Review of Starcrash (1978) by Joe A — 04 Mar 2012

This 70's Italian Star Wars rip off from director Luigi Cozzi is so awful that it is laugh out loud funny and side splittingly hilarious. The film takes itself so seriously too and that's what makes it so incredibly entertaining. Starcrash tells the story of sexy space smuggler Stella Star (Hammer films hottie, Caroline Munro) who gets caught in the middle of a struggle between an evil tyrant, Zarth Arn (Joe Spinell) and the Emperor (Christopher Plummer) for control of the galaxy. Scantily clad Stella battles amazons, cavemen, and an assortment of stop motion animated threats while always looking like she's ready for Spring Break. From the bargin basement SPFX (done by a former postman who enlisted local school children to build the spaceship models... it shows) to the dreadful acting, it's hard to believe this was a serious effort to capitalize on the success of George Lucas' classic. And best of all, it stars David Hasselhoff, who, along with Marjoe Gortner, wear more guyliner then a Greenday concert. How distinguished actor (now Oscar winner) Christopher Plummer and legendary film composer John Barry (James Bond) got involved with this mess is a mystery. A "so bad it's good" classic! EXTRA TRIVIA: While released in the states by Roger Corman's New World Pictures, Corman can luckily claim no involvement with the actual production.

The same team went on to make the equally laughable Hercules (1983) with Lou Ferrigno.

John Barry fans may want to track down the soundtrack to this, it is by far the best thing about this movie aside from Munro's leather bikini.