my gosh, how embarrassing-i never saw this one when i was little. i just rented it and loved it! the ship was cool and the effects were great for as old as the movie is. i have to buy it and show it to my daughter, but everytime i've seen it at best buy or something, it's always marked with a high price. but it's on my list to buy someday.
sarah jessica parker was cute in this one. i've never really liked her much, except for girls just wanna have fun and footloose. i know she was in something called square pegs but i have never even seen that show? i don't think i have ever seen the boy in anything else either...or as far as i know, anyway.
but ya, i really enjoyed this movie and can't wait to own it. i don't know why i never watched it before. i love when that happens, when you watch an 80s movie you never had seen before and you end up liking it..a lot. Posted by Chris Fulmer (Member # 3197) on :
They had the ship at MGM Studios in Orlando a couple of years ago on the tour; I don't know about any of you, but it didn't look quite as impressive in person.
Posted by The Wizard (Member # 533) on :
One thing the various DVD releases are lacking is the trailer, I found it on my SpaceCamp vhs so stuck it online, Max has a completely different voice in it!
What can be said about this movie that hasn't already been said a thousand times?? Indisputable classic (IMO) that never loses its appeal and charm no matter how many times you've seen it (putting it in the same bracket as other great adolescent flicks like Goonies, Teen Wolf etc). Was lucky enough to see it with 3 other mates at the age of 9/10 when it first came out, and needless to say I still love it
Did you notice Ronnie, how the morphing f/x for the ship were a good 2 or 3 years ahead of their time; in the same CG vein as The Abyss?? Yet, it is Cameron's film which always gets the credit for having the first graphics of this kind (doubtless due to the fact that that one was a 15, and this was only a U ). Credit where credit's due I say
(okay yes, these kind of f/x have been extremely damaging to popcorn movies in recent years as we know, but still...)
Oh and how *cool* is the synth music for this?!? Especially the opening theme, and when David's hiding in the carrier 'bot (aka 'Robot Romp')? They just don't sound like that any more!
Posted by kat27 (Member # 3979) on :
Ditto guys. Down here they ran a whole heap of Sunday family movies for a while that were all made for TV movies (I think flight of the navigator might have been but I don't really know). Anyway, they ran Spacecamp, Flight of the Navigator, The Boy Who Could Fly, some spelling movie (does anyone remember that one about an adopted chinese girl who wins a spelling comp) and lots more. Anyway we taped them all and watched them over and over again! They were brilliant movies for kids, why don't they make movies like that anymore?
Posted by Obscurus Lupa (Member # 2700) on :
I remember watching it when *I* was little because my older brother liked it--I remember the ship singing the Rice-a-roni theme and when the boy was asked, "Haven't you ever seen a music video before?" I didn't know what a music video was (we didn't have cable until I was ten) and I thought, "They sure have kooky ideas about the future."
Posted by Mane1980 (Member # 4240) on :
Great movie. I watched it when I was little. I remember liking the alien in the ship. It was a very cool movie. Very recomended for kinds today.
Posted by piratemoviefan12 (Member # 2715) on :
It's a shame DISNEY didn't do a Special Edition. I would have liked to see some interviews with the cast...
Great movie!
I love it when MAX talks to the cow. MOOOOOOOO!!!
Posted by Tim Cappello (Member # 3594) on :
Just found out about this. For anyone that lives in California...
New Beverly Cinema - DOUBLE-FEATURE EXPLORERS/FLIGHT OF THE NAVIGATOR Sep. 28th + 29th _____________________________________________
New Beverly Cinema 7165 West Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036
Posted by hewzy (Member # 6043) on :
Compliance!! love the film but hate his annoying little brother. love the tune at the start too!!
Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
NowhereGirl, did your daughter ever get to watch "Flight of the Navigator" that you mentioned in your original post a couple of years ago? Otherwise, what Tim posted about it playing at the Beverly sounds like a roadtrip might be in order.
Also, for me the first half of "Explorers" was a brilliant movie, but it was a bit disappointing once they encountered the cheesy 'Twilight Zone the Movie" style aliens. But still a must for any fans of River Phoenix and Amanda Peterson. That's right, check out a young Pre-Cindy Mancini in this flick.
