Review of Starcrash (1978) by Tom B — 08 May 2011

Canadians take note, Chris Plummer out-shats Shatner in this delirious campy turn. Fascinating. Weird. Blobs of color in space, toy space ships, really awkward and apparent process shots, and lines so wooden you could carve canoes.

And how about that cast? David Hasselhof delivers like he wandered over off a Boogie Nights down-and-dirty backroom shoot, and everyone else stands around looking way too erect. But let's be clear, this earns every curve of its rather round 'G' rating.

Star Crash is perfect for kids and I wish I'd seen it any number of times on Saturday afternoon. Something about the whacked out sets and the incredibly earnest sci-fi story, and the propulsion of that narrative.

And then there are the cavemen and the Amazon women. I guess it's a bit like Star Trek meets Star Wars meets H.R.Pufnstuff. And what was that stuff they were puffin anyway? What else can I say. Oh yes, one reviewer notes that the director brings affectionate energy to every shot.

This is true. This is why it works. Everyone brings what appears to be a dedicated honest energy to the whole proceeding. That some laud it as the worst movie they've ever seen only means they are missing what others have found: an underdog to champion and love, and after all isn't that sometimes what cinema is all about Charlie Brown?