Hey do not underestimate Romance movies... Those movies was the ones that thought me how to be with a man romantically and intimate way. My mother didn't told me anything when i was teenager, she was way too embarrassed to say anything so i had to turn romance movies to teach me hiw to be with a man
Starman sequel was written but never made. Would have loved to see. Yes the tv show was great, but getting Jeff and Karen back would have been amazing!
Oh for God's sake! .. . can't we discuss, or even so much as hear about, ANY movie more than ten years old WITHOUT hearing the frigging word "remake" anymore?!!
I am 38. My Grandmother used to watch this movie all the time when I was a VERY small child growing up in the late 80's and early 90's. About 17 years ago or so I bought this movie on DVD for her for either her birthday or Christmas. This movie always tugged at my heart strings too and I remember loving it watching with my beloved Grandmother as a wee boy here in Texas. Unfortunately she passed away in November 2021 from an extremely short but advanced battle with dementia, passing away 2 days after her 85th birthday after showing signs she had it starting 3 years before. I am still trying to process it as it has only been around 4 months now. Rest in peace Grandma.
im 37, i remember watching this movie as a kid too and loving it (hearing the score really brings me back). Im sorry to hear about your grandmother, i can see it being even sadder to watch this movie now
I’m glad you’re doing retrospectives again. I’ll be honest, this is the reason why I’m subscribed to your channel and I exclusively watch your retrospective episodes. They’re so well done, all of them.
This movie was the follow-up Jeff Bridges movie for me, after Tron. But this movie still lives today. About five years ago, I met the love of my life. I thought we would have the rest of our lives together, well on into old age. Only a few years in, she was diagnosed with Brain Cancer, a stage four Glio-Blastoma. She had about a couple of months beyond a year to live. But somewhere in the middle, she was laying on the couch, I had gotten home from work, we weren't married so I had to work that year, and after I fed her and she was relaxed, I just decided to show her one movie she had no knowledge about at all. I put in Starman, and two parts really got her. The first was the entire deer scene, from when Jenny and Starman pull into the diner, through the emotional scene when Jenny tells him about love with her dead husband Scott, to the resurrection of the deer. She was always an animal person, cows were her favorite animal. The second is where she choked up alot. After the set-up of Jenny explaining to Starman that she couldn't have babies, there was that long pause before they met up again, after he healed her and decided to leave her, for her own safety because she was shot and almost died. When they were in the train, and he tells her he gave her a baby, she choked up. Katie was always in favor of abortion in situations of violent rape, but when Starman gave her the choice of keeping the baby, or having him stop the process, I heard her breathe in. I always wanted to have a life with her, and she always wanted children, but there was no time. I really wish that I couldve given her a baby. I think that scene hurt her alot, and yet healed her a little bit. I'll never forget that. This movie isn't one of John Carpenters biggest blockbusters, but it is universally, his BEST.
I am so sorry you did not get a fair amount of time with your love. I get the sense that you are happy for the time you had. You made a good choice in showing her this film. Sometimes movies get to declare things out loud that we cannot bring ourselves to say. I hope you are happy. Love to all who have lost someone, which, in the end, is everybody
One of the finest and most underrated sci-fi films ever made, and it was great to see Jeff Bridges deservedly nominated for an Academy Award in this movie. Awsome review!
Im a 44 year old man and I get such a beautiful feeling inside and cry because im so moved by this movie and the way the music is woven in at the perfect times
Oliver, so glad you made this retrospective. Performances are top notch. The score is one of the very best. And this and Big Trouble, for me.. is probably Carpenter's best ever works. Thank you 😊
The score was composed by Jack Nitzsche, an Oscar winner for writing the song "Up Where We Belong" from "An Officer and a Gentleman" in 1983. This was the only collaboration he ever worked for cult filmmaker John Carpenter.
This movie is just lovely. I loved it when I watched it as a kid, and I love it as adult. I remember that I got absolutely fascinated by Bridges' performance.
I had no idea that Jeff was nominated for an Oscar for Starman! ... That's so cool, his performance was wonderful, and films like this are normally ignored.
I saw this film when I was a child, like 6/7 years old, when my dad, who loved introducing me to cinema, thought I was capable of seeing it intelligently. And it crystallizes an important part of my life. My relationship with my dad, my childhood, a cinema pattern that I particularly like (meeting/distrust and fear/friendship/separation). I have seen it 50 times, I love this film with deep love. It's cheap, it's not aging well, no one in my world knows it, but I love it and I cried with emotion for an hour when my man gave me the DVD for Christmas. My heart vibrates when I see videos of Starman or around Starman, when I hear the music from the film... I really have a huge and strong relationship with this film; so thank you for this video which tells me that Michael Douglac was in on it. Suddenly, I'm falling for Michael Douglas xd
Grew up watching this in the 80's and still love it. The scene that still gets me in when he's leaving and puts the sphere in Jenny's hand. "What should I do with this?" "The baby will know." Chokes me up every time.
