Take a trip back in time to a galaxy far, far away. No, not that one - we're talking about the cult sci-fi cheesefest, 1978's Starcrash.
Starcrash is an unapologetic pastiche of popular sci-fi and fantasy films, borrowing heavily from Star Wars, Jason and the Argonauts, Barbarella, and other genre classics. This 1978 film could be considered the king of copycats, as its creators transparently attempted to capitalize on the massive success of Star Wars by cloning its style and story beats. Practically every element in Starcrash seems lifted from another, more original property. While thoroughly derivative, the film offers an amusing sampler platter of genre tropes and special effects to sci-fi fans amenable to blatant imitation.
In a galaxy of neon stars, two aspiring space pirates, Stella Star and Arkton, embark on a quest to find a secret weapon capable of destroying the ruling galactic empire. Count Zarth Arn, an evil villain, deploys his forces to thwart the duo's search. The journey also involves a tribe of Amazons and a prince long thought dead but discovered alive. It all culminates in outrageous laser battles and scantily-clad women.
The real saving grace in this intergalactic mess of a film is its credible cast. Caroline Munro shines as the heroine Stella Star, the seductive half of a space pirate duo. She imbues cliche lines straight from 1930s serials with as much heartfelt emotion as she can muster. Though she spends much of the film scantily clad in an attempt to distract from the subpar material, Munro's committed performance can't quite compensate for the overall lackluster quality of the movie.
Although it may seem like a dream, Prince Simon is played by a young David Hasselhoff in this film. Hasselhoff's role comes near the end and has limited dialogue. Unless he is behind the wheel of a souped-up Trans Am or running down a beach, his acting abilities unfortunately leave much to be desired.
Christopher Plummer turns in an excellent performance as The Emperor, despite the limitations of the role. It's puzzling how such a talented actor ended up in this subpar production.
In a galaxy of neon stars, two aspiring space pirates, Stella Star and Arkton, embark on a quest to find a secret weapon capable of destroying the ruling galactic empire. Count Zarth Arn, an evil villain, deploys his forces to thwart the duo's search. The journey also involves a tribe of Amazons and a prince long thought dead but discovered alive. It all culminates in outrageous laser battles and scantily-clad women.
Although it may seem like a dream, Prince Simon is played by a young David Hasselhoff in this film. Hasselhoff's role comes near the end and has limited dialogue. Unless he is behind the wheel of a souped-up Trans Am or running down a beach, his acting abilities unfortunately leave much to be desired.
Christopher Plummer turns in an excellent performance as The Emperor, despite the limitations of the role. It's puzzling how such a talented actor ended up in this subpar production.
The low-budget special effects in this film are laughably poor, with obvious model spaceships cobbled together from kits. While this worked for Star Wars, it just looks silly here. The stop-motion creations, ripped off from Ray Harryhausen's masterpieces, are executed in a cheesy manner that would make the special effects legend cringe. Adding to the hilarity are neon-colored stars that make deep space resemble Las Vegas.
Star Crash is only worth watching for two reasons: to see Caroline Munro in all her sexiness, and to laugh at David Hasselhoff's hilariously outdated REO Speedwagon hairstyle.
With her captivating beauty and charming allure, Caroline Munro leapt from the pages of fashion magazines and into the imaginations of moviegoers worldwide. After being discovered as a model in the late 1960s, Munro quickly became one of the most sought-after cover girls of her era, gracing the covers of Vogue, Esquire, and Cosmopolitan. But she yearned for something more. Her breakout role came in 1971's Dracula A.D. 1972, launching her prolific career in horror and science fiction. Munro went on to star in The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, At the Earth's Core, and as a Bond girl in The Spy Who Loved Me. With her magnetic screen presence, Munro brought an alluring grace and gravitas to genre films that enthralled audiences and critics alike. Though she never achieved mainstream stardom, Caroline Munro's striking visage left an indelible impression on a generation of movie fans.
Star Crash is only worth watching for two reasons: to see Caroline Munro in all her sexiness, and to laugh at David Hasselhoff's hilariously outdated REO Speedwagon hairstyle.
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