Spaceballs (1987)

I remember going to see 'Spaceballs' when it came out in the cinema (a building with a massive TWO screens and is no longer there any more). I think I was about 11 at the time. Back then I didn't really know who Mel Brookes was, or anything about his other films. I just liked 'Star Wars' and that was all I needed to know. And, based on that most flimsy of reasons to see a film - I loved it! It's a parody of 'Star Wars' (and the occasional other sci-fi gag) which follows the original's plot reasonably accurately, i.e. rougish smuggler must rescue a princess from a black-helmetted space dictator. Now, nearly three decades later I thought I would watch it again and, I didn't love it… so much.I guess it's one of those films where you have to be young to really laugh at every single joke. I now feel that, although much of the time I was at least smiling a bit, it's not quite as funny as when I used to laugh at simpler things. It's a decent enough watch and it's nice seeing John Candy clearly enjoying himself as the 'Chewbacca-type' creature (unsubtly named) 'Barf.' Now I look at it again I can't help thinking that Mel Brooks is trying a little too hard to be everywhere, as he casts himself as basically the lead (and a couple other roles) and now I see it through adult eyes, he seems a little too full of himself, even if he does play a complete idiot.I mentioned John Candy as the stand-out role, but the others are good, too. Bill Pullman is functional as the 'hero,' but it's Rick Moranis who steals every scene as the completely incompetent 'Darth Vader' rip-off, now known as 'Dark Helmet.' There's a great 'Alien' cameo too by John Hurt and some other nods to a few famous franchises, so you'll probably need to know all movies in the genre to appreciate everything.I may be sounding a little harsh overall, but I did enjoy it again, even after all this time. I'll probably watch it again in another ten years, but next time I'll know not to expect it to be the same as when I was a kid.

"So princess Vespa you thought you could out-wit the imperious forces of planet Spaceball. Well you were wrong... You are now our prisoner and you will be held hostage until such time - until all of the air is transferred from your planet - To Ours.... SHE'S NOT IN THERE! / Radar repaired sir, were picking up the out-line of a - Winnebago." Similar in status to Ghostbusters, Mel Brook's "Spaceballs" is one of the great action-comedies of the 80's, but yet it contains even more laughs and proves to be more comically outlandish then Ghostbusters could ever hope to be. Spaceballs is also categorized as a spoof, which in it's case is obviously mocking Star Wars, but it hardly ends there as it also contains references to Star Trek, Aliens and Planet of the Apes and with Mel Brooks overseeing everything, this film covers all that material brilliantly, ultimately resulting in one of the funniest and most quotable movies ever made.Starring Bill Pullman (in his one and only good role), the late-great John Candy, Rick Moranis, Daphne Zuniga, Dick Van Patten and Mel Brooks (in a dual-role), as well as a generous amount of assistance and expertise from Industrial Light and Magic, who created the movies numerous special effects. As a comedy few movies, if any, are more effectively put together and as a spoof Spaceballs is simply unrivaled with it's boundless "gag-a-minute" levels of humor, rock-solid production values and George Lucas-approved special effects. Once all of it's ingredients are put together Spaceballs gels unbelievably well on all levels and through the wizardry of Mel Brooks the movie effectively transports it's audiences into the zaniest far corner's of the universe, in the form of a hilarious, one-of-a-kind space Odyssey. One that's as ripe in it's extravagance, as it is endless in it's charm.If one were to speak of it's plot, I think the closest comparison would have to be Star Wars: Episode IV "A New Hope", as several key plot points in both films are virtually identical. A swaggering group of space-travelers risk it all (and for one-million Space Bucks) to rescue the princess and then in the face over-whelming odds, they must rise against and destroy the imperial forces of a vast evil empire and bring their reign of intergalactic tyranny to an end. Does any of that sound familiar? Sure, that happens in Star Wars: A New Hope and a decade later in Spaceballs. Except it's not The Force were dealing with here - it's the Schwartz, it's not Darth Vader - it's Dark Helmet, it's not Yoda - it's Yogurt, it's not Jabba The Hut - it's Pizza The Hut and with "Ludicrous Speed" Spaceballs goes not one, but two steps above and beyond Star Wars when Spaceball-1 burns a vast swath of plaid, several light-years long, across the galaxy. "What the hell was that! / Spaceball-1. / They've gone to plaid." The finale of this comedy classic is pretty much perfect in all ways, ending in explosively exhilarating fashion as Captain Lonestar and Barf seal the fate of the villainous Spaceballs. During which a sort of cosmic ballet unfolds, which happens to be set to the beat of a particularly catchy pop number (with great vocals!) in form of the "Spaceballs Theme". This riotously rockin' song effectively increases the films space-based lunacy and mayhem, which eventually blossoms into a scene of full-on panic, as Mega-Maid goes from Suck to Blow and then to Self-Destruct! The climatic shot of this sequence is a thing of beauty, which at the same time is not entirely unlike when Lando Calrissian fly's the Millennium Falcon from the bowels of Death Star just before it explodes. This consequently sets the stage for a hilarious Planet of the Apes interlude, one in which it's ape inhabitants are ever so pithy and waspy.Not surprisingly of all the movies I've ever seen Spaceballs still reigns, nearly 30 years after it's release, as thee most ridiculous movie ever, visually, verbally and musically - it scores off-the-charts in all those aspects. The films soundtrack is a marvelously effective combination of tastelessness vs. tradition, in which you'll often hear it pulsing to the hip tunes of Bon Jovi and other fine merchants 80's Hair Metal sleaze. Then there's the more traditional orchestral aspect of it, which was contributed by Jon Morris (Mel Brooks' favorite composer), complete with laser beam FX. But most importantly is the films utterly inspired cast, especially in the case of Rick Moranis as Dark Helmet, it's a thing of sheer perfection, even the chronically underwhelming Bill Pullman delivers fantastically as Captain Lonestar in this riotous, one-off, comedy classic.Released in the summer of 1987 a good four years after Return of the Jedi was in the theaters, on that note I can't help but think about what kind of business Spaceballs would have done had it been released three or four years earlier. By 1987 Stars Wars-mania had cooled down significantly and much better movies like "Jaws: The Revenge" (grin) or "Garbage-Pail Kids The Movie" ("A Topps Bubblegum Production") were making their assault on the box office, while triumphantly winning over throngs of exhilarated audiences all over the world. But back to all things Spaceballs and it's majestic glory, yes my love for this movie runs deep and I'll cap things off with it's unofficial tag-line, which is: May the Schwartz be with you... always.