Another fantastic retrospective. This, and Somewhere in time are my go to sci-fi romances. The best, and most simple definition of love I have heard is from Star-man. What is love? It is when you care more for someone else, than you do for yourself.
Same here I used to recommend both films when I worked in a video rental shop in the mid 80s and people always enjoyed both. This, somewhere in time and an officer and a gentleman were and still are great romantic movies for lovers.
I absolutely adore this film, seen it several times, it literally has everything, it's funny, charming, touching and exciting in places, it pulls at you heart strings, makes you laugh and is just a rollercoaster of a film. The performances in this are flawless and I love the music, makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. It's sad that it doesn't get anywhere near the love it deserves in Carpenters filmography.
This film is proof that if you hand over John Carpenter the keys, he'll treat it with the respect it deserves. In other words, he can direct anything, regardless of genre.
I saw it way back when it was first released in cinema in Singapore, and love it ever since! The only John Carpenter movie that get me emotional even after repeat viewings! One of the unrated John Carpenter movie, and I love it!
I saw this as a kid. I don't remember much about it except for two specific lines: "Must be a roadblock, I guess." And "Green light means go. Red light means stop. Yellow light means go very fast."
I watched this when it first came out and although it's popped into my mind a few times since, I've never watched it again. I will definitely re-watch it now. Thank you for the reminder. 👍
Would love an fisher king or stalker review. I know this is practically my wish not your intention. But i won’t think some else could do better justice than you for movies of such caliber. Thank you so much for all these great reviews. Honestly your blade runner review is the only documentary that could match dangerous days.
One of my favorite movies, for sure. It's been years since I saw it, but I was tearing up just watching this review. Keep up the great retrospectives work, because you're the best at it.
I just figured this out the last time I watched the movie a couple of weeks ago. The "planet" that Voyager 2 encounters is actually a spaceship, in fact the spaceship that appears at the end of the movie. At the time the movie was made, Voyager 2 was between Saturn and Uranus, so it encountered the ship well within our solar system.
Love this movie! so many perfect moments, the story and evolution of the romantic aspects connected with me in a similar way to the Spielberg movie Always. Please check out The Quiet Earth an early 80's sci-fi film from New Zealand a retrospective would be amazing! Just located the soundtrack in my collection.
I saw this in the theaters when it first came out towards the end of its run. Pretty much because there wasn't anything else playing at the time. I was ready to hate on this film, but found I really liked it despite the unrealistic and silly way they portrayed the military. I was only a few months away from shipping out to boot camp. Some of Bridges' and Allen's best work in my opinion.
I love Starman. I watched it so many times growing up with my dad. Jeff Bridges and Karen Allen had really great chemistry and I think its John Carpenter's best film. The soundtrack is really good too. One of my favorite films.
A beautiful movie that manages to stir my rather dead emotions which is not an easy thing to do. The dialogue about love is some of the most profound that I have ever heard but very uncomplicated, which is the mark of genius. The music, by Jack Nitzsche is awesome and I found out that he had arranged many of the sixties hits that connect with many people today as soon as they hear them. Another understated Gem. Good review.
Thank you, Oliver. This is one of my favourite movies too, and certainly John Carpenter’s best. It also is one of the most underrated movies. Jeff Bridges was excellent and his performance is very believable. He should have won the Academy Award. Yes it is a love story but Jenny Hayden learns to love again, mostly herself, and Starman learns he was wrong about earth and it is beautiful. I have to say that one of my favourite movie lines is from this movie, just after they almost get killed but the truck. Starman says, “I watched you very closely - red means stop, green means go, and yellow means drive very, very fast”.
Thank you for this retrospective. I saw Starman when it first came out. The scene when he tells Jenny he has given her a child always makes me cry. It's such an unusual love story. But it works!
Such a beautiful film, I think I saw it the same way, just happened to catch it on TV, and then seen a few times since, so much empathy and kindness in it, without being too sugary or sentimental, Loved it.
I've heard this film called "E.T. for adults," and I think that does have a lot of meaning. There are touching moments in this film that I never forget. The scene when she explains the death of Scott, when he brings the deer back to life, when the Starman says he "gave her a baby," are all such poignant and moving scenes rich in emotion. However, my favorite scene is in the restaurant at the end, when he tells Sherman what he finds most beautiful about humans, "You are at your very best when things are worst." It is the clear message of the film and a message to us all of the potential we have as humans, yet often overlook in the face of our daily struggles.
Charles Martin Smith is known for Never Cry Wolf in Canada due to it being a popular Farley Mowet book. Also, had a chuckle at 21:00 minute mark since he did play a similar type in X-Files just as you described...lol.
Oh for God's sake! .. . can't we discuss, or even so much as hear about, ANY movie more than ten years old WITHOUT hearing the frigging word "remake" anymore?!!
