Bad film, worse sci-fi.

Rating: 6/10 (4 July 2002)

Of all the films with a huge reputation, this is undoubtedly the worst.

I first saw it in 1977, shortly after seeing Close Encounters (a masterpiece next to this clunker). Even then I felt cheated of my ticket money. It's silly, it's weak. The plot is the sort of thing a group of adolescents would dream up - two teenagers save the universe. Technically the special effects were very good, but used almost completely unimaginately, and with endless incongruities.
Loved Harrison Ford, though. And Darth Vader - a great villain, splendidly played.
All in all, teenage space cowboys for people who know nothing about either film or science fiction.