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yestolerancepro · 5 months

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Tolerance Project extra The 8 Best Star Wars Rip offs Ranked

Introduction

Hello there this Tolerance blog entry is inspired by the movieweb article of the same title you can on the article by clicking here https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/the-8-best-star-wars-rip-offs-ranked/ar-AA1chYZM

One of the first sequences in the Tolerance film is a Star Wars spoof so this article peeked my interest our Star Wars Spoof was a bit less blatant than those featured in the movieweb article all we did for ours was spoof the opening dialoge crawl that opened all 9 of the movies in the Star Wars saga

You can read about how Star Wars created that orignal opening crawl by clicking here https://www.slashfilm.com/1322995/how-star-wars-created-original-opening-crawl-using-black-paper/#:~:text=Thus%2C%20to%20make%20the%20crawl%2C%20they%20had%20to,illusion%20of%20the%20letters%20progressing%20up%20the%20screen.

To quote the movie web article Star Wars is one of the biggest and most successful science fiction franchises ever created. Beginning in 1977, the original film became one of many episodic movies now dubbed the Skywalker Saga, told in a trilogy of trilogies.Recounting the galactic civil war between the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Empire, Star Wars shares the sociopolitical consequences of space exploration and planetary conquest. On the surface, the franchise is a fairy tale told in space. Its formula and genre became so popular, it led to copycats in a galaxy not so far away.

Of the 8 films mentioned I have never seen the man who saved the world 1982 trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsRV6z-cd-c and Starchaser the legend of Orin 1985 trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8UZ2WfLG70

But I will endevour to chase them down so I will just comment on the other 6 films on the list.

Krull (1983)

Krull is a science fiction and fantasy adventure film about a royal family who will rule the galaxy as foretold in a prophecy. Playing off the fairy-tale-in-space trope, the film didn't know what to be as it tried cashing in on two genres for the price of one. The rip-off was also released the same year as Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, leading to an early death by comparison. However, it has survived being a box-office bomb and panned by critics with its own cult following.

The website space.com published this short article about the film

Luke Skywalker's well publicized exploits on the Death Star were such a spectacular success that there was an air of inevitability when other Hollywood studios tried to make a "Star Wars" of their own. More remarkable was the fact that their subsequent efforts to milk the cash cow (or bantha, perhaps?) took such different approaches to outer space.

However, most of the wannabes ignored a crucial element of George Lucas's extremely lucrative franchise – for all the spaceships, robots, and lasers, "Star Wars" was actually fantasy in sci-fi clothing, built around a hero whose quest revolved as much around magic (cleverly rebranded as "the Force") as futuristic gadgets.

In the years following "A New Hope," viewers were invited to experience the high camp of "Flash Gordon," the overblown space opera of "The Black Hole," and a Roger Corman-produced interstellar riff on "The Magnificent Seven" called "Battle Beyond the Stars." "Star Trek" also got in on the act with the "2001: A Space Odyssey"-esque grandeur of "The Motion Picture," while T.V. viewers were given a weekly dose of sci-fi in their homes courtesy of "Battlestar Galactica" (arguably one of the best sci-fi TV shows of all time).

According to this article on the Giant Freaking Robot website Krull could be getting a new film Reboot with JJ Abrams directing https://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/ent/exclusive-krull-reboot-jj-abrams.html

The Last Starfighter (1984)

The Last Starfighter follows teenager Alex, who is chosen to be a gunner in an interstellar war based on his high score in an arcade game of the same, a secret recruitment tool of the Rylan Star League. Alex is forced to save the dying alien squadron and destroy the enemy fleet, the Ko-Dan Armada.

He later stays to rebuild the league's depleted forces, knowing their overlord survived the destruction of his mothership. Compared to Luke Skywalker, the film takes the glory out of the hero's journey for Alex, who must protect a planet now facing near-extinction.

A very good film I watched it as a 7 year old as my Dad got us to watch it on VHS remember those ? The Star Wars stuff went over my head the Ironic thing here is that I used my Star wars toys to play the last Starfighter for weeks after seeing it I have great memories of the film it was one of the first to use CGI before the term was even known about

That reminds me I most get a copy of this film on Bluray

To read a retrospective on the film click here https://www.fatherly.com/entertainment/last-starfighter-retrospective-sci-fi-movie-1984

Battle Beyond the Stars (1980)

Battle Beyond the Stars was produced by the famous B-movie director Roger Corman. His rip-off follows a farming world being threatened by warlord Sador (Darth Vader) who needs body parts to salvage his own deteriorating body. He possesses a Stellar Converter that turns planets into stars unless their inhabitants comply. By proxy, volunteers (Rebels) band together to thwart the doomsday machine. The film is comically derivative and was intended to be a Magnificent Seven in space

Not really a Star Wars Rip off its more Magnificent Seven in Space but its its still a great film I remember seeing it on ITV network one afternoon the story didn’t really grab me but I thought the acting was great I remember thinking what is John Boy from the Waltons and Hanibal Smith from the A Team doing in Outer Space lol

For those Wondering what I am talking about ha ha Richard Thomas who played John Boy Walton in the long running series played Shad the hero of Battle Beyound the Stars

George Peppard now more well known for playing the role of Haniball Smith in the A Team played the role of Cowboy in the film

Battlestar Galactica (1978)

Battlestar Galactica began with the television pilot "Saga of a Star World" and was released theatrically as a standalone film. A thousand-year-old war in a distant star system between humanity and a robot race known as the Cyclons. A peace treaty is reached but ends in deception after the promise of sparing the Cyclon race was broken.

