quirky. Not a long film either- makes a change from long, mind-numbing epics.

[The_Cosmic_Quest]

It's a low budget, corny, trashy movie.

[roddglenn]

It's low budget because he made it while still a film student. As for corny and trashy, that's a matter of opinion.

[Foxbat]

It's a low budget, corny, trashy movie.

Granted, when held against the CGI blockbusters of today, it might look a bit jaded. But I remember watching this in the late 70s - and with all the bad sci-fi going around then, this stood out a mile. It's funny, intelligent, poignant and quite an achievement for a film student. Remember, without this movie, O'Bannon might never have achieved Alien.

Also, the world of film would be a lesser place without the maverick directors like John Carpenter. Long may he continue!

[roddglenn]

Hear hear! John Carpenter has brought us some brilliant cult films including The Thing, They Live, The Fog, Escape From New York (don't talk about the sequel though), Vampires, Ghosts of Mars and Assault on Precinct 13 (remake was ok but not a patch on the original).

[speedingslug]

Originally Posted by Foxbat

Here's a snippet of trivia - Dan O'Bannon (he wrote the script for Dark Star) admitted in an interview that he took out the humour and turned it into the script for Alien

I thought Alan Dean Foster wrote Alien ?

But Dark Star was ok, I think they used the space ship in the old Battlestar Galactica

[angrybuddhist]

Dark Star is a cult classic. I believe the total budget was $60,000 and it has more humor and intelligence in its script than 90% of what currently comes out of Hollywood. And yes, Dan O'Bannon totally ripped himself off when he wrote the 'hunt for the alien scene' in the darkened ship in Alien. It was originally intended to be a 68 minute student film. A Hollywood producer asked them to shoot 15 minutes of extra footage so he could release the film theatrically in 1975.
"All systems--SNAFU!!!"

[steve12553]

Originally Posted by speedingslug

I thought Alan Dean Foster wrote Alien ?

Alan Dean Foster wrote the novelization not the screne play. I bought that years ago and really enjoyed it.

[speedingslug]

Originally Posted by steve12553

Alan Dean Foster wrote the novelization not the screne play. I bought that years ago and really enjoyed it.

cheers.

I only read the spellsingers, they are a bit strange.

[roddglenn]

I've read a few of Alan Dean Foster's novelisations and a few works of his own. All entertaining and fast-paced reads.

[AE35Unit]

t'other half just phoned me from blockbuster, says she found a copy of Dark Star on DVD, says to me do you want it? I'm like,,,,,well yea!

This is a film I've never seen but always wanted to- its a comedy, i think its a Star Wars parody, but not in the same vein as Spaceballs which is just pants.

anyone else got it?

[j. d. worthington]

Don't have, but have seen, more than once. No, it's not a Star Wars parody... it was released in 1974 (and made even earlier), before Star Wars had ever even been heard of. It's an affectionate sendup of the entire genre, with nods to various famous writers (such as Bradbury, for instance). It's quirky, and off-the-wall, and delightfully, wickedly funny (I mean, a sentient bomb that is kept from blowing up the ship by getting it into a discussion on existentialism? a beach-ball alien that has genuine personality and clicks its nails?). Low-budget, very low-tech, but a very enjoyable film... even if Ace does hate that C&W track!

[The Ace]

Thanks for the reminder JD, the film is wonderful, shame about the music. Why can nobody ever make a sci-fi film with a glam rock or surf soundtrack ?

[pyan]

Originally Posted by AE35Unit

, but not in the same vein as Spaceballs which is just pants.

A man of taste, indeed!

Saw this (Dark Star) years ago, on video I believe.
As jd and Ace said, most enjoyable as a send-up of the genre at that time, and well worth watching still.
And what's wrong with the soundtrack? I always thought it complimented the feel of the film perfectly - a little tacky but fun, a bit like The Dukes of Hazzard in space.

[j. d. worthington]

Originally Posted by pyan

A man of taste, indeed!

Saw this (Dark Star) years ago, on video I believe.
As jd and Ace said, most enjoyable as a send-up of the genre at that time, and well worth watching still.
And what's wrong with the soundtrack? I always thought it complimented the feel of the film perfectly - a little tacky but fun, a bit like The Dukes of Hazzard in space.

I'm in agreement with you about the soundtrack, Pyan. I just like to tweak Ace about it now and again.... Actually, I think "Benson, Arizona" is a delightful part of the whole spoof. It's sort of the cherry on top of the whole thing... it's so absurdly appropriate.... I mean, those lyrics:

Dark Star - Benson Arizona