Dark Planet

Starring:Michael York
Studio: Allumination Filmwor
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

The Dark Star's crew is on a 20-year mission to destroy unstable planets and make way for future colonization. The smart bombs they use to effect this zoom off cheerfully to do their duty. But unlike Star Trek, in which order prevails, the nerves of this crew are becoming increasingly frayed to the point of psychosis. Their captain has been killed by a radiation leak that also destroyed their toilet paper. "Don't give me any of that 'Intelligent Life' stuff," says Commander Doolittle when presented with the possibility of alien life. "Find me something I can blow up." When an asteroid storm causes a malfunction, Bomb Number 20 (the most cheerful character in the film) has to be repeatedly talked out of exploding prematurely, each time becoming more and more peevish, until they have to teach him phenomenology to make him doubt his existence. And the film's apocalyptic ending, lifted almost wholly from Ray Bradbury's story "Kaleidoscope," has the remaining crew drifting away from each other in space, each to a suitably absurd end. Absurd, surreal, and very funny. John Carpenter once described Dark Star as "Waiting for Godot in space." Made at a cost of practically nothing, the film's effects are nevertheless impressive and, along with the number of ideas crammed into its 83 minutes, ought to shame makers of science fiction films costing hundreds of times more. The DVD contains both the original 68-minute release and the director's full version. --Jim Gay

Description

DARK STAR was originally intended to be a 68 minute film. Jack Harris, the Hollywood producer, convinced the filmmakers to shoot 15 minutes of extra footage and he released the expanded version theatrically in 1975 through Bryanston Pictures. In 1983, DARK STAR was re- issued to home video as a "Special Edition," created under the supervision and authorization of the filmmakers. This special version, featuring a new technically superior video transfer, had been edited by the filmmakers though, virtually removing all the extra footage. Now, once again for all DARK STAR purest, here is the full length theatrical release version, painstakingly restored, and sporting a new Dolby Digital Hi-Fi stereo sound track. Enjoy! In the mid twenty-first century, mankind has reached a point in its technological advances to enable colonization of the far reaches of the universe. DARK STAR is a futuristic scout ship traveling far in advance of colony ships. Armed with Exponential Thermosteller Bombs, it prowls the unstable planets. But there is one obstacle that its crew members did not count on -- one of the ship's thinking and talking bombs is lodged in the bay, threatening to destroy the entire ship and crew! Bonus Features: Contains 2 Versions: Longer Theatrical & Original Shorter Version| Trailer| Scene Selection| Actor Bios| Remixed 5.1 Track. Specs: DVD5; Dolby Digital 5.1; 83 minutes; Color; 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio; MPAA - G; Year - 1974; SRP - $9.99.

Customer Reviews:

Very funny Sci-Fi.......2007-06-27

This is well worth getting. Starting out as a student picture for debut director John Carpenter, he turned out a minor classic on an absolute showstring budget.

The film is about the crew of a spaceship, whose purpose is to destroy planets making way for colonisation. The crew are very bored. To make things more interesting an Alien escapes from the hold and proceeds to torment one of the crew. This sequence is extremly funny. The other main area of the film revolves around a bomb that seems to have a mind of its own. The dialog between the bomb and the crew and the ships computer is very funny. The film finishes with what is probably a comedic reference to 2001.

For a film made on such a small budget Carpenter achieved mircles. It wouldn't surprise me at all if Alien was inspired to some degree by this film, and indeed Alien does reference Dark Star according to the IMDB and of course Dan O'Bannon was involved in both films. At 80 minutes long its the perfect length - there is no time for you to get bored. If there has been a better sci-fi comedy made I haven't seen it.

Hard SF fans.......2007-05-30

This film answers the question what do you do when your crew was scraped up from the people rejected for spaceflight, you are light years from home, your smart bombs are smarting off, a captured alien gets out of his pen, and your ship is falling apart.

It is a important film to see, not for the flashy special effects, there aren't any, but for the characterizations and plot lines. It is the obverse of the spit and polish of many SF films.

