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Lately I find I have a special place in my heart for the Japanese disaster movie of days gone by. They are so much fun, and their filmmakers throw everything but the kitchen sink in, both so that there's something to please everybody and because they're frankly just so chock-full of bizarre yet interesting ideas. It seems like it would have been a great time to make movies there! I enjoyed this a lot, though many aspects weren't understandable to me, like why as the meteor got ever closer to Earth it got so incredibly hot. I can understand, since the Moon influences tides through its gravitational pulls, why there could have been flooding, but the impact on temperature...I suppose it's simply one of those aspects of watching pre-manned space flight science-fiction films in which you have to approach simply with fun and acceptance, and turn off your disbelief, to simply enjoy the ride. I have no problem with that approach for these films.

Cool ideas I really liked were the way one of the aliens altered its appearance so that the warning would be listened to, so that both worlds could be saved, and the concept that when a world crisis occurs, different countries and cultures--and various planets, for that matter--can sit down and work things out together, that all is not lost for civilization and its discontents in 2016. It's thoughts like that that help me sleep at night.

This would make a great double bill with 'Melancholia'.

Aliens, from the planet Paila, and Earthlings work together to prevent the Earth from being destroyed by a runaway planet, Planet R, from another galaxy in this early Japanese Sci-Fi movie released in 1956 with the American title "Warning from Space".

The Pairans who's planet Paila is on the other side of the sun and undetected from the eyes of earth's astronomers sends a fleet of space ships to earth to get the people of that planet to join with them to prevent the rogue planet R from slamming into earth and destroying not only earth but the entire solar system including the planet Paila. The Pairans looking like star fish with an eyeball on their stomachs have one of them Ginko, Toyomi Karita, morphs into the popular Japanese singer Hikari Aozora, and make contact with the earthlings on the dangers they they as well as the Pairans are facing.

At first the leaders of earth don't, as usual, take Ginko's warnings seriously. But when the planet begins to get closer to earth they finally do and muster all the nuclear weapons that the earth's superpowers have together to shoot into space and blast the streaking planet off course. The attempt fails miserably and as Planet R gets closer to earth it causes death and destruction by unleashing giant tidal waves and great changes in the weather. All seems lost until Ginko tells the earthlings that only Prof. Kamura can save them with his formula for the destructive super-nuclear element Duriun. Which earlier in the movie Ginko took from Prof. Kamura and destroyed because it was too dangerous for anyone, much less those on earth, to have.

Ginko tells the people of earth that with getting the formula for Duriun from Prof. Kamura and together with the Pairans advanced technology to militarize and deliver it to the Planet R in order to knock it off it's course it will save the solar system but there's just one hitch, were is Prof. Kamura?

You have to forgive the cheap special effects since the movie was made almost fifty years ago before the invention of computer enhanced photography but the story and the acting in the movie "Warning from Space" is much better then you would have expected. It's also interesting to note that the movie was made in Japan the only country that was ever nuked and the story was about using nuclear weapons for survival instead of destruction.

Giving us the Warning From Space are benevolent creatures from a planet on our sun's far side called Paira. The dominant creatures of that planet are these large human size creatures that walk upright and look like starfish with a big eye in the middle of the body. What they're warning us about is a rogue planet loose in space and about to collide with the earth. The starfish civilization has developed the technology to blow up the planet.

The cheap special effects and the fact that no one could take these funny looking aliens seriously flattens out a sincere message about universal brotherhood of humankind that Warning From Space delivers. It was nice to see that all Japanese science fiction doesn't revolve around giant prehistoric creatures destroying Tokyo.

If you can get past the funny looking aliens this is not too bad a film.

This film, literally titled, "Aliens Appear in Tokyo," was the first COLOR sci-fi film made in Japan. ("RODAN" would be the first giant monster film). The first part of the film is similar to "Day The Earth Stood Still" as the Pairans try to warn a scientist using a new kind of explosive he has developed. One of the assumes human form (copying the image of a famous singer)and tries to communicate with the humans. Later, the same aliens discover that a planet is on a collision course with Earth--and the only thing that can save humanity is to use the very explosive that they warned against! This takes the idea from "When Worlds Collide" as the earth goes through disasters as "Planet R" comes closer and closer. Finally the scientist is rescued from the Yakuza, and the wayward planet is destroyed. The film is a charming look at Japan, coming into its own following the Occupation after World War II.

