FIFTEEN MINUTES MUST MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE

A Video Review of "Battle in Outer Space" or "Uchu Dai Senso"

Copyright 2003 Glenn Walker

The Japanese version of this is fifteen minutes longer than the American version. One can only assume those fifteen minutes were all plot.

This 1959 Toho film is the masterwork of director Inoshiro Honda and the special effects of Eiji Tsuburaya who created the kaiju eiga mythos that includes Godzilla, Rodan and Mothra. It is set in the future year of 1965 and concerns an alien invasion of earth.

The special effects aren't your usual Godzilla suitmation quality. They are actually much better, more of a cross between George Pal and "Thunderbirds" equipment. It is very surprising. The destruction of various monuments like the Golden Gate Bridge and the Statue of Liberty are highlights. The flick is worth seeing just for the special effects.

The music is by the master composer Akira Ifukube although some of his work is disappointingly replaced by American stock music. This is a real shame.

Battle in Outer Space is mostly just attack after attack after attack by either us or the aliens. One wonders if those fifteen minutes would have helped.