Posted by 80'sRocked (Member # 6979) on :
I'm with you Valley on the second half of Explorers. Once they encountered the aliens, the movie went to crap IMO. First half I liked alot. I believe this was Peterson's second film(Annie being her first). I wonder what happened to her. She only did all of about 6 movies, last one being in 1995.
Posted by Riptide (Member # 457) on :
Funny, I just watched FOTN just last week. I also noticed it was one of Amy Linker's few roles post-Square Pegs. She looked good too, I guess the SP producers made her look frumpy on purpose.
Posted by Chris the CandyFanMan (Member # 3197) on :
Yes indeed, a decided 80s family classic in pretty much all respects, one that I agree deserves a more in-depth treatment once it makesthe round to Blu-Ray. For a while at a younger age I would have given anything to have that spaceship preferably with Max's other subjects for company (liked the giant eyeball the best).
I don't know about you, but there's just an ominous undercurrent to Dr. Farraday that makes him a pretty good villain in my book. While he doesn't really break into anything truly vile on screen other than having no qualms about stopping NASA's guards from pointing armed weapons at a child (yet another high point of the 80s, where they weren't overly squeamish about endangering minors on film if it helped the plot), the prospect that he might try something repulsive such as subject David to a clinically unsafe experiment or even try and blast the spaceship out of the sky if he felt there was little risk he'd lose his prize subjects makes him feel like a genuine threat (sometimes it is true that less is more). You do have to wonder how he (and Carolyn for that matter) ended up in the normal, unaltered timeline once it was restored.
[ 20. September 2008, 17:50: Message edited by: Chris the CandyFanMan ]
Posted by Let_The_Wind_Erase_Me (Member # 6519) on :
great film, watched it all the time when i was little, I always remember finding when he came back and diffrent person lived in his house really scary, imagine if you were a kid and that happened the thought of that scared me so much haha awk and i loved the wee yellow alien he was so cute. I must watch this again can hardly remember it now its been so long.
Posted by The Pyromantic (Member # 7658) on :
I can't even begin to stress how much I LOVED this movie as a kid. And I still kinda do to this day. This one easily makes my top 5 most cherished childhood movies list.
It's also one of the first Alan Silvestri scores I can remember that really stuck out for me.
So, in short, I think this is a "Must Have" for any fan of 80's family movies.
Posted by Ronnie (Member # 465) on :
i did get this and show it to my daughter, she thought it was good. but we haven't seen it in a long time!
it would definitely be time to see it again. Posted by Muffy Tepperman (Member # 1551) on :
I always used to confuse Flight of the Navigator and Explorers with each other....they are both cute movies that are very Disney like (Flight is Disney right?)family films.
Ronnie did you ever see Square Pegs? it's really cheap on DVD now....6 years later. I honestly think you would love it for the music alone.
Posted by Logan 5 (Member # 1467) on :
quote:I always used to confuse Flight of the Navigator and Explorers with each other
STOP! Don't move a muscle! You've just stepped in a huge steaming pile of...
Space ships - I can see why you get the two confused. The first half of Explorers is the best first half of any movie ever made bar none. FofN is generally stronger throughout (nice little premise, too).
Posted by Muffy Tepperman (Member # 1551) on :
oh man Logan cause I was going to say I remember liking Explorers more........oooooo.....it's been awhile since i've seen them.....but Explores for a little girl??? that's alot of eye candy Posted by Bernie_Lomax (Member # 8571) on :
Saw it at the movies. Great movie. Paul Reubens added a nice touch also. Good to see Matt Adler in this one too.
Posted by Ronnie (Member # 465) on :
quote:Originally posted by Muffy Tepperman: Ronnie did you ever see Square Pegs? it's really cheap on DVD now....6 years later. I honestly think you would love it for the music alone.
muffy, i never saw any of it but i will take you up on your suggestion! you're right, it is cheap. thanks chica. Posted by Logan 5 (Member # 1467) on :
quote:Originally posted by Muffy Tepperman: oh man Logan cause I was going to say I remember liking Explorers more........oooooo.....it's been awhile since i've seen them.....but Explores for a little girl??? that's alot of eye candy
I never ever thought of that! Truly!
