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Star Wars Trilogy |
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Blockbuster science fantasies that paved the way for others that followed. The now-familiar story traces Luke Skywalker's battle with an evil emperor and his Dark Lord sidekick. The standard good vs evil plot-lines involve a multitude of family skeletons in the closet. The effect of Lucas' concept of 'the Force' runs deep. Seminal. |
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The Last Starfighter |
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Star Wars meets computer games in this enjoyable pyrotechnic adventure. The story's hero is recruited by an alien (Robert Preston) to fight a real-life space war when he proves to be exceptionally proficient at playing the Starfighter arcade game. Competent special effects aided by a solid script featuring some lighthearted dialogue. |
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Dune |
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Deadpanned by critics on release, the theatrical version of Frank Herbert's famous novel is proving surprisingly durable with fans. A political power struggle on the planet Arrakis sees the hero lead desert dwellers and sandworms into battle against oppressive rulers. A good cast and visually impressive - it is well worth another look. |
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Enemy Mine |
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A human and a reptilian Drac (Lou Gossett Jr) from opposing sides at war are forced to rely on each other for survival when stranded on a hostile planet. We soon learn that Dracs are being used as slave labour in human mining operations. The hermaphroditic Drac needs a godfather, resulting in a potent anti-discrimination scenario. |
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Aliens |
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A rare sequel that manages to outdo the original, which is a fine film in its own right. Sigourney Weaver is again terrific as Ripley - the only one left alive after the original Alien movie (1979). A squadron of Marines heads off to the home planet of the nasty aliens, intent on wiping them out. Taut and terrifying - definitive space-horror. |
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Stargate |
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Competent film that spawned a long-running TV series. James Spader plays an ancient language expert who helps the military decipher the purpose of a recently-uncovered alien artifact. It turns out to be a gateway to all sorts of places that is somehow tied to the ancient Egyptian gods. Kurt Russell chips in with a solid performance. |
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Independence Day |
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Slam-bang sci-fi action flick featuring Oscar-winning special effects. The aliens are hovering above Earth set to invade. Things look pretty grim, but an absentminded scientist (Jeff Goldblum) eventually figures out a way to save the day. The US President finds he still has the right stuff and Will Smith looks to be born for the part. |
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Starship Troopers |
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This loose adaptation of Heinlein's novel is about as right-wing as sci-fi films get. High school kids get "citizenship" and service to the state drummed into their heads. A group of young military cadets graduate and head off to fight a war against giant bugs. There's lots of blood, gore and dismemberment - and then the movie ends. |
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