This does not portray the best and brightest in space, its more like putting fruits and nuts in a can and sending it into deep space for a mission nobody really cares about anymore.

Great movie.......2007-04-02

Knowing it was a glorified student film before I watched it, my expectations for Dark Star weren't very high. However, I was surprised by the script and subtle humor in the movie, and the small details and creative moviemaking used to make up for the low budget.

It wasn't a perfect movie, but its freshness and creativity make up for its flaws. Obviously Carpenter, O'Bannon, etc., all went on to have great careers, and made some great movies.

If you like "first movies", sci-fi, fantasy, horror, or any of the other work put out by the people involved in this movie, you should end up liking Dark Star. I thought it was great.

Budget Sci-Fi Parody.......2007-03-31

I first saw this movie when I was in college 30 years ago and loved it. It was made on a shoe-string budget and was John Carpenter's first full length movie release. It is a sci-fi comedy and parody. The special effects are obviously not up to today's standards, but they were pretty good for the time it was made. I think this movie actually presents space travel in a more realistic light than most other sci-fi shows I have seen. In this movie, systems on the ship are breaking down forcing the crew to come-up with work arounds, and the crew is going stir-crazy from spending years out in deep space. The government says they appreciate the important work the crew is doing, but doesn't want to send out a repair ship to help them because it is too expensive. While this probably done for comic effect, if we ever do develop long range space travel, you know this is how things will probably be.

All-in-all, while it is not as action packed as most of today's sci-fi movies, this is a funny movie with a different take on deep space travel.

I was once so drunk..........2007-03-22

...that I actually thought this movie was great.

But I got it on DVD and now I realize that it's a collection of:

pedantic political humor, much of it anti-military
cheap costumes and sets
a slow-moving plot that never really gets to a point
mediocre dialog delivered too fast without convincing emotion
a beach ball alien

Special effects-wise, I am amazed at what Carpenter and O'Bannon accomplished on a non-existent budget. The Spaceship and "computer room" effects are way ahead of their time.

Still, watching it again without the aid of all that beer from my college days... This movie stinks!

Average customer rating:

Excellent at what it sought to do!
Introduction for outsiders to skinheads, black metal, straight edge and zealot culture

Dark Planet:Visions of America
Starring: Various
Manufacturer: Music Video Distribu
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

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Description

The award winning documentary "Dark Planet: Visions of America" has come to DVD. Featuring interviews and performances by STRIFE, the makers of Boston Beatdown, MURPHY'S LAW, P.O.D., HERO, BRASS KNUCKLE CHOIR, KRIEG, MAT KEARNEY, etc plus much more. Spanning 12 major cities and over a year of shooting, this film is the first of its kind to systematically document 4 of America's most intriguing subcultures: SKINHEAD, STRAIGHT EDGE, BLACK METAL and ZEALOT (devout, militant Christian underground). Also packaged with the mainstream debut CD by underground electronica masterminds "INTELLIGENTZIA".

Customer Reviews:

Excellent at what it sought to do!.......2005-10-21

Dark Planet: Visions of America systematically went through four youth subcultures (here aforementioned), explaining the history, proponents for, detractors from, and impact of each genre.

Good:

-Very good overall view of each genre
-Very good insight into the significance and impact of each subculture
-Good arrangement of bands and experts for each genre to provide information and first-hand knowledge
-Good incorporation of historical footage (ex. Mel Gibson's interview, scenes from Romper Stomper, etc.)

Bad:

-Did not delve into the national socialist side of the skinhead culture beyond mentioning it and making it sound silly
-Seemed to promote an overall better feel for the Zealot movement without saying outright that it was predisposed to favoritism toward that group

If not for those two things (and the lack of information on national socialist skinhead metal was the most detracting), this documentary would easily rate a 5-star review.

For what this documentary sought to accomplish, which was providing and introduction and some beginner's information on each subculture and its impact, the film did a very, very good job and my hat is off to its director and producers.