Excellent as always. I do remember catching this movie on one of the "premium" channels back when we had it. And like you, I did forget about it for a while, and then I came across bits and pieces of it on one of the "encore" channels. but never rewatched it in its entirety. I really should keep an eye out for this movie.
I'm not against a remake of the movie but it would have to be done right and true to the original storyline and character. I often thought of how the film showed two beings one a human and the other an alien from a far away world were both deeply affected and changed by circumstances that brought them together needing each other and Starman experiencing human emotions such as love in the end saying thier goodbyes niether one could live in the other one's world yet recieved a touching gift from each other.
We had this in our collection of VHS cassettes growing up and I watched it regularly. Never saw it on TV, or knew anyone be who watched it. It wasn't until I was adult that I learned it was even a Carpenter film. Good stuff with a memorable score.
John Carpenter stepping out of his comfort zone a bit and making a sentimental romantic movie (and doing a damn good job at it) just showed how much talent he really had. He is one of the greatest filmmakers of all time.
_"You are a strange species. Not like any other. And you'd be surprised how many there are. Intelligent but savage. Shall I tell you what I find beautiful about you?"_ [Shermin nods] _"You are at your very best when things are worst."_ Such a great movie, yet so overlooked. The performance of Jeff Bridges was phenomenal.
5:04 I was trying to figure out why she looks so familiar and then it hit me, she plays Scotty Smalls' mom on The Sandlot! A movie that you should definitely do a video on. Please
The late Jack Nitzsche’s score to Starman was done electronically on the computerized synthesizer/sampler, The Synclavier manufactured by New England Digital.
When I was a child my dad, with a raspy voice, used to say to me "Look at that star, there's your mum...". I understood it not late; of course my mother wasn't a star or an alien, but my father had that romantic concept about what a star could mean if you look it while thinking about the beloved person that once left you... Looks like John Carpenter knows that feeling when he made Starman; he have never been a sentimental director, but for some reason he understood the concept of romance and to be romantic, beyond the Hollywood's love stories stereotypes, that use to be more sentimental than romantic... The concept of love, life and death goes beyond that in Starman. That's the reason the emotional scenes of the two main characters never look fake, and how easily can move your heart, and, if you drop the guard, it could end being shattered. One of these moments, especially, is the confession about the forthcoming baby...it really breaks you
This is Carpenter's best movie next to The Thing. They are my two favorites from him. Starman and The Thing should be considered masterpieces in cinema. Both incredible pieces of art. Just watching this review with Karen Allen saying goodbye brings tears to my eyes...again.
I was 15 when I saw The Thing(my favourite movie nowadays), Then I started watching everyone of Carpenter's flicks, starting with the most famous ones like you mentioned. Then I went to the more obscure ones, one hidden gem after hidden gem; Starman, Prince of Darkness, In the mouth of Madness. John Carpenter is one of my fav directors of all time and has one of the greatest carrers, regarding all the movies he made, i even like Ghosts of Mars jajajaj. Anyway great review once again.
One of my favorite movies, period. Thanks for bringing attention to this. I hope they knock any potential remake out of the park, but I'm not holding my breath, because it would be difficult to do any better than this original.
You're not from around here are ya . Such a great film . I watched it numerous times as a little kid . Carpenter is my favorite director of all time . I think alot of people forget or don't even realize he directed Starman. Like many of his film's it was way ahead of it's time .
I loved this movie as a child, and still love it today! I saw if for the first time, and the next year that television show came out where it was about him looking for his kid (I think?) Anyways, John Carpenter was incredible here, as was the cast and the entire crew. What an incredible film, unlike anything ever made before it... Plus that score!!! Ugh, so good
Karen Allen is a natural beauty, I would have loved to have been in her social circle and have a chance. I fell in love with her when I first saw her in Raiders and always wanted to see more her...in the movies..
This was very well presented. I watched this movie as a teen and you're correct it's best done with gaps of time. Fantastic nevertheless. It has a permanent place in my all time everything list. Again, job well done 👍🏽
Such a great science fiction film. It really grew on me after the second viewing last year. Definitely John Carpenters most underrated film imo. Thanks for the retrospective.
I remember loving this when it came out, and after watching your Retro I feel guilty for not doing it. Nice one Oliver. These movie Retros are the zingers you do better than anyone. I didnt know there was a TV series. I need to find the series and Im watching the movie tonight.
Jeff Bridges' performance in _Starman_ is one of the best ever captured on film. A masterclass of tonal & behavioral specificity, Bridges almost invents a new style of acting.
I first saw Starman on dvd in 2008.i was 18 that year and found myself loving the movie.now at the age of 34 going on 35 and i still love this movie.no remake required.
