Let your Imagination take Flight (Flight Of The Navigator (DVD))

Member Name: shroud

Product:	Flight Of The Navigator (DVD)
Date:	26/03/07 (73 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: inespensive family fun, picture clear, stereo sound clear, excellent storyline, great cast

Disadvantages: film only, no extras, picture not restored before transfer, not surround sound

Flight of the Navigator is one of those rare breaths of fresh air you get when a movie studio actually comes up with something original that appeals to all ages. Surprisingly, this offering is from Walt Disney Studios, but it is their least formulaic live action film of the 1980's, harking back to the quality of their cinematic hey day of the 50's and '60's.

The film
It is 1978 and the setting is Ft Lauderdale, Florida, and the film begins with two brothers on an outing with their parents, watching dogs catch Frisbees on the 4th of July. The 12 year old older brother, David, says he is going to teach the family dog this trick, and of course the younger one has to rattle his cage. We are treated in realistic fashion to the two boys bickering all the way home, and the parents asking them to cool it. Once home, the younger brother goes to play with friends. The parents note it is getting late, and ask David to go fetch his brother home, and join them on their boat to watch the holiday fireworks.

Young David takes a shortcut through a wooded area, when he hears a noise. His little brother jumps out of a tree at him, and he screams. David swears revenge, his brother laughs, and runs ahead home. The family dog barks, and David turns to see what the trouble is, and falls down a slope. Stunned, he gets up, climbs out of the ravine, goes home, but cannot get in. A stranger opens the door. Hysterical, he pushes his way in, looks all over the house, and collapses sobbing in confusion.

A ride to the police station, where they determine who he is, and that he has been missing for eight years. His parents have moved, his little brother is now nearly an adult, but David is still just 12 years old. Everyone wants to know where he has been, and how this has happened. The government has a special interest in the issue, and David's unknown to himself secret leads to an adventure fraught with humour that challenges the imagination.

The cast of the film is also excellent, and adults will recognise many of the faces and voices. The cast are:

Joey Cramer ... David Scott Freeman
Paul Reubens (aks PeeWee Herman)... Trimaxion/Max (voice) (as Paul Mall)
Veronica Cartwright ... Helen Freeman
Cliff De Young ... Bill Freeman
Sarah Jessica Parker ... Carolyn McAdams
Matt Adler ... Jeff Freeman, 16 Years
Howard Hesseman ... Dr. Faraday
Robert Small ... Troy
Albie Whitaker ... Jeff Freeman, 8 Years
Jonathan Sanger ... Dr. Carr
Iris Acker ... Mrs. Howard
Richard Liberty ... Mr. Howard
Raymond Forchion ... Detective Banks

Being aimed at the family market, the characters of David and the alien are fairly defined, with the rest of the cast being stock characters providing background and motivation. Interaction is excellent whilst they are onscreen, but don't expect deep psychological insight :)

It is bright and bouncy fun, with lots of humour thrown in for children and adults. The soundtrack helps the fun feeling bouncing along, with tracks such as the Beach Boys' "I get Around" making a great impression during one scene. I won't say much more lest I give away too much of the plot!

The special effects are very well done with quality CGI effects and full scale models, especially for the era. Admittedly, the effects are few, but where they occur they are superb, blending naturally into the scene and not being intrusive. It is a real pleasure watching an 80's film and not seeing the fuzzing about or strings from CGI and other special effects.



The disc
This is a low budget release and while the film has been transferred to digital format in widescreen; there are no extras of any sort. Quite simply, you put the disc in, you get the usual warnings about copyright, and then the film plays. The picture on mine is clear, but unfortunately the company that released the disc , Cinema Club rather than Disney, did not take care in cleaning up the picture before transferring, so some of the blacks are slightly faded and you get a bit of washed out colour in places. This in no way distorts the overall viewing pleasure as the issue is minor and to be honest, I only noticed it after watching this a million times with my children. There is no issue with sound clarity, though it should be noted it is in stereo rather than surround sound, which is a shame because admittedly there are sounds that would benefit from the stereo sound being upgraded, such as the whoosh of the craft as t zooms out of the hangar on past and above the crowd outside.

It is rated U (G in the US), and not overly long, running for a total of 84 minutes. It holds the interest of my 3 year old as much as it does my nearly 6 year old, and my husband and I also enjoy this film. The name calling between the brothers may put off some viewers, but let's be honest, its what siblings do from time to time. Priced between £3.97 and £5, it makes a nice little birthday present or stocking stuffer that is sure to please without breaking the bank.

Summary: 12 Year old David goes into the woods, but comes out 8 years later, still 12 years old.