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
Watched Flight of the Navigator last night. First time for me and i liked it very much. Nice cast, great mid 80s feel and adventure atmosphere. I love the house Freeman family had (back in ī78) and the opening sequence South Florida frisbee dog championship was supercool. Loved also the two main themes composed by Alan Silvestri.
Nice to hear Paul Reubens (Mall) doing his thing as Max and SJP sure looked cute. Surprisingly good sfx in this one, probably some NASA dollars there to help with the budget. I wouldīve liked to see better chase scenes near the end but itīs a kids flick so you just canīt ask too much. All in all, even though i didnīt see this when i was young, i still enjoyed it as an adult.
Cliff De Young and Joey Cramer talking about girls Posted by Logan 5 (Member # 1467) on :
I don't know if I heard right, but I believe this movie started out as a movie of the week type thing for the Disney channel, and somewhere along the way someone decided it had more potential so they upped the budget for a theatrical release. It kind of feels like that when you watch it - a nice Disney channel family fantasy that suddenly has some top level (for the day) special effects. The Blu Ray has a commentary from the Director (Randal Kleiser - Grease) but I don't recall him saying much about the development of the movie, just the shooting.
Posted by the young warrior (Member # 9554) on :
I've never seen this one but my wife and 9year old son watched it just a few months back and they really enjoyed it!
Definitely one I need to check out along with the Explorers (1985) of which i've only seen bit and pieces of over the years.
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
quote:Originally posted by Logan 5: I don't know if I heard right, but I believe this movie started out as a movie of the week type thing for the Disney channel, and somewhere along the way someone decided it had more potential so they upped the budget for a theatrical release. It kind of feels like that when you watch it - a nice Disney channel family fantasy that suddenly has some top level (for the day) special effects. The Blu Ray has a commentary from the Director (Randal Kleiser - Grease) but I don't recall him saying much about the development of the movie, just the shooting.
Disney only had rights for North America. I own the finnish vhs tape and thereīs no Disney logos on the cover sheet. Only Picture Sales Organization (PSO). Do you remember if Kleiser talked about the norwegian company Viking Films? Why did they decide to shoot the spaceship interior parts there (in Norway)?
Posted by Peter Lemonjello (Member # 37395) on :
Joey Cramer was just arrested in Canada for bank robbery. Probably won't see much of him for a long time.... not that we did before.
Posted by P_a_u_l (Member # 1022) on :
quote:Originally posted by Peter Lemonjello: Joey Cramer was just arrested in Canada for bank robbery. Probably won't see much of him for a long time.... not that we did before.
If he takes flight, will he need a navigator?
Posted by Logan 5 (Member # 1467) on :
quote:Definitely one I need to check out along with the Explorers (1985) of which i've only seen bit and pieces of over the years.
My favourite childhood film. The first two thirds are perfect, the last third... not so much.
quote:Disney only had rights for North America. I own the finnish vhs tape and thereīs no Disney logos on the cover sheet. Only Picture Sales Organization (PSO). Do you remember if Kleiser talked about the norwegian company Viking Films? Why did they decide to shoot the spaceship interior parts there (in Norway)?
I think maybe it was released by someone else in the UK too, though it was marketed as a Disney film. That actually supports the idea that the movie was initially only intended for the US, since a deal may have been made, and then altered later which would affect who can do what with it. Had it been intended for international release from the start that wouldn't have happened.
They chose Norway because it was better than Finland... I'm kidding! You know it's true, though. I'm kidding! Or am I?! I actually can't recall much about the commentary. I think maybe he was brought in as 'Director for hire' so he just went with what had been set up. I need to listen to it again.
quote:Joey Cramer was just arrested in Canada for bank robbery. Probably won't see much of him for a long time.... not that we did before.
Dang. Why doesn't he just go on the convention circuit? There must be a little money in that. Better than robbing a bank. That makes 2 cast members with arrest records...
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