Message From Space

In this admirable offspring of the science-fiction stylings of STAR WARS and the devices of THE SEVEN SAMURAI, eight hired soldiers protect a small planet that is on the edge of doom. The film comes complete with small, talking robots and some better-than-average effects. A great debt is also paid to the spirit of Jules Verne by including a spaceship modeled after 19th-century sailing vessels. With a $5 million budget it was at the time the most expensive Japanese film ever. Director Fukasaku is no stranger to high price tags, having codirected TORA, TORA, TORA.