I'm pretty sure the alien "Planet" was actually the same object as the "Ship" at the end, simply a mothership. It's a reflective ball with a ring of rocks around it, that's what you see at the start and end. The reason it looked like a blue planet a the start is because it actually WAS close to Earth and reflecting Earth on its surface. That explains the quick cut from Starman's ship exiting the mothership and suddenly being next to Earth.
It could very well be the same object being at the beginning of the movie hovering in the out regions of our solar system and interacting with Voyager 2 and studying the spacecraft and the golden record. But I also think Starman's homeworld probably is a bluish ringed world that is similar to Neptune having no solid surface to stand on. Lifeforms on Starman's planet were non physical energy based tbat ecame sentientiand develop a level of technology that was at least 100.000 years beyond our own.
Starman came out on December 14th 1984, the same day other sci-fi movies came out, David Lynch’s disastrous rendition of Frank Herbert’s Dune and Runaway which starred Tom Selleck of the original Magnum P.I. But they were beaten at the box-office by the smash-hit cop comedy, Beverly Hills Cop.
Thanks Oliver for yet another excellent review of a great film 👍 In the 80s I worked in a video rental shop and whenever I suggested this film I always had positive comments next day about it from customers. It has some great scenes eg when he brings the deer back to life and Jeff Bridges and Karen Allen are both excellent with on screen chemistry. Somewhere in time which you mentioned is another film that is forgotten but people who have seen it appreciate it is a very good film, maybe you can review that in the future? Thanks again 👍
Carpenter's answer to E.T. After producing a film with an alien bent on destroying human life that bombed horribly & got slammed by critics. Carpenter decided to create a gentler extraterrestrial to take human form. Starman really shows Carpenter to be a versatile filmmaker. The movie has a variety of comedic, dramatic, & romantic elements. One of his best.
I fricken adore this movie. The love story premise seems like it should be ridiculous, but it completely EARNS the emotion it conveys. Allen and Bridges are completely perfect casting and really bring something special in their performances. And yeah, I tear up every time... I call this one: flawless.
Order your copy of 'In Search of Tomorrow' here! tinyurl.com/2f7bb6nn
Ends the 27th of March.
Can't wait to get mine copy
Hey do not underestimate Romance movies... Those movies was the ones that thought me how to be with a man romantically and intimate way. My mother didn't told me anything when i was teenager, she was way too embarrassed to say anything so i had to turn romance movies to teach me hiw to be with a man
Starman sequel was written but never made. Would have loved to see. Yes the tv show was great, but getting Jeff and Karen back would have been amazing!
Your retrospectives are incredible! Thank you! To include the magazine reactions is absolutely excellent. 10/10 channel here. Thank you!
Oh for God's sake! .. . can't we discuss, or even so much as hear about, ANY movie more than ten years old WITHOUT hearing the frigging word "remake" anymore?!!
I am 38. My Grandmother used to watch this movie all the time when I was a VERY small child growing up in the late 80's and early 90's. About 17 years ago or so I bought this movie on DVD for her for either her birthday or Christmas. This movie always tugged at my heart strings too and I remember loving it watching with my beloved Grandmother as a wee boy here in Texas. Unfortunately she passed away in November 2021 from an extremely short but advanced battle with dementia, passing away 2 days after her 85th birthday after showing signs she had it starting 3 years before. I am still trying to process it as it has only been around 4 months now. Rest in peace Grandma.
im 37, i remember watching this movie as a kid too and loving it (hearing the score really brings me back). Im sorry to hear about your grandmother, i can see it being even sadder to watch this movie now
You have the memories..that is the greatest gift 🎁
rest in peace grandma, memories fade but love lasts forever
happy memories! at least you have happy memories. 🤟
@@DeRockMedia I'm 35 and I remember this movie my dad had on vhs
I’m glad you’re doing retrospectives again. I’ll be honest, this is the reason why I’m subscribed to your channel and I exclusively watch your retrospective episodes. They’re so well done, all of them.
Have to agree. I'm a huge fan of these! Keep 'em coming, Ollie!
The 80's was a glorious time for scifi ranging from low to high budget.
This movie was the follow-up Jeff Bridges movie for me, after Tron. But this movie still lives today. About five years ago, I met the love of my life. I thought we would have the rest of our lives together, well on into old age. Only a few years in, she was diagnosed with Brain Cancer, a stage four Glio-Blastoma. She had about a couple of months beyond a year to live. But somewhere in the middle, she was laying on the couch, I had gotten home from work, we weren't married so I had to work that year, and after I fed her and she was relaxed, I just decided to show her one movie she had no knowledge about at all. I put in Starman, and two parts really got her. The first was the entire deer scene, from when Jenny and Starman pull into the diner, through the emotional scene when Jenny tells him about love with her dead husband Scott, to the resurrection of the deer. She was always an animal person, cows were her favorite animal. The second is where she choked up alot. After the set-up of Jenny explaining to Starman that she couldn't have babies, there was that long pause before they met up again, after he healed her and decided to leave her, for her own safety because she was shot and almost died. When they were in the train, and he tells her he gave her a baby, she choked up. Katie was always in favor of abortion in situations of violent rape, but when Starman gave her the choice of keeping the baby, or having him stop the process, I heard her breathe in. I always wanted to have a life with her, and she always wanted children, but there was no time. I really wish that I couldve given her a baby. I think that scene hurt her alot, and yet healed her a little bit. I'll never forget that. This movie isn't one of John Carpenters biggest blockbusters, but it is universally, his BEST.
