Studio: Arrow Video
Release Date: May 30, 2023
Rating: PG
Film: 4/5
Plot Alex Rogan is your typical 1980’s teenager, he enjoys hanging out with his friends and playing video games. The game in question here though, Starfighter, is not your typical game, it is a recruiting tool from the Star League of Planets to find Starfighters to defend the peace against the evil KO-DAN. When Alex is paid a visit by the Alien Centauri, he is recruited into the Star League to fight against the KO-DAN.
My ThoughtsI remember watching this film in high school and dreaming of being in his shoes, but alas, it never came true. Regardless, the film is right up my ally with its science fiction angle and its tie-in to video games, which consumed a lot of my time as a teenager. I owned the film on HD DVD and dug up my review from 2007 and I still agree with my take from 16 years ago. The film has its flaws—wooden acting and pedestrian special effects—but I still enjoyed revisiting it. I would have loved to watch it again with my kids to see how they enjoyed as adults versus their experience as kids, but they weren’t visiting when the review copy came in.
The UHD presentation is a step up from my notes about the VC-1 HD-DVD disc. I complained about inconsistent black levels on that disc and they seem to be more stable and improved here, but still aren’t reference-quality. The higher resolution of UHD does bring out more detail in facial pores and clothing, but the special effects stick out a bit more—so there’s definitely a trade-off. While this doesn’t compare to the look of a modern film, it’s not too shabby given its original production budget and age and is definitely an upgrade over the HD DVD from 16 years ago.
The DTS-HD MA 5.1 track sounds a bit long in the tooth and isn’t as dynamic as a modern soundtrack, it does come across better than I expected. It’s mostly front-loaded but offers a nice stereo spread across the front soundstage with some ambient effects placed in the rear speakers.
Video 9/10 (AVC)
Audio 8.5/10 (DTS-HD MA 5.1)
Special Features: - Three audio commentaries
- Maggie’s Memories: Revisiting The Last Starfighter
- Into the Starscape: Composing The Last Starfighter
- Incredible Odds: Writing The Last Starfighter
- Interstellar Hit-Beast: Crating the Special Effects
- Excalibur Test: Inside Digital Productions
- Greetings Starfighter: Inside the Arcade Game
- Heroes of the Screen
- Crossing the Frontier: The Making of The Last Starfighter
- Image Galleries
- Theatrical & Teser Trailers
- Reversible Sleeve
- Collectors Booklet
Conclusion While this isn’t the greatest sci-fi flick in the history of film, it does have its moments and is great family-fun entertainment. The upgrade to UHD is quite pronounced versus the HD DVD (and presumably Blu-ray) release from Universal Pictures from 16 years ago and fans of the genre should be pleased.
Reference Review System: JVC DLA-RS3100 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
(Calibrated with Portrait Displays CalMAN color calibration software & C6-HDR Meter from Portrait Displays)
Stewart Filmscreen - Firehawk 110” 2.35:1 Screen
Trinnov Altitude 16 Audio/Video Processor
ATI AT527NC Powering Bed Channels
ATI AT524NC Powering Atmos Speakers
Kaleidescape Strato + Server
Panasonic DP-UB820 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
System Controller: URC MX-990
M&K S-150 THX Ultra (R-C-L Speakers)
M&K SS-150 x4 (Surround Speakers)
Atlantic Technology IC6-OBA x 4 Overhead Speakers
SVS PC-Ultra Cylinder Subwoofer
SVS SB3000
HSU VTF-15H MK2 Subwoofer
M&K Sound X15+ Subwoofer
Mini DSP HD controlling all subwoofers
Audioquest and Monoprice - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
PureAV PF60 Power Conditioner
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