Several critics expressed disappointment with the quality of the film's special effects. "Newsweek"s David Ansen claimed the special effects were of no better caliber than those seen nineteen years earlier in "Star Wars". Todd McCarthy of "Variety" felt the production's budget-conscious approach resulted in "cheesy" shots that lacked in quality relative to the effects present in films directed by James Cameron and Steven Spielberg. In his review, Roger Ebert took note of a lack of imagination in the spaceship and creature designs. Gene Siskel expressed the same sentiments in his "At the Movies" review of the film.""