Monday, September 24, 2012
Explorers (1985)
Not
sure how I missed “Explorers” upon its release at the height of adventure films
starring children, with “Goonies” reigning as king. Joe Dante (“Gremlins”)
directs this fantasy about three boys (Ethan Hawke, River Phoenix,
and Jason Presson) who create a fantastical bubble that allows them to fly
across town and out into space where an alien race awaits. How? Don’t ask.
Just dig on the old Atari-level VFX by Industrial Light and Magic. Dante
hones in on all things junior high in the “Star Wars”-and NASA-fueled 1985, and
it’s a grand memory. Strangely, “Explorers” drags once the trio make first contact,
pop culture jokes and finger-wagging lessons repeated ad nauseam. The film could
have lost 30 minutes or been made into an episode of “Amazing Stories.”
Two hours? No. Presson – who!?! – impresses far beyond Hawke (“Training Day”)
and Phoenix (RIP). Watch J.J. Abrams’ “Super 8.” The boy there echoes Presson’s
look and character, with an attitude that jumps off the screen. Loved the Charles
M. Jones Junior High School joke. “What’s up, Doc?” B-
Labels:
1980s,
1985,
aliens,
Atari,
children,
Ethan Hawke,
Jason Presson,
Joe Dante,
pop culture,
River Phoenix,
sci-fi,
special effects,
Star Wars
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