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Battle Beyond the Stars: A Cheesy Space Adventure
Have you ever watched a movie that’s so bad it’s good? That’s how I felt when I saw Battle Beyond the Stars, a 1980 sci-fi flick that’s so cheesy and ridiculous that it’s actually entertaining.
The Storyline
The movie follows Shad, a young man who travels to various planets to recruit warriors for his home planet of Akir in order to fight against the evil Sador and his army of mutants. Along the way, he meets various characters including a beautiful space queen, an alien with eight arms, and a spaceship that talks like a wise old man.
The Cast
One of the most interesting things about this movie is its cast. The film features several familiar faces such as John Saxon, George Peppard, and Sybil Danning. However, one standout performance comes from Robert Vaughn who plays Gelt, a mercenary with a dark past. Vaughn brings a sense of gravitas to his role which contrasts nicely with the film’s overall goofiness.
The Plot
The plot of Battle Beyond the Stars is pretty straightforward – good guys versus bad guys in outer space. However, what sets this movie apart from other sci-fi flicks is its zaniness. From a spaceship that looks like a giant hand to a villain who wears a helmet with horns, this movie doesn’t take itself too seriously.
The Quotes
One of my favorite things about Battle Beyond the Stars is its quotable lines. For example, when Shad first meets the spaceship Nell, she says, “I am an O.T.T.O. unit designed for hyperspace travel. My serial number is 43-19-81.” To which Shad responds, “Well, hello 43-19-81.”
The Acting and Characters
It’s safe to say that the acting in this film is not Oscar-worthy. However, the over-the-top performances from the cast are part of what makes this movie so enjoyable. The characters are also memorable – whether it’s Nestor, the alien with eight arms or Cayman, the space cowboy who rides around on a flying motorcycle.
The History
Battle Beyond the Stars was released in 1980 during a time when sci-fi movies were enjoying popularity thanks to films such as Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. While this movie didn’t achieve the same level of success as those blockbusters, it did spawn a video game and garnered a cult following over the years.
The Score and Popularity
The score for Battle Beyond the Stars was composed by James Horner who went on to win two Oscars for his work on Titanic and Avatar. While the score for this movie isn’t as memorable as those later projects, it’s still a solid effort that fits the movie’s tone nicely. As for popularity, this movie has gained somewhat of a cult following over the years thanks to its quirky characters and fun action scenes.
The Evaluation
If you’re looking for a serious sci-fi movie with deep themes and complex characters, then Battle Beyond the Stars is not for you. However, if you’re in the mood for a silly space adventure with over-the-top acting and wacky aliens, then this film is definitely worth a watch. It’s not a masterpiece by any means, but it’s an enjoyable way to spend 90 minutes.
The Cinematography
The cinematography in Battle Beyond the Stars is serviceable but nothing groundbreaking. There are some nice shots of space battles and explosions but overall, this movie doesn’t aim to be visually stunning.
The Opinion
Personally, I found Battle Beyond the Stars to be a fun and entertaining movie. It’s not something I would watch every day but it’s definitely one of those movies that I’ll revisit from time to time when I’m in need of some mindless entertainment.
The Scenes
There are several memorable scenes in this movie such as when Shad first meets Nestor or when he battles Sador in his giant spaceship shaped like a hand. However, one of my favorites is when Gelt sacrifices himself to save the rest of the crew. It’s a touching moment that adds some emotional weight to an otherwise fluffy movie.
The Gossip
There’s not much gossip surrounding this movie since it came out over 40 years ago. However, director Roger Corman has said in interviews that he wanted to create a sci-fi epic on a low budget and that’s exactly what he did with Battle Beyond the Stars.
The Soundtracks
As mentioned earlier, the score for this movie was composed by James Horner who went on to become one of the most respected composers in Hollywood. While the score for this film isn’t as memorable as his later works, it still fits the movie’s tone nicely and adds some excitement to the action scenes.
The Analysis
From an analytical standpoint, Battle Beyond the Stars is far from perfect. The acting is hammy, the plot is cliched and predictable and some of the special effects are laughably bad. However, when viewed as a piece of entertainment, it succeeds in providing a fun and goofy space adventure.
The Special Effects
Speaking of special effects, there are some moments in this movie where they’re glaringly bad. For example, there’s a scene where Nestor drops a bomb on an enemy spaceship and the explosion looks like something out of a Saturday morning cartoon. However, given the low budget of this movie, it’s forgivable.
The Dialogue
The dialogue in Battle Beyond the Stars is not going to win any awards for originality or depth. However, it does have some fun one-liners such as when a character says, “I’ve got nothing against telepaths – I just don’t like being around them.” It’s not Shakespeare but it gets the job done.
The Crews
Aside from director Roger Corman and composer James Horner, there aren’t many notable crew members for this movie. However, I do want to give credit to whoever designed the various alien creatures in this film. While some of them are definitely cheesy looking, they’re all unique and memorable.
The Criticism
Naturally, there are plenty of criticisms that can be lobbed at Battle Beyond the Stars. The acting is hammy, the effects are dated and some of the characters are one-dimensional. However, these flaws can also be viewed as part of what makes this movie so entertaining.
The Production
The production of Battle Beyond the Stars was famously low budget with many of the special effects done using miniatures and matte paintings. However, given the limitations, the filmmakers did an admirable job in creating a visually interesting world.
The Editing
The editing in this movie is serviceable but not particularly noteworthy. There are some nicely cut action scenes but nothing stands out as particularly special.
The Conclusion
In conclusion, Battle Beyond the Stars is a flawed but fun sci-fi adventure that’s perfect for those who don’t take their movies too seriously. It’s not going to change your life or be regarded as a classic but it’s definitely worth a watch if you’re in need of a laugh and some mindless entertainment.