BraveStarr: The Movie (released as BraveStarr: The Legend in Europe and as The Legend of BraveStarr in the Philippines[1]) is an animated space Western film released on March 18, 1988, by Taurus Entertainment.[2][3] The film was based on Filmation's television series and Mattel's action figure of the same name, and it was also among the first animated features to use computer graphics.
| BraveStarr: The Movie | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Tom Tataranowicz |
| Written by | Bob Forward Steve Hayes |
| Produced by | Lou Scheimer |
| Starring | Charlie Adler Susan Blu Pat Fraley Ed Gilbert Alan Oppenheimer |
| Edited by | Ludmilla P. Saskova |
| Music by | Frank W. Becker |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Taurus Entertainment |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 91 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The film tells the story of the original discovery of Kerium (a fictional ore that serves as the main plot element of the TV series), and how the Galactic Marshall Bravestarr came to battle Tex Hex (a wanted outlaw) and his master Stampede (an evil spirit in the form of a bull skull) on the planet of New Texas. It also introduces his allies: J.B. (a female judge), Thirty/Thirty (his talking horse, who can become bipedal and fight on his own), Deputy Fuzz (one of the Prairie People, the original indigenous people of New Texas), and the Shaman (BraveStarr's mentor who helps him discover his animal-based powers).
The PAL-based European version of the movie has been released to Region 1 DVD in a 2-disc set on July 3, 2007, release called The Best of BraveStarr from BCI Eclipse, with the second disc being five fan chosen 'best of' episodes from the TV series. The movie received its own single DVD release on May 6, 2008.
Unlike The Secret of the Sword (which was an edited version of the first five She-Ra episodes), the BraveStarr movie was produced and released following the conclusion of the TV series.
Sharing the same fate as the toy and TV show, the film received positive reviews from critics, but it was not a box-office success, playing only to weekend matinées in limited markets. A year after its release, Filmation closed down for good; its last full-length production, Happily Ever After, did not premiere until 1993.
Plot
editFar out in space on New Texas, a single marshal protects a frontier people from the evil machinations of Stampede and his lackey, Tex Hex.
Cast
edit- Charlie Adler as Deputy Fuzz / Tex Hex
- Susan Blu as Judge J.B.
- Pat Fraley as Marshall Bravestarr / Thunder Stick
- Ed Gilbert as Shaman / Thirty-thirty
- Alan Oppenheimer as Stampede / Outlaw Skuzz
Reception
editThe film gained a positive response from critics despite failing at the box office.[2]
References
edit- Beck, Jerry (2005), pp. 41–2. The Animated Movie Guide. ISBN 1-55652-591-5. Chicago Reader Press. Accessed April 8, 2007.
Notes
edit- ^ "Opens Today". Manila Standard. Standard Publishing, Inc. December 16, 1988. p. 15. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
- ^ a b "'Bravestarr': Neo-Western Saddled by Its Design". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 4, 2010.
- ^ Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. p. 170. ISBN 0-8160-3831-7. Retrieved June 6, 2020.