The Radar

Message from Space (1978)
dir. Kinji Fukasaku

Alien (1979)
dir. Ridley Scott


"Dallas encounters the alien in the air shafts just as the computer depicted "sperm" and "egg" merge in the motion tracker, at which point we hear the baby-like Alien screech. The alien reaches out as if about to grab Dallas by the face."

The Cotopaxi

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
dir. Steven Spielberg

Message from Space (1978)
dir. Kinji Fukasaku

The Space Opera

Message from Space (1978) (and detail)

dir. Kinji Fukasaku

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

dir. Irvin Kershner

Message from Space

Star Wars: Episode VI - The Return of the Jedi (1983)

dir. Richard Marquand

Message from Space

Return of the Jedi

Kinji Fukasaku's Message from Space was one of untold dozens of cheap Star Wars knockoffs released in the late 1970s. Its plot, characters, and mise-en-scen all borrow heavily from Lucas' film. Interestingly enough, a few of the unique visuals this cash-in offered, in turn, found their way into the Star Wars sequels. It was at once an imitation and an inspiration.

The New Administration (2)

"The news of the defeat of the Earth Space Fleet shocked the council of the Earth Space Fleet of Nations. The chairman of the council assumed responsibility and resigned. A new congress was organized by the opposition with Ernest Noguchi as chairman."

Message from Space (1978)

dir. Kinji Fukasaku

"Accepting responsibility for Klendathu, Sky Marshall Dienes resigns. His successor, Sky Marshall Tahat Meru, outlines her new strategy."

Starship Troopers (1997)

dir. Paul Verhoeven