Warning from Space

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.

I remember watching this film when I was a kid. Ironically, it was before I saw When Worlds Collide or The Day the Earth Stood Still (ironically, I still have yet to see the latter). This film is successful for two reasons. The first one is the fears of the Japanese about nuclear holocaust. Like so many science fiction films that the Japanese released during this era, it was pretty much inspired by the events that had happened the previous decade. Also, this film also spreads the message of world cooperation, especially when there is a threat of total extinction either by aliens or a runaway planetoid (see Gorath). This was a pretty interesting film and its too bad that it is not being shown on television anymore.

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.

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'.