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Galaxy Quest (1999)

Dean Parisot
Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman
Anamorphic widescreen
Dolby Digital 5.1
DTS
Trailer(s)
Featurette(s)
Documentary
Audio commentary
Deleted scenes
Concept art / storyboards
Multi-angle feature
Quote
[The crew is on a shuttle descending to an alien planet.]
Guy Fleegman: I changed my mind. I wanna go back.
Sir Alexander Dane: After the fuss you made about getting left behind?
Guy Fleegman: Yeah, but that's when I thought I was the crewman that stays on the ship, and something is up there, and it kills me. But now I'm thinking I'm the guy who gets killed by some monster five minutes after we land on the planet.
Jason Nesmith: You're not gonna die on the planet, Guy.
Guy Fleegman: I'm not? Then what's my last name?
Jason Nesmith: It's, uh, uh---I don't know.
Guy Fleegman: Nobody knows! Do you know why? Because my character isn't important enough for a last name, because I'm gonna die five minutes in.
Gwen DeMarco: Guy, you have a last name.
Guy Fleegman: DO I?! DO I?!?! For all you know, I'm "Crewman Number Six"!

Plot summary
The cast of a 1980s sci-fi TV show is recruited by aliens to act as their heroes in space.

Film review
I've always found the original Star Trek much more enjoyable than the series' more recent incarnations. Not only is there so much more fun to be had from the good time the actors are clearly having, but the old episodes never let futuristic technology get in the way of an interesting story. The more recent Star Trek shows on the other hand often seem obsessed with the details and consistency of the fictitious technologies and special effects that serve as backdrop for the stories. The cast often seems to be taking itself more than a little too seriously, and the 'Next Generation' movies lose themselves in the big-screen special effects.

Galaxy Quest is an affectionate parody of the mannerisms and culture surrounding the original series. The protagonists are friendly spoofs of the familiar original Enterprise crew, and along the way there are some amusing gags that make fun of the show's sillier aspects. But it also aims to deliver a thrilling, effects-laden sci-fi picture, and this is where it overshoots its mark. There isn't that much of an adventure to get caught up in, and so most of the expensive setpieces merely make the movie louder, longer and less fun. A low-budget comedy in the Dark Star style may have been funnier.
Version control
The Region 1 release has some nifty animated menus which are absent from the Region 2 version. It also features an Easter Egg and some brief cast interviews. The two releases are otherwise identical.

Picture and sound
The widescreen image is framed anamorphically at 2.35:1 and is virtually flawless. The Dolby Digital 5.1 sound design is also deep and wide with excellent directional effects, creating an immersive experience.

Added value
There are a few extra features available, the most interesting of which is the Deleted Scenes section (some of which are quite amusing). The only other extra is a rather dull promotional featurette.The static menus are designed in line with the retro-space look of the movie and are easy to navigate.

Dan Hassler-Forest

Reviewed: 2001

Click here for IMDB info on Galaxy Quest .

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