Well, I just viewed this Japanese film for the first time on the ALPHA VIDEO DVD release and was able to sit through it without being completely bored.

So, all is good with this film. But keep in mind: It's nowhere near as good as "THE MYSTERIONS" (Toho's alien film from the late fifties). There are NO GIANT MONSTERS IN THIS FILM.

I understand it's Japan's FIRST COLOR SCI-FI MOVIE; so that's something to keep in mind. The budget was quite high for this movie.

And here's an open letter to ALPHA VIDEO: What's with the video transfer that looks like it was copied from a VHS tape? It's not as bad as numerous generation dubs of some schlock I've seen because the audio and video are a bit noisy yet passable, but could your company not find a better master copy?? Just curious...

Anyways, the star creatures from some UFOs try to warn Earth that a planet is going to collide with the Earth (or something like that), and they try to help the Earthlings with this by sharing the news. The problem is that most people find human-sized Starfish to be quite shocking and won't be inviting any over for sushi anytime soon. So, the Star creatures realize that "sex sells" and decide to transform one of their own as Japan's version of Celine Dion (or Charro, depending on your preference) and this "woman" tries to warn Earth of what's happening.

If you're into this sort of thing, by all means check it out for its historical film merit.

When these aliens, dressed in tightly sewn starfish outfits (you can see the seams, even though these are their bodies) come to earth, people go into a panic. Actually, they probably laughing so hard they might fall off a bridge. But there is a serious side. A twin planet will be destroyed if a renegade body from space collides with earth. Most of the plot has to do with trying to convince the international community to supply nuclear weapons to blow up the invading spheroid. The starfish turn one of their women into a Japanese Ginger Rogers and she comes to earth to negotiate. Of course, she gives herself away when she jumps ten feet into the air to return a tennis shot. As we all know, these things have a way of working themselves out. I guess if I saw a gigantic starfish with an eye sewn on its belly, I would have a few moments of anxiety. Another subplot has to do with the old guy who knows the secret of how to save us all. He is kidnapped by a bunch of guys who want his formula. They want to sell it to the highest bidder. The bottom line is that nothing is ever set up, nothing is ever explained, the science is rocky at best (or is it Bullwinkle?). This is just another of those really poorly put together stories to fill drive-in movie time.

Originally released in Japan as UNKNOWN SATELLITE OVER TOKYO. Astronomers in Japan discovers an extraterrestrial satellite orbiting in space. Aliens visit Earth to warn of impending doom. The visitors arrive by flying saucers first believed to be meteorites. The aliens that look like giant one-eyed starfish have the ability to assume human form. The visitors bring a desperate message concerning a runaway planet on a collision course with Earth that would by all means destroy our world. The aliens do have a plan. Tidal waves engulf cities like Tokyo and London causing chaos in the streets. Human scientists combine their technology with the exceptional alien brainpower to save this planet Earth. The special effects are somewhat comical...especially the baggy starfish costumes. Starring in this Japanese Sci-Fi are: Keizo Kawasaki, Toyomi Karita, Isao Yamagata and Bontaro Miyake.

Weird aliens from a planet called Pairan who look a lot like man-sized starfish creatures with a huge eye in the center show up in Japan and scare people. But their real intention is not to invade earth; instead they try to warn a scientist about his newly created weapon. To do so, one of them changes his look to that of a famous Japanese singer. But then the aliens discover a giant glowing meteor heading towards Earth! Can the starfish monsters help mankind to destroy the meteor before it crashes into Earth? It soon is discovered that there's only one way to destroy it...

Made by Daiei studios (later creators of the flying turtle Gamera, a popular movie monster in Japan) in 1956, this was the fist color science-fiction film from Japan. Supported by a then huge budget it was a serious effort to compete with enemy Toho studios and their 1954 hit "Godzilla". In 1957, Toho studios even made a somewhat similar movie, "Chikyû bôeigun", also known as "The Mysterians". "Space Men Appear in Tokyo" has far less special effects footage than Toho's movies, but the relatively few special effects seen in this film are of pretty good quality, especially considering their age! Filmed in beautiful colors, the film is still well worth watching. Story-wise, it is similar to the American production "When Worlds Collide", but it's actually based on a Japanese novel by Gentarô Nakajima.

