Uchû Kaisokusen

I had the rare privilege of seeing this movie in three of its incarnations: the first being on MST3k, the second being a dubbed US version on tape, and the third being a very rare uncut laserdisk version of the film in the original Japanese. And after seeing this film in all three of its mediums, I must say that it still sucks no matter how you look at it. Everything in this film is just....wrong. The acting, the directing, the kids in little shorts, and of course let us not forget the stock footage featuring the famous "Hitler Building". But if you thought that the US dubbed version was bad (which is what most people have probably seen), well then you'll probably go blind watching the original uncut Japanese version. At least whichever American company that bought the rights from TOEI to feature this film in America had the good sense to cut out the little sing-a-long Mr. Tabana and his children do at the end of the film, praising the bravery of Iron Sharp (a.k.a. Space Chief, or Chef, or whatever) in bad harmony. Too bad they didnt show that on MST3K.

All in all, the movie does have a good point, that being its so bad, its almost funny. Other than that, if your looking for a more serious Japanese Sci-Fi film, then Prince of Space might be a better choice.

I can't talk long, I've picked up a case of Roji Pantie Complex after watching this horrible abortion of a film and I'm very weak. Mike is administering panties to me, but my body can only absorb so many at a time.

In this alleged movie, a group of boring alien invaders decide to cause random acts of violence on Earth in an attempt to take over the planet, but their schemes are constantly thwarted by Space Chief, strange visitor from another galaxy whose flying car shoots laser beams. A group of small Japanese children are also on hand at every major incident, and who seemingly are the nation's greatest natural resource as they have the power to discover valuable information and run really fast all over the place without ever getting tired.

Yes sir, the scientists and military are helpless against an alien race that flies around in giant Pringles can with wings, but the day it ultimately saved thanks to a dork in a flying car and six of the most annoying children you'll ever meet. God bless Japan for making this movie.

Once again, a horrible film is almost saved from being completely unwatchable thanks to the wonderful running commentary of Mike and the 'bots from "Mystery Science Theater 3000." But I do stress almost -- there are times when ever the mighty ones on the Satellite of Love can't withstand the boredom and non-action of "Uchu Kaisoku-sen" (aka "Invasion of the Neptune Men"), and you do have to despise a film that has the nerve to introduce an intergalactic "hero" like Space Chief but then have him suspiciously absent through most of the film.

The stock footage explosions are the most insulting, of course. Someone should feel very ashamed for including the "Hitler Building" in the explosion stock footage. Very dishonorable, Mr. Editor. Hang your head in shame.

2 out 10 stars. Japan should be tried for war crimes for producing this motion picture. P.S. Come back, "Prince of Space!" All is forgiven!

Aliens in bullet-head helmets, young boys running around in short shorts, army soldiers made up like Ru-Paul, Sonny Chiba (!) at his most un-heroic and Thomas the Tank Engine as the alien spaceship - is this any way to make a sci-fi movie?

It is if you've made this one. "Uchu Kaisoku-sen" (or "Invasion of the Neptune Men", as I know it) is a movie I have mixed feelings about. On one hand, it has a plot that feels like they left a few pages out of the script and replaced it with LOTS of stock footage. On the other hand, this is also a movie that will leave you rolling in the aisles (or your living room floor), gasping for breath at the stupid (dubbed) dialogue, fakey "special" FX, small disc ships that look like evil crab cakes and large groups of Japanese people running around all over the place - with no Godzilla in sight.

And that Space Chef - excuse me, Space CHIEF - what kind of a mook traipses around in white leotards, cape and a helmet with a corrective sun visor, trying to subdue the bad guys with karate kicks and chops that my two year-old daughter could out-maneuver with ease? To think that this was Sonny Chiba in that spandex is a head-scratcher; we all gotta start somewhere, I suppose.

You can watch this either way: alone or with Mike and the robots. Doesn't matter 'cause you'll get entertainment value either way. Derisive laughter is derisive laughter, no matter how you take it. Though I still cackle when I think of how the MST3K crew reacted when they blew up the Hitler building ("WHAT?!!") or Servo's song dedicated to the stock footage ("da da da-da da da...EAT IT, MOVIE!!!).

Anyway, you watch a movie like this on a Saturday afternoon - after the cartoons and before the pro-bowler's tour. Perfect way to waste a couple of hours: laughing hysterically.

Seven stars (yeah, that's right - SEVEN) for "Uchu Kaisoku-sen". Ten stars, as always, for the MST3K version.

And, as always, "NE C'EST PAS"!

Remember "Prince of Space"? MST3K # 816? Okay. This is basically a remake of that. Instead of Prince of Space, though, we get Space Chief, another effeminent, hopping hero. Instead of the chicken-men of Krankor, we get mute, bullet-headed robots who have trouble walking and fall down at the tiniest hint of danger. And instead of two annoying, gravely voiced, tiny-shorts-wearing kids we get SIX annoying, gravely voiced, tiny-shorts-wearing kids. Slow the whole thing down, add lots of scenes of Japanese people talking in poorly lit rooms, and actual war footage instead of special effects, and you've got one of the worse movies ever made. I know that phrase is over-used and has little or no impact anymore, but this movie really is almost unbearable. It's amazing! It's joyless, depressing, AND technically inept!

Enjoy the Hitler building.

Sure, I thought "Prince of Space" was a TERRIBLE film, but after seeing "Invasion of the Neptune Men", well, that changed. This movie's even WORSE than "Prince of Space" to me. Why you ask? Well let's see...

First off, all of those annoying kids running around in a group wearing shorts. I just wanted to go berserk after a while of listening to those annoying, dubbed voices.

Second of all, Krankor doesn't appear in this movie. He was the only good point of "Prince of Space", and not having him in this film only made it worse (who didn't like that evil laugh that Krankor did).

Third of all, The stock footage. They used the same stock footage scenes so much in this movie. It was just aggrivating after awhile.

and fourth of all... no Prince of Space! Sure, he was a lame hero in the self titled previous film, but this new hero sucked.

The movie overall is god awful. Mike and the bots did a great job bashing this piece of cheese from Japan. I suggest to anyone who wants to see this to check it out on MST3K. The only non-painful way to endure this.