Introduction for outsiders to skinheads, black metal, straight edge and zealot culture.......2005-08-24

This movie is not a teenage celebration of these genres, but an attempt to explain why they came about, namely what they think is wrong with society and how they hope to fix it. Its strengths are its structure and clarity; its weakness is the tedious nature of most people and subgenres. The Christians come out looking the best, with the black metallers following. I like (some) black metal, (some) hardcore and am not a Christian except in the Schopenhauerian sense of spiritual "quietude," however, I was impressed with the filmmaking and topic study of the independent underground documentary.

Average customer rating:

Dark Planet
Starring: Harley Jane Kozak , Paul Mercurio , and Michael York
Director: Albert Magnoli
Manufacturer: Allumination
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0006H4DBY
Release Date: 2003-08-05

Description

At the edge of the universe, beyond the opening of an interstellar wormhole lies the Dark Planet. Only one man has even made it through and back-Navigator Hawke. With the Earth reeling from the destruction of its 6th World War, Hawke and his ship fight the most powerful forces in the universe with the survival of humanity in his hands.

Average customer rating:

DULL PLANET
incomprehensible
dark planet
Bad? Did you say bad?
So bad it's bad

Dark Planet
Starring: Paul Mercurio , Harley Jane Kozak , Michael York , Maria Ford , and Ed O'Ross
Director: Albert Magnoli
Manufacturer: Simitar Ent.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Sci-Fi Action | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

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Futuristic | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: 6305025991
Release Date: 1998-07-08

Customer Reviews:

DULL PLANET.......2004-09-02

First off, did anyone else think that the doomed lady in the opening scene looked like she worked at McDonalds? That's just the beginning of an incredibly dull, farfetched, incoherent and out and out boring movie. Paul Mercurio plays an ace pilot named Anson Hawke, who lost his wife during a mission through an enormous wormhole!! He is later released from prison to pilot a ship back through that wormhole in search of a mysterious dark planet. Seems like on earth, there are two sets of people who have survived three world wars: the Alphas, genetically enhanced humans, and the rebels, real humans or "mutants." They want to find this dark planet to see if it is habitable, thus mankind can get a new start. One scene has the ship going through a mine field, wherein the mines actually look like cordless microphones. The special effects, what little there are, are pedestrian, and obviously shoestring budgeted. The acting is atrocious: Harley Jane Kozak taking on the Sigourney Weaver role, but with no muscle; Michael York shamefully overacting as the obvious bad guy; Maria Ford with her clothes on most of the time, which is quite unusual for this comely actress. If you like tense exciting scifi, this is not the movie to watch.

incomprehensible.......2004-07-03

after viewing this tape, i felt as if i was trapped on the dark planet. the story is limp and aimless, with no real direction. badly written plot that makes no sense. who are all the characters supposed to be? i couldnt tell you. this movie must have been written by a seven year old.

dark planet.......2003-09-11

have just finished watching dark planet and enjoyed could not leave the room as i was glued to it great acting from paul mercurio as i had only seen him in strictly ballroom and think that is terrific read reviews about dark planet before watching and do not know what they are talking about i think paul mercurio is a great actor and wish he would do more

Bad? Did you say bad?.......2003-08-06

You want to know how bad this movie is? I watched for all of about 10 minutes then shut it off! The so-called special effects resemble those from arcade video games of 20 years ago! Avoid like the plague!

So bad it's bad.......2000-10-14

Michael York in an incomprehensible mess. One of the worst movies I've ever seen. No, not bad-good, just bad-bad.

Average customer rating:

Dark Planet
Starring: Michael York
Manufacturer: Allumination Filmwor
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

All Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00008WJC6
Release Date: 2003-08-05

Description

Average customer rating:

Dark Planet: Visions Of America

Manufacturer: Illuminati Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Product Description

Documentry covering America's most intriguing subcultures: Skinhead, Straightedge, Black Metal & Zealot. Featuring interviews and performances by Strife, the makers of Boston Beatdown, Murphy's Law, Krieg, Mat Kearney, Urban Sophisticates, Averse, Brass Knuckle Choir

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