Ironically, there is no irony in this review or in the movie. I bought this movie as part of a collection and didn't realize it was Japanese. The story is almost total nonsense, I would imagine that has a lot to do with it being re-dubbed in English for western audiences. The plot is typical of many "beings from a far away planet must save humanity from itself" movies, but it is almost completely lacking exposition. The humans and aliens act in an almost cryptic way, I was never quite sure of why they were doing anything they did. Had it not been for my watching the extra features on the re-release of THX-1138 I would be completely lost. For those who haven't seen THX-1138 there is an interview with George Lucas where he is explaining the style of THX. He says the Japanese don't explain anything in their movies, they just do it. Some odd little cultural aspect often comes off as a complete mystery to people not acquainted with eastern culture. This movie is one of those odd things. Imagine this... a samurai and a geisha drink tea, but go through a long and complex ritual of setting all the clocks in the house before sitting down for tea. Why the hell did they do that!?! Just drink the shizbangin' tea for God's sake! My son likes the starfish shaped aliens.

My family and I always watched this wacked out- one-of-a-kind treat when it came on WPIX SCI-FI THEATRE. There are these aliens, thier costumes are big baggy starfish outfits with a big cardboard eye duct-taped to the center. They waddle around a minimalist spacecraft and twiddle their thumbs. They need to comminicate with earth scientists about a planet on a runaway coarse about to collide with Earth. The film is silly, completely without logic.

What I sincerely love about this gem is the atmosphere. Night skies alive with darting flying saucers are quite beautiful, the sort of postcard-look of the advancing burning planet is rather neat, and the staggering heatwave that hits a seemingly doomed Earth gets rather discomforting. You'll giggle AT the film, but will be in awe WITH the film.

Aliens who look starfish with a giant eye in their middle arrive to try to warn the Earth about the dangers of test detonations. One of them agrees to assume the form of a popular singing star to try to communicate with them. It's a decent story despite the ridiculous form of the aliens. The dubbing is not bad for Japanese language films. Acting is good but the script is corny. All in all, this a very forgettable movie.

Originally filmed in 1956 Japan, UCHUJIN TOKYO NI ARAWARU did not reach American audiences until 1967, when it was released as WARNING FROM SPACE. The plot, such as it is, combines ideas from IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE, THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, and when WORLDS COLLIDE, gives them a GODZILLA spin, adds a couple of musical numbers, and pretty much defies description.

In general, aliens come to warn us that the earth is on a collision course with another planet. Unfortunately, whenever they appear people gasp, scream, and faint. One of the aliens then assumes human form and makes contact, but do we listen? Well, not until the approaching planet is visible to the naked eye. Fortunately, a human scientist has created a super-explosive that can destroy the approaching planet; unfortunately, he has been kidnapped. Can the aliens locate him, get the formula, launch the bomb, and save the world? Although it bombs as a science fiction thriller, you might think it would succeed as a cult film of the ultra-camp variety. After all, the aliens look like big starfish in form-fitting flannel. When they first decide to make contact, they just sort of pop up here and there at random: at a theatre, beside a ship, at the local geshia house. Then, when one assumes human form, the form she selects is that of a "popular" dancer--a nifty little plot turn that justifies the inclusion of the film's two musical numbers. There are also a host of weird lines, silly scenes, continuity errors, and more than one insult to audience intelligence along the way.

Now, I will admit that I giggled over the dance numbers. The second one is particularly ludicrous, looking for all the world like Ricky Ricardo ran afoul of Carmen Miranda somewhere over Nagasaki. But that aside, WARNING FROM SPACE is drudgery in its purest form. It has all the entertainment value of drying paint. Add to this the fact that the print is poor and the color foul. I think it might appeal to some cult film fans, and if it does more power to them--but most people will find it a warning they can afford to ignore.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

I am generally a fan of B-grade and even Z-grade sci-fi, but I should have stuck with my gut feeling on this one. I bought it as part of a four-movies-on-one-disc DVD at Walmart, and my gut told me not to because these movies were in "color", almost always a bad sign with dollar dvds. Furthermore, sci-fi from the 1950s generally does NOT work in color, even if the print is passable. Movies about aliens should be in black & white, IMO, because it gives a better feel for the time in which they were made. Even so, I could forgive a bad print, color or B&W, if there was something redeemable about the film. I don't ask for much in my dollar dvds, just some requisite cheesiness at the very least, and an end-of-the-world scenario that is suitably terrifying.