I am so sorry you did not get a fair amount of time with your love. I get the sense that you are happy for the time you had. You made a good choice in showing her this film. Sometimes movies get to declare things out loud that we cannot bring ourselves to say. I hope you are happy. Love to all who have lost someone, which, in the end, is everybody
That is so sad. I feel for Katie who never got the chance of the life she wanted. RIP.
Always felt like this was one of John Carpenter’s more underrated films.
This movie is so underrated. Its very unique and one of Carpenters best.
I love this movie. Tear up every time. Just hearing that main music theme gets the emotions going.
Another 80's theme that chokes me up is the one by Vangelis for the Carl Sagan TV show "Cosmos". ruclips.net/video/JE1H5FymBaw/видео.html
Yes me too
One of the finest and most underrated sci-fi films ever made, and it was great to see Jeff Bridges deservedly nominated for an Academy Award in this movie. Awsome review!
Ug, when will people stop saying "underrated" it means nothing.
Im a 44 year old man and I get such a beautiful feeling inside and cry because im so moved by this movie and the way the music is woven in at the perfect times
Oliver, so glad you made this retrospective. Performances are top notch. The score is one of the very best. And this and Big Trouble, for me.. is probably Carpenter's best ever works. Thank you 😊
Thanks a lot dude
The score was composed by Jack Nitzsche, an Oscar winner for writing the song "Up Where We Belong" from "An Officer and a Gentleman" in 1983. This was the only collaboration he ever worked for cult filmmaker John Carpenter.
Definitely mate, the score is superb!
The thing has gotten to be up there
Totally agree!
This movie is just lovely. I loved it when I watched it as a kid, and I love it as adult.
I remember that I got absolutely fascinated by Bridges' performance.
I had no idea that Jeff was nominated for an Oscar for Starman! ... That's so cool, his performance was wonderful, and films like this are normally ignored.
I saw this film when I was a child, like 6/7 years old, when my dad, who loved introducing me to cinema, thought I was capable of seeing it intelligently. And it crystallizes an important part of my life. My relationship with my dad, my childhood, a cinema pattern that I particularly like (meeting/distrust and fear/friendship/separation). I have seen it 50 times, I love this film with deep love. It's cheap, it's not aging well, no one in my world knows it, but I love it and I cried with emotion for an hour when my man gave me the DVD for Christmas.
My heart vibrates when I see videos of Starman or around Starman, when I hear the music from the film... I really have a huge and strong relationship with this film; so thank you for this video which tells me that Michael Douglac was in on it. Suddenly, I'm falling for Michael Douglas xd
I literally cry everytime I hear that ending score.
Glad you did a retrospective review of Starman. It was nice to see John Carpenter make his own Spielberg alien movie.
To be honest with you I like Starman better then ET.
Grew up watching this in the 80's and still love it.
The scene that still gets me in when he's leaving and puts the sphere in Jenny's hand.
"What should I do with this?"
"The baby will know."
Chokes me up every time.
Another fantastic retrospective. This, and Somewhere in time are my go to sci-fi romances. The best, and most simple definition of love I have heard is from Star-man. What is love? It is when you care more for someone else, than you do for yourself.
Same here I used to recommend both films when I worked in a video rental shop in the mid 80s and people always enjoyed both.
This, somewhere in time and an officer and a gentleman were and still are great romantic movies for lovers.
*I have remembered that always as well, ever since I was a child.*
A genuinely moving, mysterious and romantic film.
*It's also very sad. Poor Jenny loses the love of her life...TWICE*
I absolutely adore this film, seen it several times, it literally has everything, it's funny, charming, touching and exciting in places, it pulls at you heart strings, makes you laugh and is just a rollercoaster of a film. The performances in this are flawless and I love the music, makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. It's sad that it doesn't get anywhere near the love it deserves in Carpenters filmography.
This film is proof that if you hand over John Carpenter the keys, he'll treat it with the respect it deserves. In other words, he can direct anything, regardless of genre.
Hey Oliver Harper. Starman almost made me cry❤️. Thank you for doing this video about the film❤️.
I saw it way back when it was first released in cinema in Singapore, and love it ever since! The only John Carpenter movie that get me emotional even after repeat viewings! One of the unrated John Carpenter movie, and I love it!
I love Starman a great sci fi love story. The first film that introduced me to Jeff Bridges on how much of a legend he was.
