STARMAN (1984, Blu-ray released August 11, 2009 – MSRP $28.95)
I hadn’t seen Starman since I was very, very young. I had made a recording of a cable broadcast of the film onto a Betamax tape back then, in another lifetime. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t one of those tapes I played over and over again but Starman was certainly a film I recall enjoying. And, I’ve got to say, watching it again on Blu-ray, it doesn’t disappoint.
John Carpenter really had a good run of films from the mid-70s to the late 80s: Halloween, Escape from New York, The Thing, Big Trouble in Little China and many, many more. The man should really be considered a genre-genius! For years, it seemed that no matter the subject matter, no matter the style, Carpenter could make the film sing. In Starman, he tackles the popular alien-romance-roadtrip-action-adventure genre with aplomb. Jeff Bridges, in a role that earned him an Oscar nomination, plays an alien come to Earth, who has adopted the form of Karen Allen‘s recently departed husband. His mission was one of peaceful contact with our planet but, not surprisingly, his arrival is met with fear and violence, sending him on a road-trip across America to rendezvous with his mothership before his human body dies. Along the way, Allen’s response to him turns from suspicion to sympathy and finally to love. The film has the sentimentality of E.T. tempered with Carpenter’s usual adventure flair.
Starman holds up exceptionally well, outside of the slightly cheezy synth score, which, I was shocked to learn, was not written by Carpenter himself, as he is wont to do (Check out his iconic themes in Halloween and Escape from New York). Still, even with the thin, plastic 80s music, Starman feels very genuine and plays quite well to a modern audience.
The Blu-ray disc looks exceptional! I’ve got to say, I’m actually in shock. I can’t believe what an incredible job Sony has done with the transfer here. It’s superbly detailed and film like. Colour fidelity seems spot-on with an overall bright and realistic tone. Some might feel that the contrast has been ramped up beyond a comfortable point but personally, I found the image overall spectacular. And hey, the sound isn’t too bad either! Great job on this front, Sony.
How about the bonus materials, you ask? There are none. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Ziltch. Zero. What a disappointment. Not even a commentary track. Not even a trailer. This is a massive oversight. But one I can almost forgive for such a stunning presentation.
Speaking of Starman, I wrote an unsolicited script for a sequel back in 1998. It was my first script and I quit college to finish it. It’s been gathering dust ever since. I sent it to Jeff Bridges and John carpenter, although I would prefer if Carpenter didn’t direct a sequel. I wrote some good f/x sequences and some interesting characters. I’m pretty sure I’ll never be involved, but I’d to see the f/x scene from the beach being incorporated, (Jeff’s manager Neil will know the one, totally plagiarised from another movie, but it would look great on film today). If anyone has any questions, email me at hansenfilm@yahoo.ie and I’ll answer them. (Although I won’t give away any plot points. And yes there is a son and indeed, I actually have the perfect casting suggestion!!
It’s Inexcusable considering 2009 is the 25th anniversary of Starman…very sad…i wont buy it now. Thanks Sony, for nothing