Search - Battle Beyond the Stars on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG Content Advisory: Violence, Adult Situations, Questionable for Children, Adult Humor Movie Release: 1980 DVD Release: 02/06/2001 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Restored/Remastered Audio Tracks: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 43 mins Studio: New Concorde Members Wishing: 18 Genres: Science Fiction, Parody/Spoof, Sci-Fi Action, Space Adventure

Produced by Roger Corman and scripted by John Sayles, Battle Beyond the Stars is a cheerfully blatant imitation of The Seven Samurai (or at least the American remake The Magnificent Seven). A peaceloving planet is attacked by malevolent aliens. The powers-that-be hire a group of mercenaries, headed by George Peppard, to protect the planet from harm. Peppard's contingent includes squeaky-clean Richard Thomas Jr. and statuesque Sybil Danning. John Saxon goes through his usual paces as the villain, while the supporting players include such dependables as Sam Jaffe, Jeff Corey, and, from Magnificent Seven itself, Robert Vaughn. Keep an eye out for Julia Duffy as "Mol". A deft blend of standard sci-fi action and knowing "inside" humor, Battle Beyond the Stars was one of Corman's biggest hits of the 1980s-not to mention an endless supply of stock footage for future New World Productions. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Richard Thomas - Shad
Robert Vaughn - Gelt
George Peppard - Cowboy
John Saxon - Sador
Darlanne Fluegel - Sador

One of Roger Corman's more successful and popular titles has received a nice DVD release that would probably only have been improved with the addition of an isolated score track. The print used for the transfer is a little rough around the edges, with flurries of speckles and minor scratches in some places, and some softness and graininess in others. Considering the production budget, the year, and the company, however, the print quality is better than might have been expected. Overall, colors are strong, and black levels are good. If fleshtones are lacking in accuracy at any point, it's more likely to do with lighting. The film has been non-anamorphically transferred at a 1.85:1 ratio. There seem to be no compression artifacts. The soundtrack has been remastered in Dolby 5.1, which works well for the score. Dialogue is clear and well-separated. Overall, the soundtrack sounds good, though it does lack a little in the bass end. Disc extras include a terrific commentary track with John Sayles and Roger Corman, who talk animatedly back and forth about filmmaking, the art and science of Corman Productions, science fiction, and more. The second commentary track features producer Gale Anne Hurd, who talks stiffly and with long pauses. The disc also includes cast and crew bios, a trivia game that pays off in a photo gallery easter egg, a battered trailer, and four previews for other Corman releases (including the notorious Piranha). ~ Steven E. McDonald, All Movie Guide