BraveStarr: The Legend (1988)
8KBraveStarr: The Legend (1988). 1h 31m | PG
“My review was written in September 1988 after a Times Square screening.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu0026quot;Bravestarru0026quot; is a disappointing animated feature applying the Western format directly to an Outer Space saga. Pretty backgrounds and explosions do not adequately cover for lackluster characters, given limited animation movements.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eTitle character (on screen it reads Bravestarr the Legendu0026quot;, but u0026quot;Bravestarr the Movieu0026quot; in ads) is an indistinctive-looking American Indian-styled cowboy destined to save the planet of New Texas from variou monster meanies, led by Stampede (a huge dragon-like steer) and Ted Hex (a reanimated, skeletal cowboy). The ancient Shaman gives Bravestarr his orders and magical power, largely calling upon the strength of the Bear constellation (a repetitious device).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThough its occasional attempts at comic relief fall flat, film plays off foolishly with its one-joke premise of a planet with modern technology but styled after all the corny cliches of a Western movie. Critters are robots, except for the Prairie People, cutesy little burrowing humanoids forced to work as slaves in mining operations.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOpposite the bland Bravestarr, heroine J. B., whou0026#39;s the local judge, is nondescript, as is her mustachioed dad McBride, given a Scottish brogue right out of James Doohan in u0026quot;Star Treku0026quot;.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eMuch running time is given to introducing each of Tex Hexu0026#39; henchmen, but they have nothing to do or say in the film, wasting at least one unusual creation, the exotic Vipra, villainess riding a vast serpent.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eCharacters mainly pose, with very mechanical movement of the limited sort familiar from tv. Toddlers may overlook this thanks to okay action scenes involving flying vehicles and well-executed battle explosions.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eFrank Beckeru0026#39;s tinny musical score is a big letdown when it attempts to ape Western motifs on synthesized keyboards.”
