Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘The Last Starfighter’

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

If there's one particular element about motion pictures that I truly love every time I settle in to watch a movie at home or in a darkened theater, is that in some form or fashion, be it good or bad, these stories find a way to touch your soul. Yes, we may hate them from time to time, or we outright love them, but they reach us, they make us feel and it's why we keep coming back for more.

Granted as we get older, film tends to appeal to our soul for different reasons, because eventually some of the magic that film provides us in our youth fades, but man...it's hard to forget how movies used to make us feel as kids, when they were the living embodiments of our dreams and took our minds to places we never expected to go, and one motion picture of many that managed to accomplish that when I was a kid, recently came up in discussion with a friend of mine and it only felt right to revisit, The Last Starfighter. 

Now for those unfamiliar with this gem from 1984, the plot revolves around a young man and a dreamer named Alex Rogan who wants nothing more than a chance to leave his unimportant life in a trailer park behind and do something special with his future. But it seems as though, that day will never come. That is until he beats the lone arcade game in his complex, because that game, Starfighter...has sent a signal deep into space, letting the Rylan Star League know that this young man is ready to join their fight against the evil Ko-Dan Empire and whether he likes it or not, Alex will become the galaxy's last line of defense from the evil machinations of a mad ruler...

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So, allow me to get the fanboy out my system because man...growing up this movie was something else. Because about the time it came out, I wanted nothing more than to be an astronaut and see the stars so a steady dose of space travel themed sci-fi was fed into my mind and then this sucker came along, and I was in awe. I loved the idea that an average dude could suddenly become a hero and save countless worlds and well...it only reinforced my love of space travel themed science fiction further. But, before I spend the next few paragraphs going beyond super geeky, this is a review and there is a reason that the film accomplishes this kind of wonder, because it has a damn solid story.

Everything about this script simply works. The setup is subtle and believable, and you quickly find a way to connect with Alex. We've all been in his shoes, hoping for more but expecting less and we've all wanted a moment where someone noticed something greater in us. But what truly makes Alex's journey in this film so magical, is the sheer fact that he has to earn everything. It's not enough for this awesome and dangerous opportunity to land in his lap, he has to go out there, fight to be better, and earn the right to be a Starfighter. It's lovely message that the film sends about how much work has go into the things we do if we ever want to see any measure of success and it's something that I didn't catch in this film until years later when I was mature enough to process it.

But the film goes beyond mere philosophy, in modern sci-fi fashion there is plenty of powerhouse special effects and breathtaking moments to be found, and while the effects are a touch dated in this day and age, there's still a sense of awe to be found when you watch space opera-esque battles unfold before your eyes and of course...nothing beats a good old fashioned Death Blossom. Either way, this is another one of those classic films rooted in good storytelling above all else and it's one that I'm glad I could pull off the shelf and enjoy once again because for a brief moment, I found that younger version of me sitting in front of the television once again...and my eyes were once more wide with wonder at a story that still lets my spirit soar...

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