- Actors: Jeff Bridges, Karen Allen, Charles Martin Smith, Richard Jaeckel, Robert Phalen
- Directors: John Carpenter
- Writers: Bruce A. Evans, Dean Riesner, Raynold Gideon
- Producers: Barry Bernardi, Bruce A. Evans, Larry J. Franco, Michael Douglas
- Classification: PG
- Studio: Spearhead
- VHS Release Date: 29 Jan 1996
- Run Time: 115 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00005723D
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 10,083 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Starman is easily director John Carpenter's warmest and most beguiling film, and the only one that ever earned him an Oscar nomination. While most movie buffs are likely to call Halloween the best movie from Carpenter, die-hard romantics and anyone who cried while watching E.T. will vote in favour of the director's 1984 hit.
Jeff Bridges is the alien visitor to Earth who is knocked off course and must take an interstate road trip to rendezvous with a mothership from his home planet. To complete this journey he assumes the physical form of the dead husband of a Wisconsin widow (Karen Allen) who responds first with fear, then sympathy, and finally love. Carpenter's graceful strategy is to switch the focus of this E.T.-like film from science fiction to a gentle road-movie love story, made believable by the memorable performances of Bridges and Allen. It's a bit heavy-handed with tenacious government agents who view the Starman as an alien threat (don't they always?), but Carpenter handles the action with intelligent flair, sensitivity and lighthearted humour. If you're not choked up during the final scene, well, you just might not be human. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com
On the DVD: Starman on disc is presented in anamorphic widescreen transferred from NTSC and letterboxed at 2.35.1. The picture is clear and sharp with very little grain. The soundtrack is crisp, perfectly complementing the romantic nature of this film. The overriding reason to shell out on this special edition is the commentary from John Carpenter and Jeff Bridges, in which director and actor show a genuine affection for the film. Other extras are a featurette filmed around the original release in 1884, a music video starring Bridges and costar Karen Allen covering The Everly Brothers classic "All I Have to Do is Dream", and a trailer for Close Encounters of the Third Kind. --Kristen Bowditch
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This underrated sci-fi is a joy to watch. Karen Allen stars as Jenny Hayden, a young widow who wakes one night to find someone in her house who looks exactly like her dead husband Scott. Jeff Bridges plays an alien who is sent on an investigative mission after his kind intercepted the Voyager probe, which was carrying details of earth. In a naive attempt not to frighten Jenny, the alien takes on the form of Scott.
The alien has crash landed and has only 24 hours to cross the USA to a rendevous point where he will be rescued so Jenny is forced to drive him there. Government agencies are in hot pursuit, their aim is to capture, interrogate and kill the being. Initially Jenny is scared and hostile, but as they flee across the States a burgeoning relationship develops.
This is a film that is gentle and moving but also manages to build up tension as the chase is on and fine acting from all the leads adds to the quality. This film is great for anyone wanting something a little more thoughtful than the usual action packed, special effects filled type of movie in this genre.
The alien has crash landed and has only 24 hours to cross the USA to a rendevous point where he will be rescued so Jenny is forced to drive him there. Government agencies are in hot pursuit, their aim is to capture, interrogate and kill the being. Initially Jenny is scared and hostile, but as they flee across the States a burgeoning relationship develops.
This is a film that is gentle and moving but also manages to build up tension as the chase is on and fine acting from all the leads adds to the quality. This film is great for anyone wanting something a little more thoughtful than the usual action packed, special effects filled type of movie in this genre.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
It is total lunacy of course. But who cares? Films are meant to be enjoyed and I often watch films with many guys and girls watching with me. All the girls were crying to this....
The word "alien" sounds terrifying; the director of Starman knows this so he based the alien character around the beloved, dead husband (Scott)of a young woman. She is terrified by the alien to start with, then starts to trust him, and finally loves him. It probably sounds yucky - however, the director stops it being such.
I particularly like the bit where Scott (the alien) tells her that, despite her infertility, she will have a baby and he will make sure the baby will be okay is particularly heartwarming. Another nice bit is where he gives her his final "crystal" at the end of the film. "What will I do with this" she asks. "The baby will know" replies Scott. Wonderful stuff.
This is a very nice film. It is romantic, scientific and, in a way, frightening - in that we as a species are so fearful of unknown phenomena and we greet such with violence. The film plays along this thread and demonstates that Scott is millions of years ahead of us in technology and that we are little minnows against him.
A wonderful movie.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I've owned the VHS version of this wonderful film for a few years now, and it is undoubtedly one of my favourites!
Jeff Bridges is cast perfectly by John Carpenter, and plays 'the starman' to a T, the ending alone is worth the five stars.
I recommend this for when you want to spend a lazy afternoon watching sci-fi magic mixed with subtle hint of romance, almost like a 'grown-up' version of ET.
Make sure you have plenty of Kleenex handy!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Fantastic customer service
The contact I received prior to receipt of the film was exceptional. I was kept in touch throughout the process of ordering through to receipt of the film and it is nigh on... Read more
Published 4 months ago by nshipley
Starman - Star material
One of our favourite movies, which had been surprisingly difficult to get on DVD or Blue-Ray until now. It doesn't really age. John Carpenter's best.
Published 5 months ago by Phil Yates
Starman (Jeff Bridges, Karen Allen)
I have searched for ages for this great forgotten John Carpenter film. A bit of a departure from his normal style, as it is basically a love story, with the fact that one of the... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Marco Van Der Vrooom
Starman DVD
Bought for my husband's birthday as he had good memories of the film. He was quite right and even I enjoyed it although not into sci fi.
Published 8 months ago by di-di
Starman DVD
One of the best films ever made. Funny and sad. Reflects how good people can be when forced into a corner. A must to see
Published 8 months ago by KenJD
Region 1 for US only
I dont remember ordering this DVD however it arrived only to be a region 1 which of course can't be used in the UK!
Published 11 months ago by lotty
Starman
A beautiful film. Jeff Bridges at his best with superb acting from Karen Allen as his co-star. It has humour, depth, poignancy and touches every aspect of life and media , not just... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Mr. T. HARWOOD
worth waiting for!!
Have seen this film long while ago, lost my original copy, so bought it again,
my dughter has taken delivery for me, and will bring it out to me, will make sure this one will... Read more
my dughter has taken delivery for me, and will bring it out to me, will make sure this one will... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mr. George D. A. Hall
dvd
This dvd does not work in uk,and there was nothing in sellers discription .I sent a review 2 weeks ago but suprise suprise i did not get a response. Read more
Published 20 months ago by dave
Its ok as long as it is not an an American Import.
If this film is imported from the United States it will not play on Brittish D.V.D.
Published 21 months ago by Casper
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