See ya later, Navigator! (Flight Of The Navigator (DVD))

Member Name: pmcds

Product:	Flight Of The Navigator (DVD)
Date:	01/04/08 (38 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great family film

Disadvantages: None really

This is a wonderful 1986 film from the Walt Disney studios that captures some magic with its sci-fi elements and caters for audiences of all ages, and classes as a family film.

The Plot

David is a 12-year-old boy who bickers with his 8-year-old brother but is generally content with his life with his mum and dad as well. Out looking for his brother one evening, he stumbles and falls, knocking himself out. Waking up what he feels is a couple of hours, he realises he has been gone 8 years, but has not aged one bit! As his family and scientists struggle to find out what happened, the discovery of a flying saucer seems to have a link to David not aging, and a magical tale ensues with some magical creatures and a spaceship with a mind of its own!

The Cast and Performances

Joey Cramer plays David. His innocence and fear as a 12-year-old boy who has not aged, and whose family are all of sudden 8 years older come across very powerfully. Acting by the family is also very good, with Veronica Cartwright and Cliff De Young as the distressed mother and father, and Howard Hesseman as the NASA doctor trying to figure it out. Sarah Jessica Parker also stars as Carolyn who looks afetr David while he is with NASA. It is perhaps Paul Reubens who stands out as the voice of MAX, the flying saucer's onboard computer.

My Opinion

This is a magical family film, perfect for that stereotype of a Sunday afternoon film. The cast and performances are very solid, and the music from Alan Silvestri is haunting at the same time as very 80s and fun, setting the mood perfectly.

The special effects are done very well considering this was mid 1980s. The saucer and its magically appearing and disappearing steps are clever, as are the creatures we find inside.

It is lovely, and Disney have captured an 80s adventure film and avoided the action, which is a good thing and makes it unique. Many people expected another E.T. but what they got was completely different yet equally engaging and timeless.

Conclusion

A great family film.

I rate this film at 4 stars out of 5.

The DVD is available from amazon.co.uk for £6.48.

This review may also be posted on ciao.co.uk.

Thanks for reading.

Summary: Flight of the Navigator (1986)