２１世紀末、地球人は宇宙への進出を果たす。やがて激しい星間戦争が勃発し、地球人はドラコ星人と一進一退の攻防戦を繰り広げていた。ある日、ドラコ星人の戦闘機を深追いした地球人パイロットのダビッジは、相手を撃墜しながらも未知の惑星に不時着してしまう。その不時着した惑星の環境は想像を絶する厳しさだった。やがて彼は、同じく不時着したドラコ星人のジェリーと遭遇。敵同士として対立する２人だったが、生き延びるためには協力していくしかない。こうして力を合わせてサバイバル生活を共にするうち、２人の間には友情が芽生えていく。
製作費: $40,000,000 (60億円)
興行収入: $12,300,000 (18億円)
推定収支: $-27,700,000 (-42億円)
※製作費・興行収入はTMDBのデータを参照しています。収支は(興行収入 - 製作費)で算出したFindKey独自の推定値であり、広告宣伝費や諸経費は含まれません (1ドル=150円換算)。
脚本: Edward Khmara / Barry Longyear
音楽: モーリス・ジャール
制作: Stanley O'Toole / Stephen J. Friedman
撮影監督: Tony Imi
制作会社: Bavaria Film / SLM Production Group / Kings Road Entertainment / 20th Century Fox
**A very dated and unsatisfactory film, which carries a rather naive message about war and conflicts.** This is one of those films that promises a lot when we read the synopsis, but ends up being disappointing: in its attempt to please different audiences, from sci-fi to drama and also action, it fails to satisfy anyone and I believe it was this feeling, more or less general, that led it straight to the oblivion bin where I found it. Released in the golden age of sci-fi, when the genre experienced a very notable development and popularity, the film has a relatively warm story and begins with a war between humans and a reptilian alien species called “drac”. We follow the combat between two spaceships in a remote part of the universe until they both crash on the same planet. From here on, in order to survive, both will have to collaborate with each other, which opens the door to dialogue and mutual understanding. I can understand what makes some people appreciate this film or want to see it: it has some good quality action that Wolfgang Petersen's solid direction emphasizes and enhances, and a script with a flowery and progressive message about prejudice and the importance of having a frank and open dialogue. That is, the film still comes in the aftermath of those ideas of peace and love from the 70s, where it seemed that all wars could end if there was a willingness to talk and understand whoever was on the opposite side. However, neither the script nor the director are flawless: the film is excessively slow and has a variable and inconstant rhythm, we feel that it wastes time with a sentimentality worthy of a soap opera and injects a lot of melodrama without any advantage, like those people who stay for ten minutes talking before getting to what matters. With all this, the action, although good, is scarce and does not justify the film for fans of a good space fight. And the message of peace underlying the script forgets that all wars begin due to conflicts of interest, not exactly due to a lack of dialogue and mutual prejudices: I can understand my enemy very well and think that war is horrible, but decide to fight anyway if consider that I have a good chance of winning and, thus, have access to an advantage or gain that I would not be able to obtain otherwise. Despite Dennis Quaid's sound and fame, the best actor in the film is Louis Gossett Jr., in an alien costume. The actor is not brilliant, he is average, but he manages to be incredible in the role, especially when he has an immature and charisma-free scoundrel like Quaid at his side. I've seen a few movies with him, and what he does here is essentially overact it and look stupid. Brion James deserves an honorable mention for the skillful villain he brought to life, but he adds little to the film. Technically, it fits into the broad spectrum of mid-budget sci-fi films from the 80s: we have decent enough cinematography and some creatively invented aliens, to which must be added some good special effects. The general appearance is old: it is a visually very dated film and the sets and costumes, although effective, are unable to appear realistic. The sound isn't bad, but the soundtrack doesn't do much for the overall work.
