Message from Space

Somewhere in a far flung galaxy lies the planet of Jillucia. Once a peaceful utopia, it has now fallen under the control of the Gavanas Empire, a warlike race ruled by the ruthless Emperor Rockseia (Mikio Narita). Desperate for help, the leader of the Jillucian people (Junkichi Orimoto) launches eight Liabe seeds into space - glowing orbs that, according to legend, will each summon a powerful warrior to the planet’s aid. The seeds are followed into the void by Princess Emeralida (Etsuko Shihomi) and loyal Jillucian soldier Urocco (Makoto Satō), who attempt to find the prophesied protectors of their home world: ex-military commander General Garuda (Vic Morrow) and his robot companion Beba-2 (Isamu Shimizu), thrill-seekers Shiro (Hiroyuki Sanada) and Aaron (Philip Casnoff), gambler Jack (Masazumi Okabe), aristocrat Meia (Peggy Lee Brennan) and swordsman Hans (Sonny Chiba), who has a deeply personal score to settle with the Gavanas Empire. Boasting a sweeping score and special effects that impress to this day, Message from Space was the most expensive Japanese film ever made at the time of its release - a cosmic fantasy designed to replicate the success of Star Wars while drawing upon Japan’s own genre tradition, recalling such films as Battle in Outer Space, Gorath and Fukasaku’s own The Green Slime. (Eureka Entertainment)