They use the Battlestar Galactica to protect them from the impending robotic fleet. The film and short-lived series led to a copyright infringement lawsuit; the planet Carillon, for example, has a gambler's den similar to the Mos Eisley cantina.

Again speaking as I find the Star Wars referances went over my head. I loved the series as a kid for a number of reasons.

One was the classic theme tune by Stu Phillips https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzyHxYxc to listen to an interview with the composer click here : https://filmumentaries.com/2023/06/78-stu-phillips-composer-battlestar-galactica-knight-rider-etc/

The charectors of Starbuck and Apollo played by a pre A Team Dirk Benidect and Richard Hatch I also loved the space battles with the Cylons who were great baddies.

Talking of the Cylons the blinking eye motif that moved across their faces would turn up again in another Glenn Larson series for the grill in the talking car action series Knight Rider.

I also loved the stories as well about them trying to find somewhere called planet Earth a planet for them to settle on a place to call home they would find Earth but not until the sequel series Galactica 1980 which took place 30 years after the orignal series .

Flash Gordon (1980)

Flash Gordon is a space opera superhero film based on the comic strip of the titular character. Its story follows an unlikely hero who receives aid to stop a ruthless alien tyrant from destroying the Earth. George Lucas attempted to secure the rights to make his own adaptation of the space faring hero, but when denied, he made Star Wars instead. The film has since reached cult status for its campy, exaggerated costumes, set design, and special effects.

Again this is not a Star Wars Rip Off Flash Gordon was arround in the early 30s and 40s long before Star Wars was even thought of.

I used to watch the old black and white serials with Buster Crabbe during the summer holidays you can watch a trailer for Flash Gordon conquers the universe by clicking here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlEWl3igd0c

Also this article is worth a read about how the 1930s Buster Crabbe Flash Gordon seriels changed scifi https://www.tor.com/2019/08/21/the-flash-gordon-serials-of-the-1930s-changed-the-face-of-sci-fi/

I had also seen the classic Filmation animated series The New Adventures of Flash Gordon 1979-1982 which again was shown during school holidays and loved that the first series more than the second.

So I was well grounded in Flash Gordon before I saw the film i first remember seeing this film as a movie premire shown on the BBC during Christmas in the early 80s and I have loved it ever since.

The film is really well done acting and effects wise and Queen who I also love did an excellant soundtrack for it Flash’s theme which you can see by clicking here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfmrHTdXgK4 is a great example I think its a real shame that there was no sequel to follow it I would have watched it anyway

Spaceballs (1987)

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and Spaceballs is the funniest love letter to Star Wars in the entire galaxy. The parody created by comedian and filmmaker Mel Brooks follows mercenary Lone Starr (Han Solo), his half-man, half-dog sidekick Barf (Chewbacca), Princess Vespa (Princess Leia), and the wise, old alien Yogurt (Yoda), who teaches them the power of the Schwartz (the Force).

Together, the ragtag team stop the planet Spaceball from stealing the air from Vespa's home planet. The comedy also makes jabs at other franchises, including Alien, Planet of the Apes, and Star Trek.

Probably the best Star Wars Rip off of them all is this one George Lucas even liked it the only thing he told them not to do before giving the production team the green light was asking them not to produce any merchindise for the film

As this blog is all about Star War Rip offs its only right and fair that I include this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aeyUWLPLAs&list=PL17vqAEJv6CV1syq4_fFKgBwSqGdJzH9z&index=340&t=2s

Bonus Material

Documentaries

To watch a video called 10 things you didnt know about the last star fighter click here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-Pzxzp2m2I

To watch a documentary called 10 things you didn’t know about Flash Gordon Click here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hu1bOFUtP5g&t=13s

To watch a documentary called 10 things you didn’t know about Krull click here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TI2_323Rvg

To watch a retrospective review of Flash Gordon 1980 from the Oliver Harper Youtube channel click here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TI2_323Rvg

Trailers

Krull https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6i2par2Fv0

BattleStar Gallictica 1978 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZUHkZPK1AY

Battle Beyond the Stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2t7z_44nGio

Flash Gordon 1980 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6uOHnxf85g

Spaceballs 1987 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGIM_yNzeUo

Notes Thanks to Minty comedic arts for the video documentaries on Flash Gordon Krull and the last Star fighter and the Oliver Harper youtube channel for the respective review of Flash Gordon,

Also Thank you to google images for the vairous film posters

If you want to help the Tolerance project after reading this blog please click on the above link https://www.gofundme.com/gnk3ww

Pictures

1) The Tolerance Star Wars Dialoge crawl

2) Krull Poster

3)Poster for the last Starfighter

4) Richard Thomas as Shad from Battle Beyond the Stars

5 George Peppard as Cowboy From Battle Beyond the Stars

6 Battle Beyond the Stars Poster

7 BattleStar Galactica DVD cover

8)Poster for the Black and white Flash Gordon serial starring Buster Crabbe

9) Title card for the animated series New Adventures of Flash Gordon

10 film Poster for Flash Gordon 1980

11) Film Poster for Space Balls

I hope you have you enjoyed this blog is its the last one of the year I have lot of other good blogs planned for the new year so keep your eyes peeled for those thanks for reading

Ben