Space Adventure Cobra: The Movie

1982 "The most wanted man in the entire universe"
Space Adventure Cobra: The Movie
7.2| 1h35m| en| More Info
Released: 03 July 1982 Released
Producted By: Shueisha
Country: Japan
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Synopsis

Cobra, a notorious space pirate, is enlisted by bounty hunter Jane to rescue her sister from the strange being known as Crystal Bowie, but then finds himself drawn into a complex struggle over the fate of a mysterious wandering planet.

... View More
Stream Online

The movie is currently not available onine

Director

Producted By

Shueisha

Trailers & Images

Reviews

chao8971 I've grown up with anime and I still watch it to this day. I heard of the manga and show of Space Adventure Cobra but I did not know there was a movie till recently. This movie is only for those who like anime, this in no way will convince people that are not into this stuff to start watching it.The feel of this movie is a ton like others like Golgo 13: The Professional, which is a good thing for a action fan. The atmosphere in this movie is extremely 80's and the plot can be a bit weird at times, but this does not create much of a problem because it adds to the bizarreness of the galaxy the movie takes place in. This film does contain brief nudity, so if your weird-ed out by that sort of stuff then you have been warned.All in All, this movie is a good action flick in its own universe and is worth a watch.
Emmanuel Eytan The most remarkable thing about the movie version of Cobra (as opposed to the series or the comic) is the credit of the Key Animator: Hayao Miyazaki himself was an animator for this film. One of the most talented directors of out time (probably in all categories, not just animation) was on the staff of that movie. Also, it tells basically the same story as the first season of the TV series; but the TV series was a melodramatic comedy, whereas the film has a claim to seriousness.One thing the Japanese do better than most others, I think, is going over the top. In this film, there are always planets floating in the background. (Yes, actual planets.) "Love is tangible," as one of the characters say. The galaxy is only one in several in the Universe, so it is disposable. (Yes, the galaxy is disposable.) I don't think it's fair to say that this movie goes too far. It's made to test our suspension of belief. Some stories ask that from us.The movie is more like a pretentious "artsy" film and not much of an action-adventure movie. It can afford to be pretentious. The scenery is beautiful during most of the film; the music is very anti-climatic, Jazzy and romantic; the story is very abstract. By this, I mean that the story is not about getting a treasure, saving the world or saving the girl. All this things do happen, but that's not the main point.It's more like artsy sci-fi meets Last Year in Marienbad. The strange part is that the movie is based on a series that's much more like Spaceballs than like Star Wars. I'm not sure how "good" it is, but it doesn't make much sense to judge it as an action flick.What I liked most about it is that it does not show a tiny universe. Most sci-fi stories only take place on one or on a few planets, and each only seems to have one environment and one city. Not much more is shown in Cobra, but there are constant references as to how there is an entire known and inhabited universe out there. Unlike the bluntness of the Star Wars prequels, for example, the way it is just taken for granted in Cobra makes it more believable and makes my mind wander.
bodie_11 I felt compelled to write a review for Space Cobra as it has received a good score of 7.3 stars but only a few of the reviews at the time of me writing this were particularly positive. A strange situation and hopefully my positive review will point people towards this old and mostly forgotten Anime movie. Space cobra is the funky tale of a smuggler and rogue who becomes involved with the three sisters of an ancient and dead planet and an evil force who wants to harness the planets powers. This is an old movie and the animation shows, but what it lacks in modern sophistication it makes up with an abundance of charm. Space Cobra is very much geared to a western audience and very easy to watch. There are few if any references to specific Japanese culture and great for Anime novices to watch and enjoy. Space Cobra himself is witty and likable. I cannot say how much of this is due to the English dub or the intentions of the maker, but this is one of the few Japanese comedy characters that I find truly funny. The style is very sixties Barbarellish with a fantastic soundtrack by Yello. The style is colourful and imaginative and there is constant action to move the story along. The strangest aspect of this movie is how it begins as a comedy and ends on a very downbeat dramatic note. I cannot think of another Anime or general movie that has been able to do this so seamlessly and convincingly. You barely realise that it is happening, but it is done so subtly and seems perfectly natural. You also really feel the characters went on a journey and they're lives were changed by the whole experience. Check out if you can.
mar9 Potentially this was a great anime. Some interesting themes were up for exploration: a hero must do battle with death incarnate to save the woman (women?) he loves. The individual vs. the corrupt state.But it's a bit of a let-down. The hero is just too indestructible and and in the English language version at least, seems emotionally disengaged from what's going on around him. The soft-porn card gets overplayed, too. Sexy girls with sexy guns? Yup. Some great visuals, as you would expect from Japanese anime, but not a great example of the genre.