Voyage Into Space

Voyage Into Space is very entertaining, despite the fact that it (a) was cobbled together from episodes of a series, (b) has some of the most mediocre special effects that you've EVER seen, and (c) has a highly repetitive story arc. What it lacks in quality it makes up with in imagination, and in the friendship between "Giant Robot" and the young boy, Johnny Sokko. It's a classic good (Giant Robot, Unicorn) versus bad (Guillotine, Gargoyle Gang) plot. But there are twists and turns, and you're never quite sure who will come out on top.

I'm not a rabid Japanese movie fan, and I wasn't really big on the monster genre. But this one captured my attention so much that I saw it (literally) 20 times as a kid. I mean, what kid wouldn't want a practically indestructible giant robotic friend that followed your commands? It was fun.

A side note...Months after meeting my (now) wife, we discovered that we'd BOTH seen this movie a jillion times as kids. We also argued for years over the Unicorn salute. Finally, we managed to buy a copy of the movie. Darn it, she was right on the salute. But I'll tell you, it was really fun to see that movie again. This thing was not high budget, but it accomplished something that many sci-fi blockbusters can't do today - it was memorable.

The many websites for Giant Robot and Johnny Sokko let me know that there are others who, after all these years, still remember that crazy movie like I do.

If you can, see it.

Ok so it didn't have the best special effects, plot, etc. But there is a lot to be said about a movie that can leave such a "great' impact on you as a kid like this film does. Back in the early 70's here in Los Angeles, TV station KTLA channel 5 (long before the WB buy out) use to show a week long series of sci fi movies. For example, if the movie of choice were "Godzilla vs Mothra," then you got a week of "Godzilla vs Mothra" and so on, it was great. Well I had the pleasure as kid to see "Voyage Into Space" many times this way. And that is mostly why I remember it so well; I too used to refer to it as the "Giant Robot" moive. I really dug the concept of a 100 foot flying robot with that "Egyptian" head piece. And who could ever forget the infamous "MEGGA PUNCH" that Giant Robot would deliver upon his foes. To me this film was no more laughable than say any of the "Godzilla" moives of the time period. And surely I enjoyed this much more than say...the "ULTRAMAN" TV series. And most of all this movie left an impact as a "feel good action kid movie," and really isn't that what it's all about? I became very lucky last year to obtain a "crude," yet "watchable" copy of the movie which I will of course cherish. And yes, I still feel the same excitement when I hear the theme and watch this film as I did when I was a kid (call me crazy). In my opinion, this movie ranks with the best of that gerne.

If you love Japanese monster movies, you'll love this action packed battle pitting an alien invader, intent upon conquering the Earth, and a "Giant Robot" with an armory of super weaponry. The alien, "Emporer Guillotine," from the planet Gargoyle, has a army of thugs called, (of course) "the gargoyle gang," as well as an endless supply of immense hostile creatures that are routinely loosed upon the Earth to smash buildings, make loud noises, panic the populace, etc. A little kid, named Johnny Sokko, has the Giant Robot at his beckon call, and sends the Robot, as needed, to beat up, and then blast these creatures. Johnny joins a group of "good spies" called Unicorn, and endeavors to help save the world.

In spite of the campy nature, unintentionally humorous dialog, and the fact that the target audience was obviously children, this movie has non-stop action, colorful characters, decent special effects, and just happens to be downright fun to watch. Battle scenes are well executed, and frequent, as the storyline requires. The good guys and bad guys both made sure they had an inexhaustible supply of bombs, lasers, ammunition, and schemes to attack each other. In spite of the fact the movie was constructed from edited episodes of a TV series, the plot actually develops, and reaches an ultimate conclusion.

The film has a positive outlook and appeals to everyone's (especially kids') desire to destroy evil in its many forms. Kids may be the target audience, but it's fun for everyone to laugh at its comical silliness; yet, at the same time, root for the good guys to prevail and "save the world." The acting is cheesy in places, but that is the charm: there are several lines of corny dialog (possibly translation errors or possibly intentional jokes by the movie makers), and you'll find yourself quoting these absurd lines later.

Admittedly, this film is not high in production quality or budget. However, for what it is, campy sci-fi, it's enjoyable for some laughs. I recommend it to anyone with a sense of humor for that sort of thing.

I have not seen this film in more than 25 years but I loved it as a child, and saw it at least a half dozen times. I would like to find a copy to view for nostalgia reasons, and yes, I have also never forgotten the tune of the theme music.

What can I say? The little kid inside has always had great affections for the following...giant robots, giant monsters and a cackling, megalomaniacal lead villain and this movie delivers on all counts. As an adult, it's easy to point out the many flaws in this film and to say hey it's really only a bunch of episodes taken from a children's TV series strung together. Despite all of this, I find the ending very moving and the content surprisingly adult in nature. Tremendous Fun if a little nonsensical at times.