Review of Battle Beyond the Stars (1980) by Michael T — 10 Sep 2011
A major serving from the cheese plate as could only be served by Roger Corman's New World pictures. Wanting to tap into the lucrative market for "Space Opera" Sci-Fi ala Star Wars, Corman came up with one of his high concept ideas.
Transport The Magnificent Seven (or maybe The Seven Samurai) into outer space. Richard Thomas (of TV's The Waltons) is the denizen of a peaceful agrian planet menaced by and evil scenary-chewing galactic warlord played by John Saxon (hey, at least John wasn't playing a police detective in a low-budget horror flick).
In due course, seven mercenaries are hired to defend the planet from Saxon and his crew. The mercenaries include Robert Vaughn (in case you hadn't figured out the connection to The Magnificent Seven yet), George Peppard (playing an actual space cowboy), and statuesque Sybil Danning as an amazon warrior.
Along the way, Thomas gets to romance Darlene Fluegel. The film is probably better known for being a springboard for the careers of scriptwriter John Sturges and art director James Cameron (yes, that James Cameron.
..). This was one of Corman's most profitable films of the 1980s, and it didn't cost him very much to make. It is fun though, but your film school class will still expect you to see Kurosowa's original (The Seven Samurai) or Sturges' remake (The Magnificent Seven).
This review of Battle Beyond the Stars (1980) was written by Michael T on 10 Sep 2011.
Battle Beyond the Stars has generally received mixed reviews.
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