Message From Space | Blu-ray (Eureka)
On July 22, 2024, Eureka will be releasing the Blu-ray (Region B) for Message From Space, a 1978 sci-fi thriller from Kinji Fukasaku (Battle Royale, New Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Last Days of the Boss) that’s basically Toei Company’s answer to the barnstorming box-office success that was Star Wars.
The film features an all-star cast that includes Sonny Chiba (Wolf Guy: Enraged Lycanthrope), Vic Morrow (Twilight Zone: The Movie), Etsuko Shihomi (Soul of Chiba) and many more!
Somewhere in a far flung galaxy lies the planet of Jillucia. Once a peaceful utopia, it has now fallen under the control of the Gavanas Empire, a warlike race ruled by the ruthless Emperor Rockseia (Mikio Narita). Desperate for help, the leader of the Jillucian people (Junkichi Orimoto) launches eight Liabe seeds into space – glowing orbs that, according to legend, will each summon a powerful warrior to the planet’s aid. The seeds are followed into the void by Princess Emeralida (Shihomi) and loyal Jillucian soldier Urocco (Makoto Satō), who attempt to find the prophesied protectors of their home world: ex-military commander General Garuda (Morrow) and his robot companion Beba-2 (Isamu Shimizu), thrill-seekers Shiro (Hiroyuki Sanada) and Aaron (Philip Casnoff), gambler Jack (Masazumi Okabe), aristocrat Meia (Peggy Lee Brennan) and swordsman Hans (Chiba), who has a deeply personal score to settle with the Gavanas Empire.
Boasting a sweeping score and special effects that impress to this day, Message from Space was the most expensive Japanese film ever made at the time of its release – a cosmic fantasy designed to replicate the success of Star Wars while drawing upon Japan’s own genre tradition, recalling such films as Battle in Outer Space, Gorath and Fukasaku’s own The Green Slime. The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present Message from Space on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK from an immaculate restoration of the original film elements by Toei.
Features:
- Limited edition O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Scott Saslow [2000 copies]
- Limited edition reversible poster [2000 copies]
- 1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray from a restoration of the original film elements supplied by Toei
- Original Japanese audio and English dub
- Optional English subtitles
- Brand new audio commentary by Tom Mes
- An appreciation of the film by film writer Patrick Macias
- Reversible sleeve featuring original poster artwork
- Stills gallery
- Trailers
- A collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Christopher Stewardson
This title will soon be available at The Goodie Emporium, a U.S.-based online store that currently has many Import Shaw Brothers/Golden Harvest/martial arts DVD/Blu-ray movies in-stock – with New titles being added regularly!
Until then, don’t miss the film’s classic Trailer:
