Plot: What’s it about?
As their mission comes to an end, the crew of The Infinity is finally heading home, after a long stay out in the heavens. Just when they think they can relax, the crew gets a new mission, which calls for them to travel somewhere twenty-seven years away! The crew must travel to Altar I, where the legendary Blue Star (Ahhhhhhhh!) has been discovered. The Blue Star (Ahhhhhh!) is an incredible and powerful item, as it has endless mystical powers. Since the trip is so long, the entire crew, save one, goes into hyper sleep until they reach their destination. The one crew member who remains awake is Galaxina (Dorothy Stratten), a beautiful female robot who serves as the pilot of The Infinity. With all that time on her hands, Galaxina decides to alter her programming, so she can impress the stud of the ship, and become his woman. But before sparks can fly, the crew needs to recover the Blue Star (Ahhhhhhh!) and survive the downright freakshow that awaits them on Altar I. Can Galaxina and the rest of the crew keep the Blue Star (Ahhhhh!) out of the wrong hands and save the day?
If you’re a lover of unusual, campy, and downright offbeat cinema, Galaxina is one title you cannot miss, as this is among the upper echelon of unique movies. This is the type of movie most people would pass off as cheap and poorly made, but to the fans of this films, it is a classic. As with many movies that bear the title of cult classic, this film is going to be hit and miss with first time viewers, but I feel those with a liking for strange flicks will find this one worth their time. This movie uses some strange methods and ideas, ranging from subtle to in your face, creating a visually striking picture. The aliens are a wide scope of unusual creatures, from a winged black man wearing a neck brace to one character who is a dead ringer for the master of ceremonies in the orgy scene in the film Eyes Wide Shut. While the make-up and costumes aren’t up to the same standard of blockbuster movies, I think the work is quite good, especially on this budget. The sets are also better than you might think, and special effects are a small cut above the typical low budget science fiction of this time period. I recommend this movie to those who follow the cinema of the bizarre, as it stands as one of the most unusual flicks I have seen.
This cult classic was written and directed by William Sachs, who conjures up a strange and confusing world for this movie, which never fails to entertain me. Sachs must have some serious creative energies, because this movie has some out there dialogue and visuals. Sachs also directed such films as The Incredible Melting Man, There Is No 13, and The Last Hour. The star of this film is Galaxina herself, Dorothy Stratten, who was a former Playboy Playmate Of The Year. While her acting her is not good in a technical sense, when you factor in the tone of the film, she fits in perfectly. Her looks are more important in this movie, and she looks ravishing, even when shooting an alien in the foot, during a shootout in the wild west. Sadly, the same year this film was released, Stratten was murdered by her husband, who also served as her manager. Avery Schreiber is hilarious as the bumbling Captain Butt, who always seem to screw stuff up. The supporting cast includes Susan Kiger (Death Screams, H.O.T.S.), Tad Horino (Bachelor Party, Surf Ninjas), Ronald Knight (Livin’ Large), and J.D. Hinton (Night Eyes Three).
Video: How does it look?
Galaxina is presented in a full frame transfer. Since the movie was originally shot in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio, some image is lost, but I could not find any visible pan and scan. I’ve only seen this movie on a cheap VHS dubbed copy, so the image on this disc looks excellent to me. Some scenes are better than others, although first time viewers might think the overall quality is low. But those of us who have seen the film on other formats, this is the best looking Galaxina out there, so I won’t complain too much. Keep in mind the low budgets origins and age of the film, and you’ll be happy with this release.
Audio: How does it sound?
This disc has a Dolby Digital 5.1 track, so all the beeps, bleeps, and buzzes sound better than ever. While this track doesn’t sound as rich as some more recent ones, it still has a wonderful texture, the best you can hope for with a movie like this. The music is poppy and amusing, and it has a pleasant tone here. The dialogue also has a nice sound, with no volume issues and high grade clarity.
Supplements: What are the extras?
On this release you will find talent files, a slide show, and the theatrical trailer. A hidden bonus shows some humorous “alien screen tests,” which are worth looking for.