This movie, I am sorry to report, has none of that. It is just plain rotten on all fronts, and the doomsday scare consists of a guy staring through a telescope at a planet that approaches Earth, giving reports as it closes in.

"Warning From Space" has nothing to recommend it whatsoever, and if it were not for the hottie who walks through walls and dematerializes herself, I would not have made it through the film.

This one makes "Plan 9 From Outer Space" look like it was directed by Tarkovsky.

Neat little epic about starfish shaped aliens coming to Earth to warn it of impending Clayson with another planet. Oddly enough,viewers complains about the cheap costumes of the aliens,if they listened to the story,the aliens wore protective costumes to function in Earth's atmosphere because their actual shape would horrify the earth people. The special effects are very good,par for the course for fifties sci-fi. Definitely a must for your video shelf. The color is a bit faded but it's still a nice film to watch. The dubbing is well done and the musical numbers are fun. Probably not the classic film one would like but it still good. I'm a big fan of Japanese sci-fi.so it goes well with my collection.

Forgive me please-not the first English. What Japan when threatened and if Starman is not available? Well Japan in the 1950s, was inhabited by the researcher Dr. professors, so it takes them to the grill to speculate what's going down.

Over some Starfish eyes on their bellies are planning to go and, in particular, the contact with the ground of the doctor. Why? Well, that's not revealed so far, but if they are going to speak directly to people than frightening about crap of them flying around in space or emerges from the water and blue glowing does not seem to be the best idea.

Our three heroes are all the doctor or scientist or something, including tobacco, sugar cane, the guy is working on a new formula to create energy and tobacco, sugarcane driving guy who works at the Observatory, and flogging, smoke, keeping the other guy, who did a few other things. You guys are like ' Wow, this is a spaceship, and then further then the then the next minute they are like 'obcy? Toshiba! '. They all had families and children and all that, but for God this three interchangeable average age of men we're talking about here, so don't ask me to go into the specifics.

When you are dancing/singing routine starring some of the famous lady, one of the alien gets her photo (nice photo archive, no less), and somehow assume that her character. What follows is a stranger to cheating in the game of tennis, walking through walls and the oncoming threat of terrible sounds of the planet.

Warning: the space is not the most action movie you will ever see, but it has a bunch of randomness and strange visuals, as well as the scene where some picnickers yelling at some foreigners that absolutely leads nowhere. The alien Starfish get ups are quite funny (also appear in the film Starman and can have some cultural significance of oil, which is passed my by), and the second part of the approach is the planet's movie feel more suspenseful. It is also necessary to introduce song and gets bonus points from me.

1956's "Warning from Space" ("Uchujin Tokyo ni Arawaru" or Spacemen Appear in Tokyo) marked Daiei's color debut in science fiction, following Toho's opening trio of black and white efforts, two with Godzilla plus "Half Human," an Abominable Snowman vehicle dubbed and narrated by John Carradine. There are no giant monsters present so younger viewers may have trouble keeping up with a storyline that nevertheless borrows Ishiro Honda's concerns about nuclear devastation, this time an alien race trying to communicate with well meaning scientists only to be rejected by their fearful appearance, man sized starfish with a single cyclopean eye in the center. This details the opening half hour, a bit of a slog until one creature takes human form as a beautiful female performer, displaying such unusual feats as leaping 10 feet in the air to return a tennis serve, or walking in and out of rooms through closed doors. She is now able to make a statement declaring another planet on a collision course with Earth, which may only be destroyed by a new formula in atomic exploration. Japan's request for aid from the world council is denied at first, until the obstacle becomes visible and increases the heat to an unbearable degree. There is a delay when the formula's inventor is kidnapped, but all turns out well with both worlds satisfied that dangerous nuclear weapons can be used for peaceful purposes. The script may cobble together elements of Hollywood favorites like "When Worlds Collide" or "The Day the Earth Stood Still," but successfully captures a snapshot of Japanese society, from a reporter doing a UFO report, or the owner of a cafe dealing with technical problems from an uncooperative radio. The one major misstep is the calculating villain who needs the scientist's formula to profit from the highest bidder, once the kidnapping occurs we never see him again. Daiei would steer clear of direct competition with Toho until Gamera in 1965, followed a year later by the Majin trilogy.