Average Rating: 6.6/10
Reviews Counted: 24
Fresh: 19 | Rotten: 5
What initially begins as sci-fi transforms into a surprisingly sweet, offbeat drama, courtesy of John Carpenter's careful direction.
Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 4
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 2
What initially begins as sci-fi transforms into a surprisingly sweet, offbeat drama, courtesy of John Carpenter's careful direction.
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Average Rating: 3.2/5
User Ratings: 23,079
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Having crashed to Earth, an extraterrestrial space traveller must assume a human identity lest he be captured by the authorities. The alien (Jeff Bridges) chooses the likeness of the recently deceased husband of Jenny Hayden (Karen Allen). At first dumbstruck, Jenny becomes both hostile toward and frightened of her guest. He gradually wins her confidence, learning a few vital English-language phrases so that he can explain his presence. The "starman" has come to Earth with a message of peace, in
Dec 14, 1984 Wide
Mar 6, 2001
Columbia Pictures
All Critics (24) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (19) | Rotten (6) | DVD (9)
There is little that is original in Starman, but at least it has chosen good models.
It isn't pleasant to watch a talented filmmaker like John Carpenter willfully distort his personality to fit a commercial (read Spielbergian) profile, and only the opening suspense-horror sequences have the weight of real involvement.
Starman contains the potential to be a very silly movie, but the two actors have so much sympathy for their characters that the movie, advertised as space fiction, turns into one of 1984's more touching love stories.
In Mr. Bridges' hands [his role] becomes the occasion for a sweetly affecting characterization -- a fine showcase for the actor's blend of grace, precision and seemingly offhanded charm.
Jeff Bridges as appealing alien; best for teens.
I didn't recall the logic being so bullet-riddled, or Starman being as much of a Rain Man as he is.
Bridges' portrayal of Starman can be as hard to take as the lapses in logic.
An enjoyable film filled with the kind of sensitivity, love, and humor seldom seen on today's screens.
The best special effects are in the first five minutes. Thereafter, it's all rather predictable.
Early Jeff Bridges starrer is fun sci-fi.
Carpenter is a master of framing for widescreen, and Starman is certainly a forum for him to show off his prowess behind the lens.
The most touching film John Carpenter ever made, a strange love story disguised as science fiction.
November 2, 2011Super Reviewer
Directing something a little different from his normal fare, this film is one of John Carpenter's best and most interesting that he has ever come up with. The story is a sci-fi tale (with elements of romance) about an alien who crash lands on Earth and journeys across the country to rendezvous with his kind in three
June 13, 2006Super Reviewer
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Red Tails, This Means War
Pictures: Wes Anderson films
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