O Alerta do Espaço

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.

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.

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.

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.