Very happy to see you back on top of Retrospectives. Looking forward to seeing more.
Im 43 had never really forgotten about this movie. Loved it when i was a kid and never knew it was Carpenter.
I saw this as a kid. I don't remember much about it except for two specific lines: "Must be a roadblock, I guess." And "Green light means go. Red light means stop. Yellow light means go very fast."
I watched this when it first came out and although it's popped into my mind a few times since, I've never watched it again. I will definitely re-watch it now. Thank you for the reminder. 👍
Would love an fisher king or stalker review. I know this is practically my wish not your intention. But i won’t think some else could do better justice than you for movies of such caliber. Thank you so much for all these great reviews. Honestly your blade runner review is the only documentary that could match dangerous days.
fisher king is my favorite movie, watched it countless times. Would love Oliver making a retrospective
I always get Fisher King and Searching for Bobby Fisher mixed up lol.
One of my favorite movies, for sure. It's been years since I saw it, but I was tearing up just watching this review. Keep up the great retrospectives work, because you're the best at it.
I just figured this out the last time I watched the movie a couple of weeks ago. The "planet" that Voyager 2 encounters is actually a spaceship, in fact the spaceship that appears at the end of the movie. At the time the movie was made, Voyager 2 was between Saturn and Uranus, so it encountered the ship well within our solar system.
Love this movie! so many perfect moments, the story and evolution of the romantic aspects connected with me in a similar way to the Spielberg movie Always. Please check out The Quiet Earth an early 80's sci-fi film from New Zealand a retrospective would be amazing! Just located the soundtrack in my collection.
I saw this in the theaters when it first came out towards the end of its run. Pretty much because there wasn't anything else playing at the time. I was ready to hate on this film, but found I really liked it despite the unrealistic and silly way they portrayed the military. I was only a few months away from shipping out to boot camp. Some of Bridges' and Allen's best work in my opinion.
I love Starman. I watched it so many times growing up with my dad. Jeff Bridges and Karen Allen had really great chemistry and I think its John Carpenter's best film. The soundtrack is really good too. One of my favorite films.
I watched this back in the day with my grandfather. It was his favorite movie
Similarly I did the same with my Grandmother and it was one of her favorites.
The music and atmosphere in this film is brilliant, among all the other perfect things.
I had this on tape as a kid in the 80s. I remember watching it a lot back then but have not seen it in years. Good movie :)
Kodak or Polaroid? 😋
Same.
A beautiful movie that manages to stir my rather dead emotions which is not an easy thing to do. The dialogue about love is some of the most profound that I have ever heard but very uncomplicated, which is the mark of genius. The music, by Jack Nitzsche is awesome and I found out that he had arranged many of the sixties hits that connect with many people today as soon as they hear them. Another understated Gem. Good review.
Thank you, Oliver. This is one of my favourite movies too, and certainly John Carpenter’s best. It also is one of the most underrated movies. Jeff Bridges was excellent and his performance is very believable. He should have won the Academy Award. Yes it is a love story but Jenny Hayden learns to love again, mostly herself, and Starman learns he was wrong about earth and it is beautiful. I have to say that one of my favourite movie lines is from this movie, just after they almost get killed but the truck. Starman says, “I watched you very closely - red means stop, green means go, and yellow means drive very, very fast”.
Thank you for this retrospective. I saw Starman when it first came out. The scene when he tells Jenny he has given her a child always makes me cry. It's such an unusual love story. But it works!
Such a beautiful film, I think I saw it the same way, just happened to catch it on TV, and then seen a few times since, so much empathy and kindness in it, without being too sugary or sentimental, Loved it.
Just ordered my copy of In Search of Tomorrow. Can’t wait to receive it.
This is one of my favorite movies! Thank you for this wonderful retrospective!
After the coldness of the thing this was a lovely warm movie from carpenter
I've heard this film called "E.T. for adults," and I think that does have a lot of meaning. There are touching moments in this film that I never forget. The scene when she explains the death of Scott, when he brings the deer back to life, when the Starman says he "gave her a baby," are all such poignant and moving scenes rich in emotion. However, my favorite scene is in the restaurant at the end, when he tells Sherman what he finds most beautiful about humans, "You are at your very best when things are worst." It is the clear message of the film and a message to us all of the potential we have as humans, yet often overlook in the face of our daily struggles.
Love this film. Unlike Oliver, the first time I watched it as a child I was deeply moved and it stayed with me as a favorite to this day
Charles Martin Smith is known for Never Cry Wolf in Canada due to it being a popular Farley Mowet book. Also, had a chuckle at 21:00 minute mark since he did play a similar type in X-Files just as you described...lol.
Never Cry Wolf is a lovely movie. There were so many deeply-sincere movies in the 80's.
Oh for God's sake! .. . can't we discuss, or even so much as hear about, ANY movie more than ten years old WITHOUT hearing the frigging word "remake" anymore?!!
