▁place ▁in ▁South ▁Australia ▁at ▁the ▁sound st ages ▁of ▁the ▁South ▁Australian ▁Film ▁Corporation ▁in ▁H enson ▁and ▁at ▁a ▁desert ed ▁quar ry ▁outside ▁Ad ela ide . ▁Mira ge ▁Effect s ▁did ▁the ▁special ▁effects . ▁ ▁B ax ter ▁says ▁the ▁final ▁film ▁bore ▁little ▁relation ▁to ▁the ▁original ▁script : ▁There ▁was ▁a ▁minimal ▁love ▁story , ▁no ▁contrast ▁in ▁life ▁styles . ▁P ren z ler ▁had ▁disappeared . ▁The ▁main ▁role , ▁in ▁which ▁we ' ▁en vision ed ▁a ▁m ature ▁international ▁actor ▁with ▁a ▁reputation ▁in ▁science ▁fiction ▁and ▁action ▁films ▁( the ▁prospect us ▁specified ▁" Sc ott ▁Gl enn ▁or ▁equivalent ") ▁was ▁then ▁by ▁local ▁boy ish ▁lad ▁Tom ▁Bur lin son . ▁At ▁the ▁beh est ▁of ▁Hem dale , ▁the ▁film ▁began ▁and ▁ended ▁in ▁a ▁fire - f ight ▁( exp la ining ▁to ▁my ▁satisfaction ▁the ▁awk ward ▁opening ▁of ▁The ▁Term in ator ). ▁ ▁Release ▁The ▁film ▁was ▁released ▁in ▁Australia ▁on ▁ 3 ▁December ▁ 1 9 8 7 ▁and ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁on ▁ 4 ▁August ▁ 1 9 8 9 . ▁In ▁the ▁Philippines , ▁the ▁film ▁was ▁released ▁by ▁Eastern ▁Films ▁as ▁Sp ac et rap ▁on ▁ 1 7 ▁February ▁ 1 9 9 0 , ▁with ▁six ▁N intendo ▁Family ▁Computer ▁cons oles ▁ra ff led ▁during ▁the ▁first ▁three ▁days ▁of ▁release . ▁ ▁Re ception ▁The ▁film ▁was ▁poor ly ▁received , ▁commer cially ▁and ▁crit