If only I had my $17.00 back. Yes, I paid $17.00 for Anchor Bay's STAR CRYSTAL DVD and let me tell you, it's not worth it. Here's the plot: an expedition to Mars returns with an unknown rock. Then, it hatches and releases a Star Crystal that glows blue. The rock also unleashes an alien called GAR, which begins to kill off members on the ship while they all it back and gab on for a long period of time.
Where to begin? Sigh, if only the screenplay was better written. I mean, why couldn't the executives at New World Pictures see that it was a waste of time. They must have thought that an extremely talky and dull script would make for a good, thought provoking film that would shadow over it's B-movie budget. Boy, were they wrong! The script is so badly written and badly composed that when things begin to happen, their is nothing exciting going on and very little suspense it to be expected. The movie is damn near 90 minutes, and nothing exciting happens. The acting is also just plain dull. Not bad performers, but Jesus could they have at least attempted to try a bit harder. But then, it goes all the way back to the freakin' script! And their is a theme-song too! Want to know what it's called? "Crystal of a Star", that is what it's called! On the other hand, the special effects are actually quite good. The miniatures and the GAR alien puppetry are nicely done. But, the effects work would have been better if the film just went somewhere rather than nowhere!
Filmed in Full Frame 1.33:1 and shown in theatres in a 1.85:1 matted aspect ratio, it was released on video via New World Video in open Full Frame. With that, the framing made the film look strange and out-of-whack. Later on in the 90's, Starmaker Video took over the New World film vault and re-released STAR CRYSTAL on a terrible EP format. One would have assumed that Starmaker would have utilized a new transfer, but it was not to be as it was the same old transfer from the old New World Video release. The only difference is that Starmaker utilized a different video cover, that was it.
Anchor Bay's presentation of STAR CRYSTAL is in it's 1.85:1 matted aspect ratio with anamorphic enhancement. Considering how this film did nothing for New World Pictures, the company must have left it all the way in the back of the vault to collect plenty of dust because the picture quality is really so-so. Restored from negative materials, the film has plenty of grain saturating the darker scenes while the brighter footage is quite soft and almost blury. And yet, Anchor Bay's presentation makes the old New World Video and Starmaker Video releases look better in comparison. It's nice to see it as it was shown when originaly screened in theatres, but then I doubt very few people went and saw this one. Anchor Bay disappoints with the extras department as their is NONE at all. Not even a theatrical trailer. The chapter selections slip is also disappointing. Their website said it would be a reproduction of the theatrical poster. Well, it's not. It's only a reproduction of the old New World Video front cover, while the chapter selection is on the backside.
Slow, dull and boring is what STAR CRYSTAL is. The miniature effects and the alien GAR is nicely done, but otherwise it's just not worth it even for "so bad it's good" viewers. Anchor Bay better be putting some effort in their upcoming DEAD HEAT (1988) DVD, because I am expecting some results after viewing the dull transfer of STAR CRYSTAL. And while you are at it Anchor Bay, release PRISON (1986), GHOST TOWN (1987), CELLER DWELLER (1988), and TRANSFORMATIONS (1988) as well.
Excuse me while I crap myself laughing that you paid 17 bucks for this load. I paid 5 and felt cheated. But now that I'm done laughing, pretend I'm giving you a hug. Everyone who's seen this movie deserves a hug.
Brother R
Hey, I bought mine on VHS from the previously-viewed bin for two bucks four years ago, and I still feel the sting of good money gone.
I picked this up, despite the fact that I already owned the VHS. "Star Crystal" is a must have in my bad movie collection, because it is so darn bad. Showed it to Todd one night, after spending most of the day unpacking. He was amazed that it took 20 minutes and two false starts before the characters were introduced. Then there were endless "crawling through passageways" scenes that made him wonder out loud who had designed the ship.
By the time we arrived at the end credits, with that awful song playing, Todd had decided it was one of the worst movies he had ever seen.