Mel Brooks's mid-seventies genre parodies "Blazing Saddles" & "Young Frankenstein" are certified classics that still rank among the best comedies of all time. By 1987, Brooks had applied his comedic talents to a number of different genres but he had yet to tackle science fiction. With the massive popularity of "Star Wars" (among other movies) the time was right. Although initially met with a mixed reception, "Spaceballs" eventually found its audience on home video and now stands as one of Brooks's most popular films.As with any successful comedy, assembling the right cast is essential. SCTV vets Rick Moranis & John Candy filled two key roles while Mel Brooks himself did double duty as the wise Yogurt and the not-so-wise President Skroob. Relative newcomers Bill Pullman & Daphne Zuniga fit in quite well in a cast that also included notable contributions from Dick Van Patten, Joan Rivers & Dom DeLuise. Lastly, the cameo by John Hurt was an unexpected treat.The script is playful and doesn't trouble itself with slavishly following the narrative of "Star Wars", even though there are many parallels. Most importantly, the story is true to the spirit of "Star Wars" in that it's more science fantasy than science fiction. Allusions to other movies can also be seen throughout, from "Alien" to "Lawrence of Arabia".Brooks's direction is well done from a visual standpoint while supporting, rather than overwhelming, the comedic elements. The special effects are surprisingly well handled overall, though some of the effects are admittedly (probably for comedic effect) a bit crude. Musically, John Morris's score effectively captures the feel of "Star Wars", among other movies. I'm less keen on the soundtrack selections since they seem a bit out of place but they're not bad as far as 80's popular music is concerned.Ultimately, "Spaceballs" is a movie that was unfairly dismissed at the time of its release. Sure, 10 years after the original "Star Wars" and 4 years after the conclusion of the original trilogy wasn't exactly striking while the iron was hot but nearly 30 years later "Spaceballs" has defied the critics by emerging as a cult classic. I'd say that it's essential viewing for any "Star Wars" fan, not to mention pretty darn funny in it's own right. "May the Schwartz be with you!"

Spaceballs made by Mel Brooks and his friends (commonly known as Monty Pythons) is the parody of the original trilogy of Star Wars and it rocks!! I mean it has everything that is need it for a parody from creating the atmosphere of the source material to making fun of the most famous quotes and scenes and even the characters are not safe from this flick.I laugh my ass off, the jokes ,the gangs and the meta moments where made almost perfectly and the story cleverly retells the story of the whole trilogy by a comedic point of view. Like with their previous project Young Frankestain ,Mel Brooks' team always pay respect to the original and is really showed, from the shape for the villains space craft to the Han Solo like hero of the story Lone Star and his hairy sidekick Barf. Side note if I found them I would definitely want to be friend them immediately!!And now to the reviews title ,why in the name of Darth Vader is this historic comedy has only 7,1 to 10 in IMDb? Guys this is one of the text book parody movies along side Joung Frankenstain ,Hot Shots , Airplanes and Blazing Shaddles. Apart for a good parody is a great comedy by itself so what is the deal? Here is a hypothesis (not theory ,because a theory is a hypothesis proved beyond any doubt): Many Young people been feed with parodies like Meet the Spartans ,Superhero movie ,Disaster movie and the list goes on ,Have come to the conclusion that parody is a cash crab by studio in order to humiliate the movie they hold dear. This has as a result the general public to be negative towards this type of films. I do not blame them, if you are not a movie buff ,then older films are not so well known because it takes time to find them.With this review I want to inform you ,the readers ,don't hate on seat first see it and then decide. I guarantee you this a parody worth watching and do not worry that parody may die because ,is alive and even thriving in the internet with seats like Screen Junkies, Cinemacins ,How it should have ended it and so on. I believe that one day one of us based on or working with these guys one day ,we will brink parodies back to the big screen.