Excellent as always. I do remember catching this movie on one of the "premium" channels back when we had it. And like you, I did forget about it for a while, and then I came across bits and pieces of it on one of the "encore" channels. but never rewatched it in its entirety. I really should keep an eye out for this movie.
Starman is a classic, a wonderful film. Performances were top notch.
I don’t know why they want to remake this.
Money
Money and lack of new ideas.
I'm not against a remake of the movie but it would have to be done right and true to the original storyline and character. I often thought of how the film showed two beings one a human and the other an alien from a far away world were both deeply affected and changed by circumstances that brought them together needing each other and Starman experiencing human emotions such as love in the end saying thier goodbyes niether one could live in the other one's world yet recieved a touching gift from each other.
One of the best movies ever
Excellent review again. 👏👍
We had this in our collection of VHS cassettes growing up and I watched it regularly. Never saw it on TV, or knew anyone be who watched it. It wasn't until I was adult that I learned it was even a Carpenter film. Good stuff with a memorable score.
From the director that brought you "The Thing". What a fantastic retrospective and review of a beautiful and emotional movie.
John Carpenter stepping out of his comfort zone a bit and making a sentimental romantic movie (and doing a damn good job at it) just showed how much talent he really had. He is one of the greatest filmmakers of all time.
And the following year he could have made Santa Claus: The Movie
@@davidjames579 It was Jeannot Swzarc who direct Santa Claus in 1985.
@@markelijio6012 That's why I said could have. Carpenter was going to, then dropped out.
Great Video,Man:)Any vid. with Shane Black saying"Can't we just go back?.." inside the first minute,is bound to be good:)
_"You are a strange species. Not like any other. And you'd be surprised how many there are. Intelligent but savage. Shall I tell you what I find beautiful about you?"_
[Shermin nods]
_"You are at your very best when things are worst."_
Such a great movie, yet so overlooked. The performance of Jeff Bridges was phenomenal.
5:04 I was trying to figure out why she looks so familiar and then it hit me, she plays Scotty Smalls' mom on The Sandlot! A movie that you should definitely do a video on. Please
Just watched this for the first time last night and loved it; one of my mom’s favorites but I never knew about it until yesterday!
The late Jack Nitzsche’s score to Starman was done electronically on the computerized synthesizer/sampler, The Synclavier manufactured by New England Digital.
When I was a child my dad, with a raspy voice, used to say to me "Look at that star, there's your mum...". I understood it not late; of course my mother wasn't a star or an alien, but my father had that romantic concept about what a star could mean if you look it while thinking about the beloved person that once left you...
Looks like John Carpenter knows that feeling when he made Starman; he have never been a sentimental director, but for some reason he understood the concept of romance and to be romantic, beyond the Hollywood's love stories stereotypes, that use to be more sentimental than romantic...
The concept of love, life and death goes beyond that in Starman. That's the reason the emotional scenes of the two main characters never look fake, and how easily can move your heart, and, if you drop the guard, it could end being shattered. One of these moments, especially, is the confession about the forthcoming baby...it really breaks you
I LOVE this movie so much!! Thanks for this great retrospective!
~10:50 . . .sense of wonder.
Yes! That's why I like this movie.
This is Carpenter's best movie next to The Thing. They are my two favorites from him. Starman and The Thing should be considered masterpieces in cinema. Both incredible pieces of art.
Just watching this review with Karen Allen saying goodbye brings tears to my eyes...again.
I love how Jeff Dridgesmakes photographs on the very same camera even today ^_^
I was 15 when I saw The Thing(my favourite movie nowadays), Then I started watching everyone of Carpenter's flicks, starting with the most famous ones like you mentioned. Then I went to the more obscure ones, one hidden gem after hidden gem; Starman, Prince of Darkness, In the mouth of Madness. John Carpenter is one of my fav directors of all time and has one of the greatest carrers, regarding all the movies he made, i even like Ghosts of Mars jajajaj. Anyway great review once again.
I watched this with my father when I was 12 years old, OMG as a Star Trek fan I was of course blown away by this movie so much, one of the best!
Starman is like "E.T." for grownups. Such a good movie, one of Carpenter's best methinks.
One of my favorite movies, period. Thanks for bringing attention to this. I hope they knock any potential remake out of the park, but I'm not holding my breath, because it would be difficult to do any better than this original.
It'll be a vehicle for woke/SJW propaganda. "It's StarMA'AM, you bigot!!"
Love this movie, one of my favourites, flawless. The scene with the deer makes me weep like a child every time :)
One of my all time favourite movies. I fell in love with Karen Allen when I was a kid.
I loved this movie. Very under-rated by all accounts. Thanks for the Retrospective, and for reminding me of this gem of a film!
