SpecialsTarget Disturbing yet enthralling

ChanFamous I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

Ezmae Chang This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Marva-nova Amazing worth wacthing. So good. Biased but well made with many good points.

Guy Plot: Humans and mutants in the future stop fighting to launch a joint mission to the only Earth-like planet yet discovered. Dark Star is a dreadful film. What little money went on hiring Michael York who gives as creditable performance as is possible under the circumstances. Unfortunately the decision was made to try and do this as budget Star Wars so we get a young heroic protagonist called Ebon Hawk (surely a porn star name?) played by an actor who can't act. At the end of the film he lectures everyone insufferably about the need for peace and the evils of war. It is trite and cringe worthy. The plot is silly, the special effects are a joke and the action poorly directed (pistols beat assault rifles every time). Worst line, "When did they enhance you?" said by the dumb hunk whilst he stared at the breasts of the frigid virgin character (right after telling everyone he thinks of his dead wife every day).

mfisher452 I'm a sucker for space movies, but even before this one started, I knew it would be a bomb because the "Coming Attractions" on this rented video were themselves so awful. I saw this film in a weekend-long adventure in masochism that included "Ghosts of Mars," "In the Dead of Space" and "Trancers.""Dark Planet" is appropriately named: Everything in this film is dark, presumably to save money on sets. Or maybe in the 26th century, people have sharper vision. Or maybe they're trying to save power, like the Albertson's supermarket near my house that has a big sign on the door saying they have turned down the lights to save electricity. Any crew member of the starship Scylla better have night-vision goggles, otherwise they will be stubbing their toes in the subfusc gloom.The special effects for this 1996 film were not just dumbfoundingly amateurish, they were so cartoonish they reminded me of Terry Gilliam's animation style. Alas, Gilliam was not around to give the effects sequences a Pythonesque breath of fresh air. It wouldn't have fit the film but anything would have been an improvement. Add to that the inexplicable plot and you have all the ingredients for a real stinker. Every once in a while the script almost but not quite rises to an engaging level, but then sinks into banal absurdity again.The cast is a mix of well-knowns, lesser-knowns and unknowns. You wonder how the bigger names got suckered into this turkey: Were they hard up for dough? Did they have nothing else to do that weekend? Watch Oxford graduate and Shakespearean actor Michael York in this and one thinks, 'Oh, how the mighty have fallen!' Harley Jane Kozak radiates beauty and intelligence even in this dog of a movie; a look at her disappointing filmography suggests that she has not been well used in Hollywood. Maybe the nickname Harley (apparently from the motorcycle) fools some people into thinking she's a guy or maybe they think she's a Hell's Angel chick. Paul Mercurio seems to speak American most of the time---or else someone else is dubbing his lines---and then every now and then his native Australian slips through. I guess the filmmakers were too sloppy, too cheap or too lazy to re-loop those lines.In conclusion: If you have a yen for a really bad movie some weekend, skip this one and rent something truly memorable, such as 'Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.'

dimfeld If you're expecting a good movie, spend your money elsewhere. The animation in this movie is, without exaggeration, the worst I've ever seen anywhere. The premise is interesting, but the plot is basically that of just another action movie with some sci-fi elements mixed in. The highlight of Dark Planet is actually in the scene where the commander is looking through the soldiers' dossiers. I got a few good laughs when I paused the tape and read them for myself. Overall, it can be entertaining if you overlook the ghastly effects and the weak plot.

neohentaimaster This movie was a waste of Michael Yorks talent. I gave the movie 2 stars out of support for the graphics and action sequences. Many points in the movie were nonsensical and pointless at best! I have no idea how York was tricked into signing on for this movie, but he should have refused.