Starman
1984 Directed by John Carpenter
Synopsis
In 1977 Voyager II was launched into space, inviting all lifeforms in the universe to visit our planet. Get ready. Company's coming.
An alien crashes to earth and takes the form of a grieving young widow's late husband.
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Love is... um... it's when you care more for someone else than you do yourself.
-Jenny HaydenI never notice Starman on any John Carpenter "best of" lists but it surely deserves to be on at least a few. Not only is it a great film but it showcases Carpenter's talent as a director in a different light then what his fans are accustomed too. Even though the film is most assuredly science-fiction, it's still Carpenter's biggest attempt at real drama and it succeeds in spades.
Bruce A. Evans and Raynold Gideon's script was in limbo for a few years because the studio thought it was too similar to E.T.. Dean Riesner attempted to rewrite the script while working with…
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Undoubtedly the best argument that ever existed for John Carpenter's potential as a true mainstream filmmaker. His widescreen compositions have never been more beautiful or colorful - I've never seen a movie of his that looked this pretty. It's also an effective heartstring-tugger, almost as much so as ET - when "Scott" says that his favorite thing about humanity is that we're at our best when things are worst, I'll admit to some slight welling up about my ocular cavities.
If they ever invent a way to travel to parallel universes, I want to go to the one where this is the massive cultural force that ET is.
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Simple enough plot with two great performances and another excellent John Carpenter score. I've watched Starman numerous times and I still find it touching and engaging.
One of my first encounters with Jeff Bridges, the others being Tron, King Kong and Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, from an early age I remember being entranced by his persona on screen and I have followed him ever since, he has had one hell of a career. Also this film enhanced my fixation with Karen Allen, and it is a added bonush that she is wandering about in her panties at the beginning of the film.
This is one of my favourite's of John Carpenter's, probably in my top five.
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"Define 'love'"
"He's not from around here is he"
These are the kinds of lines of dialogue you're going to get in Starman, and you're going to sit there and like it. No, love it. Because it's John damn Carpenter, and he knows how to balance cheese, comedy, drama, sci-fi, perversion, heart, all those buzzwords, all at once. Dude can spin plates. -
Sci-fi with heart. This movie is just amazing, and probably my favourite from John Carpenter. The score is so good that it makes you sit through the credits.
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This is the only Carpenter film I have never seen in it's entirety....until now. It's fucking amazing!!! I'm sure there is a whole slew of people that would disagree with me, but I loved every goddamn second. From the truly horrifying "baby to Bridges" scene to the resurrection of Bambi, John Carpenter brings tickles of joy all over my body.
Without a doubt my favorite filmmaker of all time.
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Kinda old but certainly has some good lines and ideas.
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Guess the movie: Alien gets stranded on Earth, is dying, and must reach a rendezvous or be stuck on Earth. Alien forms special bond with first human contact and has healing powers. Government agents are in pursuit except for one who befriends them. In the end everyone watches as alien says goodbye to his human friend and goes home. E.T.? No, This is Starman!
A blatant E.T. rip-off, just altered for an older audience and the alien takes human form. Oh yeah, and with drastically inferior acting, directing, score... everything. Why do I even try to watch John Carpenter movies? I keep thinking, "maybe this one will be the one I enjoy, and I'll understand why people like this guy…
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John Carpenter's "E.T: Close Encounters of the Encino Man"
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One of the more underrated John Carpenter films. While I was scratching my head at what kind of acting Jeff Bridges was doing the whole movie, it is a fun little sci-fi film that while forgettable, is enjoyable while watching.
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Love is... um... it's when you care more for someone else than you do yourself.
-Jenny HaydenI never notice Starman on any John Carpenter "best of" lists but it surely deserves to be on at least a few. Not only is it a great film but it showcases Carpenter's talent as a director in a different light then what his fans are accustomed too. Even though the film is most assuredly science-fiction, it's still Carpenter's biggest attempt at real drama and it succeeds in spades.
Bruce A. Evans and Raynold Gideon's script was in limbo for a few years because the studio thought it was too similar to E.T.. Dean Riesner attempted to rewrite the script while working with…
-
Undoubtedly the best argument that ever existed for John Carpenter's potential as a true mainstream filmmaker. His widescreen compositions have never been more beautiful or colorful - I've never seen a movie of his that looked this pretty. It's also an effective heartstring-tugger, almost as much so as ET - when "Scott" says that his favorite thing about humanity is that we're at our best when things are worst, I'll admit to some slight welling up about my ocular cavities.
If they ever invent a way to travel to parallel universes, I want to go to the one where this is the massive cultural force that ET is.
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Sweetly endearing. While definitely cheesy, one somehow forgets that while watching. The scene with the deer is great.
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The score was so good and I couldn't help being charmed by the special effects and the chemistry between Jeff Bridges and Karen Allen.
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This review reportedly contains spoilers. I can handle the truth.