Confederates in Space! — Battle Beyond the Stars 1980

They always talk about the great ones from the 1980s.  However they were a lot of little charmers that were, keenly cooked slices of Cheese Cake.  Battle Beyond the Stars is a 1980s film that oozes with 80s Sci-Fi cheese.

It's too bad it didn't get the sub-listed treatment on HBO or syndication, otherwise this movie would have been A-List Cult film of the B-film multiverse.  This film rode the Entertainment Space Wake created by Star Wars 1977.   It stands apart as a secret cinematic love child of Star Wars and Star Trek.  Parts of the movie feel like Star Trek, while others feel like Star Wars.  But there is an overall campy element that echos back to the original Battle Star Galactica.

The hero's ship is famous for having 'boobs' but the Earth Cowboy's ship, just happens to have a Confederate Naval Jack.  Note, a jack is a flag flown at the front of the ship while the ensign is the flag flown at the back/stern.  The 'Cowboy' is flying the Cultural Confederate flag of the South just above his cockpit-bridge.  The flag has worn battle scars on the upper fly quadrant.

Upon watching this B-movie there is a residual sparkle that shines in between the amateur acting and corny dialog.  That sparkle is the imprint of James Cameroon, who was the special effects designer. Really, you can consider Battle Beyond the Stars Cameroon's 'high school film' project before made his master piece in 1984—Terminator.  

Also, the musical score out classes the creamy fondu-B nature of this movie.  James Horner's score gives this movie a clean uplifting feel, that out shines the director's efforts.

Battle Beyond the Stars is a cheesy treasure and guilty pleasure for space fans, that could definitely get a reboot.  The basic plot, themes and structure are there.  Movies are like roller coasters, and this film has all the right turns and hills.  However they are executed on mini Budget.

Notice Insignia on Sash

Unfortunately Hollywood is trapped in the pattern of rebooting classic masterpieces that can not hold a candle to the original masterpiece.  Instead, Hollywood should be looking for movies like Battle Beyond the Stars and give it the royal treatment.

But no, executives only green light on things they know.   No...You can not reboot the Mona Lisa.  The second iteration may be better in 10,000 ways, but it will always be a cheap imitation, no matter how much you invest into the latter day saint cloning of movie masterpieces.  Battle Beyond the Stars is far from a masterpiece, yet if given the right kind of love, its second form would be an awesome re-classic.  This happened with the Wizard of Oz.  The Wizard of Oz 1939 that we know is not the original, it is a reboot (called a remake back then) that got it right. Maybe Battle Beyond the Stars fits into this category. 

Maybe James Cameroon could be pushed to properly re-polish this charmful little gem for modern audiences?  Maybe even have it done is properly with 1980s schtick in the hand of an elegant artist? 


   

US Flag in Little Monsters 1989

The original blue bedroom monster before incorporation was Maurice, played by Howie Mandel.  Maurice is a monster of the genus that are rife of trickster spirit.  These types of monsters are able to enter from under children's beds and create mischief, getting the child into trouble and hot water.

The wonder star of America's childhood from the 1980s, Fred Savage, plays as a wonder struck youth who must wander and mature, in order to not becoming a monster himself.  Savage gives a totally wonderful performance, that makes ones imagination wonder about the years gone by.

This film is a little influential gem that ends on a bittersweet note, and nodoubt due for a reboot with a grown up Brian Stevenson (Fred Savage) who must return with his kids to Monsterverse® under their beds.

In one scene the American flag flies with magic of monster wind.

Native Pacific-Australian Christian Flag

This flag represents Christian churches lead by persons from Down Under in Australia, New Zealand, and the rest of the South Pacific.  It has black field with a white canton with red cross.  It important to listen to preacher who had walked in your ethnic shoes.  Preachers who preach to you outside of your race, will always have short sighted view your path and will never understand the blessings and burdens of your heritage.

Native-Indegenous Chruch Flag

The flag represents Christian Churches with a dominantly Native American church body.  Although spirit is usually independent of race and nationality, the honest truth is that most churches are segregated by ethnic identities.  Likewise, this flag indicates that a congregation from Alaska to Argentina is led by the Elder Inhabitants of the Americas that are not white, black or Asian.

The Asian-Christian Church Flag

The Asian-Christian Church flag has blue field with a white canton and red cross.  Note that Asia is more than just China, Korea, and Japan.  Christian churches can be found all over Asia such as India, Eastern Russia, Arabia, and of course Israel.

The majority of people overlook that Israel is in Asia, thus most of the people of the Bible were Asian, ergo Jesus is Asian: not African nor European. 

Earth Government Flag from Captain Harlock 1978 宇宙海賊キャプテンハーロック

The flag of the fictional Earth Government, that controls all aspects of the public's life with subliminal images through the mass media, was shown in the first episode of Captain Harlock.  Captain Harlock 宇宙海賊キャプテンハーロック was an animated television series broadcast in Japan in the year 1978 (昭和５３年).

The Earth Gov flag has three view of the planet such that all continents are visible, on a field of white.   Around the Earth are orbital rings in the similar fashion to the NASA logo.

 

キリマンジャロの鳥人 - Regal Banners of the Knight's in eipsoide 107: Galaxy Expres 999

キリマンジャロの鳥人 was the Japanese title of Galaxy Express 999's 107th episode that was first aired on February 12, 1981 in Japan.  In English is reads The Kilimanjaro's Bird Men. 

In this episode, themes about the consequences of war, chivalry, and revenge are conveyed. 

After a peace treaty is signed, the two sides gather together for a party to congratulate their chivalry.  In this shot, the banners on streamers are visible.  It is not  explained what the flags represent.  They are mostly likely the 'coats of arms' of the knightly cast of flying warriors, rather than the flags of a particular political entitiy or kingdom.

The two factions have different aircraft markings: the black cross and the red cross. Both factions place their crosses on a field of red. Likewise, the helmets of the pilots, Knightly Birdmen, have either black or white type of Swiss style cross.