Page 34 - OSG Presents Classic Gamer Magazine #2

Jimmy just keeps saying the word vide a dramatic back- geek’s film library
“California” over and over, so stage entrance for (the other being
Corey decides, “What the hell!” and Jimmy to participate in “Tron”). Lance
they hop aboard a Wonder Bread the finals against his Guest plays Alex
truck bound west. As luck would foreshadowed neme- Rogan, a typical
have it, Jimmy is a real wiz at play- sis, Lucas. Here, Nin- teenager living in
ing video games and while at a tendo gets a crack at a trailer park with
truck stop, he proceeds to score another plug, as the his mom and
50,000 on Double Dragon game to be played for brother. Alex des-
(managing to do this on what ap- the final match-up is perately wants to
pears to be the second level). A the soon-to-be- do something with
young girl by the name of Haley released Super Mario his life beyond
recognizes this as true talent and Bros. 3. It’s simply being the fix-it boy
encourages Corey to take Jimmy to amazing that these for the trailer park
the video game championships in kids know how to play population.
Los Angeles. To raise the money this game and uncover Fate inter-
to get to L.A., Corey and Haley use its many secrets with- venes in the form
Jimmy’s gaming talents to chal- out ever having played of an arcade
lenge all takers at various arcades. it before. game entitled “Starfighter,” which
This is how they meet “Lucas,” the Well, I hate to give the ending Alex has become quite skilled at
bad boy of video gaming, who pro- away, but I’m sure you can man- playing. As it turns out, the game
ceeds to humiliate Corey with his age a guess. I can’t say I’d recom- is actually a tool used to recruit
“Powerglove.” Lucas also delivers mend you see this movie to prove Starfighters to fight against an evil
the best-worst line of the movie, “I yourself correct, either, but at worst empire in a distant galaxy. Alex
love the Powerglove. It’s so bad!” catch it on cable and have a then becomes the reluctant hero
Basically the movie is “Rain chuckle or two at its ridiculousness. who must take on Xur and the Ko-
Man” meets “The Color of Money” I love The Wizard. It’s so bad! dan armada.
meets “The Rugrats.” This movie bombed terribly at

“Tilt”
The film also includes your stan- “Tilt” the box office but has become
dard bumbling, inept adults trying somewhat of a cult classic.
to track them down, and not one of Here’s another bad film made Granted the plot is somewhat weak
them has a hint of intelligence. in the spirit of “The Hustler.” and some of the characters are a
There is Brooke Shields bit cardboard, but the film main-
also an odd plays teenage run- tains a good, fun energy from start
scene away “Tilt,” a pinball to finish. Two notable perform-
played for virtuoso who wins ances include Robert Preston as
laughs money by wandering Centauri, the fast talking galactic
where Haley the country and recruiter, and Dan O’ Herlihy as
accuses one challenging others to Grig, Alex’s loyal co-pilot.
of the adults pinball. She even “The Last Starfighter” has re-
of child mo- hangs out at a bar in cently been released on DVD and
lestation. hopes of scoring includes bonus features such as
Ha ha! Get money. No, I’m not widescreen, director’s commentary,
it? And, I’ll sure why a 12 year production photos and notes, and
give a dollar old girl is allowed to the original trailer.
to the first hang out in a bar, It’s interesting to note that no
person who but that’s the least of models were used in creating the
can tell me the point of Christian this film’s problems. special effects. “The Last Star-
Slater’s character. There is a muddled plot that in- fighter” was the first film to utilize
The finale takes place at the volves Tilt giving her winnings to a CGI technology (created on a Cray
videogame championship, coinci- really bad singer, so he can make computer) on a large scale. The
dentally enough at Universal Stu- an equally bad demo for some special effects team claims the
dios. After Jimmy wins the semi- poor, unsuspecting record com- visuals would have been much
finals, the aforementioned idiot pany. This is another film in the grander had they not been con-
adults pursue the kids inside the “so bad it’s good” category. By all strained by the clock due to the
theme park. This allows for perfect means check it out when it’s aired time consuming process of render-
placement for Universal to promote on cable. ing the graphics
the new at the time, “King Kong” If you’ve never seen this movie,
attraction. If only the 40-foot ape “The Last Starfighter” do yourself a favor and at least
hurled barrels at the kids would this give it a rent. We think “You’re
have made a perfect promotion. “The Last Starfighter” is another gonna love it. . .Love it!”
What it does do, however, is pro-
movie that belongs in every 80’s
CGM

Classic Gamer Magazine Winter 2000 34