Originally released in 1987 as "Star Quest: Beyond The Rising Moon", this movie is a minor indie triumph with ambitious and charming old school, "Space:1999"-style model work and effects supporting stiff performances, pedestrian direction, and a derivative, predictable screenplay. That version is currently available on Youtube. The "Outerworld" version now on Netflix and other sources is an appalling attempt to update and revise the film a la George Lucas's tweaks to the original STAR WARS trilogy and is about a thousand times less successful (and Lucas attempts were abject failures). No attempt has been made to mesh the original effects with the tacky and immediately-dated 2005 CGI and the film source appears to come from a very dated, late 1980s master. At the very least, a new film scan should have been struck and the original, unadulterated version made available to exist along side this "special edition" abortion but that is not the case. Ugh.

Contains possible spoiler(s).Several reviews mention how this is a very low budget movie. But look at what they did with that supposedly low budget. This is somewhat "made for TV" quality but the director scouted many locations which were used to maximum advantage to make a very good presentation.There is some blue screen work which is not of the utmost quality but about average for the time it was made. That is not a negative, just a comment on the state of the art then.The miniatures are obvious in some cases but well done. Many a toy store was raided, I expect, to get the various models needed and then lots of innovative painting ensued. There are some average to low quality mattes, too, consistent with a low budget. But also some traveling mattes or a good simulation of that process. Still, they are effective. That's what you have to do to make a low-budget movie.The story gets off to a slow start, doing the back story but then takes off. Don't miss the first 15 minutes. The entire setup is there. And you get plenty of shots of a not-hard-to-look-at lead character.There is a strange thought in the plot that the android could steal information then try to use that information for personal gain. And "she" thought that was legal and moral. It is a slight morality play in this regard.The ending is somewhat abrupt and sappy. I was not totally satisfied with it. But I have seen worse.However, even with the small faults, I can recommend this movie. You won't feel cheated.

This "Effort" was made in the 80's.. but Geeze!Checking through the limited Sci-Fi fare available on Netflix streaming download I finally had a chance to see this.What is wrong with this movie? Maybe a better question would be "What went Right?"Here is a list of what I think was wrong to very very wrong:A totally incoherent music score.Did anybody else catch the "Solaris" theme roll by?It's like Gerry Anderson's Model shop collides with a 3D effects program that stumbles into a Roger Corman and the latest Robert Rodriguez film projects.In order of WORSEness:1. Overall Audio Quality 2. Musical score? 3. Actors? Scenes? 4.Script? Story? (I mean come on!) 5. Directing? (I mean ditto ditto!!) 6. Ships going "Pa-Tank" when they land. Just like they did when you played with them in the sandbox as a kid. 7. A character named "Brickman?" ala the James Cameraon Abyss movie. 8. So the main lead was this "Hot" Sexy babe. In the end you settled for an untalented, wooden, MILF with BIG HAIR?9. Fighting Scenes = Bump & Fall Down. 10. What exactly was this film about again?Now that film distribution is finally breaking through to the HOME Big Screen Internet Connected TV and your hand-held smart Phone.. I'd love to know if this movie is NOW making money?How much did this 16mm epic cost in 1986? How much did it cost to re-edit it for today?Is it making money? Is it making money Now?Thanks,GENE

When this movie was first released, I took a chance and rented it and was very pleasantly surprised to find a gem. You can't say that about most straight-to-video features, but this one was the exception to the rule. True, the FX are low budget and the acting can be a little uneven but even so, taken as a whole, this movie makes for an entertaining 90 minutes or so. The miniature and FX work are actually quite good for what must have been a very small budget and what the film lacks in production dollars is more than made up for in the hard work and effort it must have taken to get this film made. Plus female lead Tracy Davis makes for one very cute cyborg girl. I'd fly her anywhere in my spaceship!