Message From Space Limited Edition Blu-Ray

Kinji Fukasaku (Battle Royale) directs an international cast featuring Sonny Chiba, Vic Morrow, and Etsuko Shihomi in the science fiction spectacle Message from Space—Toei Company's answer to the huge box office hit Star Wars.

Somewhere in a distant galaxy lies the planet 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). The leader of the Jillucian people (Junkichi Orimoto) desperately seeks help and sends eight Liabe seeds into space - glowing spheres that, according to legend, will summon powerful warriors to help the planet. The Liabe are accompanied into space by Princess Emeralida (Shihomi) and the loyal Jilluci soldier Urocco (Makoto Sat?), who are trying to find the prophesied protectors of their home world: former military commander General Garuda (Morrow) and his robot companion Beba-2 (Isamu Shimizu), thrill seekers Shiro (Hiroyuki Sanada) and Aaron (Philip Casnoff), gamer Jack (Masazumi Okabe), aristocrat Meia (Peggy Lee Brennan), and swordsman Hans (Chiba), who has a deeply personal score to settle with the Gavanas Empire.

With grand music and special effects that still impress today, Message from Space was the most expensive Japanese film ever made when it was released—a cosmic fantasy designed to repeat the success of Star Wars while building on Japan's own genre tradition and reminiscent of films such 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 unblemished restoration of the original film elements by Toei.

BONUS MATERIAL IN BLU-RAY EDITION:

Limited edition O-card case with new artwork by Scott Saslow

Limited edition reversible poster

1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray from a restoration of the original film elements provided by Toei

Original Japanese audio

Optional English dubbed audio

Optional English subtitles

All-new audio commentary by Tom Mes

Message from Earth - archival documentary featuring interviews with Sonny Chiba and Kenta Fukasaku

Brand new appreciation of the film by film writer Patrick Macias

Reversible slipcase featuring original poster artwork

Stills galleries

Trailers

PLUS: A booklet with newly written text about the film by Christopher Stewardson

PRESS

"The special effects are spectacular and the plot is everything you could want" - Variety