Maciste_Brother I saw this film at the movies. Yes, a Japanese film that had a wide release back in 1978. How times have changed. It's something which doesn't happen anymore.Is this an all 'round successful film? Not really. I'd say 40% is really pure schlock. While the remaining 60% is non-stop explosions and goofiness which I enjoyed back in the day and still today.Pros :the idea of magical walnuts was coolThe main villain looks really greatsome of the space fights / dog chases, in the asteroid belt and inside the villain's inner sanctum were amazingly edited and were later seen in THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and RETURN OF THE JEDI. Oh the irony.the sail-ship in space is fine by megreat sword fight at the endThe fantasy / sci-fi elements actually work herethe tight pants on the two male heroes. Aha the 1970s!It was shot in VistaVision!Cons :the mother in the wheelchairthe retro 1960s dance and pop music ; outdated even in 1978the script is all over the placeat times, the film's overall grubby look the overactingToday's audiences wouldn't understand this style of filmmaking but I get it and I enjoy it for what it was / is.

krasnegar This movie was ready for release in Japan when Star Wars was released.If this film "rips off" anything, it's "The Seven Samurai".And, since Star Wars is a blatant "rip off" of two or three Japanese films - mostly Kurosawa's "Hidden Fortress", but also somewhat his "Yojimbo" - and took other major action bits - the attack on the Death Star, for instance - from English World War 2 films, accusing *anything* of being "a STAR WARS ripoff" simply shows how little the accuser knows of film history.Extra line.Extra line.

karnold5-1 Message From Space is truly a one of a kind Star Wars parody that has enough similarities to Star Wars to say "yeah its from the same cut of cheese" but enough differences to make it an entertaining indulgence. I truly love the movie for what it is - a spirited space adventure with battles, swordfights, underdogs and best of all - glowing walnuts! All I can think of is that there has got to be something about Japanese culture that made them say "Hey the chosen warriors will receive glowing walnuts." I loved the walnuts and the space battles. This is truly a greatly under appreciated overbudget Star Wars Parody - The only problem, its impossible to find. I recommend if you can find it - you should absolutely watch it and hopefully you can watch it before your first screening of Star Wars.

yakadee I first saw this flick when it was released in 78 under the tile Message From Space. Everyone was hyped about Star Wars and all Sci Fi movies were attracting new audiences. Unfortunately this one attracted me. It turned out to not really be a Sci Fi movie but a piece of rip-off crap that was produced only to sucker people in wanting to quench their Star Wars thirst. Think bad "B" movie and multiply it about 10 times. I have only seen it once and that was 27 years ago so there are only a few things that stand out. The first is a big tall ship sailing through space. I don't mean some cool Han Solo giant Falcon type ship, I'm talking an actual wooden Tall Ship with oars, sails and everything, floating through space. My friend and I looked at each other in disbelief. This was the stupidest thing I had ever seen in a so called "legitimate" move. The second thing I remember is getting up half way through the film, and going to get my money back. Unfortunately I had to wait in a long line as a good portion of the audience was doing the same thing. This is something I had never witnessed before or since (although I'm sure it happened with Battlefield Earth but I didn't pay for that toilet tank before walking out). The third thing I remember is vowing to never watch a Vic Morrow movie again. Of course his career was cut short (pun intended) a few years later, perhaps deservedly so for this over-ripe piece of tripe.