A meticulous & beautiful retrospective of an 80's Carpenter Sci-Fi Classic ✌️
Jack Nitzsche also scored 1984's "the Razore's edge" the same year with Bill Murray. That score is fantastic as well
You're not from around here are ya . Such a great film . I watched it numerous times as a little kid . Carpenter is my favorite director of all time . I think alot of people forget or don't even realize he directed Starman. Like many of his film's it was way ahead of it's time .
I loved this movie as a child, and still love it today! I saw if for the first time, and the next year that television show came out where it was about him looking for his kid (I think?)
Anyways, John Carpenter was incredible here, as was the cast and the entire crew. What an incredible film, unlike anything ever made before it...
Plus that score!!!
Ugh, so good
I didn't know that John Carpenter directed Star Man, thank you Oliver!
If you were an 80s teen, this was a classic VHS rental....
Karen Allen is a natural beauty, I would have loved to have been in her social circle and have a chance. I fell in love with her when I first saw her in Raiders and always wanted to see more her...in the movies..
This was very well presented. I watched this movie as a teen and you're correct it's best done with gaps of time. Fantastic nevertheless. It has a permanent place in my all time everything list. Again, job well done 👍🏽
Such a great science fiction film. It really grew on me after the second viewing last year. Definitely John Carpenters most underrated film imo. Thanks for the retrospective.
Great review. I've never seen this one from Carpenter's catalogue, but definitely will now.
I remember loving this when it came out, and after watching your Retro I feel guilty for not doing it. Nice one Oliver. These movie Retros are the zingers you do better than anyone. I didnt know there was a TV series. I need to find the series and Im watching the movie tonight.
My hubby LUVS this flick.. So watching this to be able to talk bout it with him...quiz his knowledge 😊
Jeff Bridges' performance in _Starman_ is one of the best ever captured on film. A masterclass of tonal & behavioral specificity, Bridges almost invents a new style of acting.
Thank you for doing this one, such a GREAT film. So special
Starman is a classic.
I first saw Starman on dvd in 2008.i was 18 that year and found myself loving the movie.now at the age of 34 going on 35 and i still love this movie.no remake required.
I'm pretty sure the alien "Planet" was actually the same object as the "Ship" at the end, simply a mothership. It's a reflective ball with a ring of rocks around it, that's what you see at the start and end. The reason it looked like a blue planet a the start is because it actually WAS close to Earth and reflecting Earth on its surface. That explains the quick cut from Starman's ship exiting the mothership and suddenly being next to Earth.
It could very well be the same object being at the beginning of the movie hovering in the out regions of our solar system and interacting with Voyager 2 and studying the spacecraft and the golden record. But I also think Starman's homeworld probably is a bluish ringed world that is similar to Neptune having no solid surface to stand on. Lifeforms on Starman's planet were non physical energy based tbat ecame sentientiand develop a level of technology that was at least 100.000 years beyond our own.
Starman came out on December 14th 1984, the same day other sci-fi movies came out, David Lynch’s disastrous rendition of Frank Herbert’s Dune and Runaway which starred Tom Selleck of the original Magnum P.I. But they were beaten at the box-office by the smash-hit cop comedy, Beverly Hills Cop.
A great movie. I love your Retrospectives and always look forward to them.
E.T., Starman and Enemy Mine are a great trilogy of Alien love stories
I love this movie.
Indeed shame John didn't do another one.
Great acting. Great soundtrack
Maybe he's trying for something different, but that's what l heard.
@@markelijio6012
Have you ever heard of the soundtrack?
@@alanmike6883 Yes, on the record and tape in 1984.
Carpenter best directed film. Have this on blu-ray and comes out once a year to watch. There's no need for a remake.
Such a beautiful ending and masterclass direction blending great performances with purposeful special effects that serve the story.
Thanks Oliver for yet another excellent review of a great film 👍
In the 80s I worked in a video rental shop and whenever I suggested this film I always had positive comments next day about it from customers.
It has some great scenes eg when he brings the deer back to life and Jeff Bridges and Karen Allen are both excellent with on screen chemistry.
Somewhere in time which you mentioned is another film that is forgotten but people who have seen it appreciate it is a very good film, maybe you can review that in the future?
Thanks again 👍
This video feels like a group hug to everyone who loves this film 😌
Beautiful and very moving flick by master John Carpenter.
Perfect mixture of SF, romance, comedy and road film
Very good review oilver like always one of carpenter best ones
Thanks man!
Carpenter's answer to E.T. After producing a film with an alien bent on destroying human life that bombed horribly & got slammed by critics. Carpenter decided to create a gentler extraterrestrial to take human form. Starman really shows Carpenter to be a versatile filmmaker. The movie has a variety of comedic, dramatic, & romantic elements. One of his best.
I fricken adore this movie. The love story premise seems like it should be ridiculous, but it completely EARNS the emotion it conveys. Allen and Bridges are completely perfect casting and really bring something special in their performances. And yeah, I tear up every time...
I call this one: flawless.