When this came out, it was one of the very, very, very, very, VERY few sci-fi comedies ever made--or maybe it was the first--and that still holds true today (although there were supposed to have been two more sci-fi comedies out last year; perhaps Space Truckin'--which went straight to video--was one and someone chickened out on the other). Unfortunately if someone has seen the hilarious (in my opinion) Galaxy Quest and then hears about this one and decides to check it out, chances are they'll be disappointed, since this movie needs more jokes and all. Still, not a bad first effort from John Carpenter.
Speaking of which, there were TONS of things that made this unique...just the fact that John Carpenter made it, which he's done mostly horror movies since, is one thing. He also did the music, which is pretty good. Dan O'Bannon starred in this, who went on to make Alien, a totally killer movie that also was a blend of genres (sci-fi and horror). I also find it funny that, at one point near the end, a piece of debris says it's the Toilet Tank THX 1138 (is that number right?), which was George Lucas' first movie, then years later Star Wars was made...which was also low budget (but WAY bigger than Dark Star's!)...and the Star Destroyers looked suspiciously like the Dark Star...and the cast was also mostly unknowns...and George Lucas also did a special edition of that movie as well. Hmmm...
And speaking of "special": a movie about a group of astronauts who travel the galaxy blowing up unstable planets...VERY original (not to mention they're losing their minds, too). The past obviously repeats itself, due to the government official at the beginning (LOVED that bonehead!) who reports they don't have enough money to spare from the budget to give the guys life saving radiation shielding and then insults them with a lame pep talk.
Even with a severely low budget, sometimes less is more: there's this alien that's basically a beach ball--or a beanbag chair--with feet, and I swear I can imagine a frowning pair of eyebrows when he clicks his toenails in disgust in the scene when Pinback tries to feed him!! I also thought the ending was perfect, when they all...well, you know...it was just a fitting end, if you ask me. After all, they were out of toilet paper!!
The movie just needed more jokes and a few scenes shortened, like the elevator scene. Other than that...yeah, "spaced out", indeed.
Speaking of which, there were TONS of things that made this unique...just the fact that John Carpenter made it, which he's done mostly horror movies since, is one thing. He also did the music, which is pretty good. Dan O'Bannon starred in this, who went on to make Alien, a totally killer movie that also was a blend of genres (sci-fi and horror). I also find it funny that, at one point near the end, a piece of debris says it's the Toilet Tank THX 1138 (is that number right?), which was George Lucas' first movie, then years later Star Wars was made...which was also low budget (but WAY bigger than Dark Star's!)...and the Star Destroyers looked suspiciously like the Dark Star...and the cast was also mostly unknowns...and George Lucas also did a special edition of that movie as well. Hmmm...
And speaking of "special": a movie about a group of astronauts who travel the galaxy blowing up unstable planets...VERY original (not to mention they're losing their minds, too). The past obviously repeats itself, due to the government official at the beginning (LOVED that bonehead!) who reports they don't have enough money to spare from the budget to give the guys life saving radiation shielding and then insults them with a lame pep talk.
Even with a severely low budget, sometimes less is more: there's this alien that's basically a beach ball--or a beanbag chair--with feet, and I swear I can imagine a frowning pair of eyebrows when he clicks his toenails in disgust in the scene when Pinback tries to feed him!! I also thought the ending was perfect, when they all...well, you know...it was just a fitting end, if you ask me. After all, they were out of toilet paper!!
The movie just needed more jokes and a few scenes shortened, like the elevator scene. Other than that...yeah, "spaced out", indeed.