Space Adventure Cobra: The Movie (1982)

Wonderful Movie

Simply A Masterpiece

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

This 1982 feature version of the manga and television series Space Adventure Cobra is a visual stunner with plenty of 1970s experimental flair and psychedelic imagery. Such a shame it is paired with a messy and problematic story, not to mention characters who barely seem to possess much agency or personality outside of their functions in the overall plot.Aside from Cobra himself, who comes across like the love child of Han Solo and Lupin III, everyone else has minimal characterization. The story is nuts, like Star Wars meets James Bond meets metaphysical weirdness. And breasts, lots of breasts. Feminists like myself will no doubt find issue with the way the love interests center their existences around obeying and serving their "one true love," but the whole thing comes across as clueless rather than malignant in whatever intent it was going for in that regard, at least I hope so.Ah but who cares about the plot? Just watch for the pretty animation and crazy sci-fi action. If that is all you need and you've got a group of like-minded chums to spend two hours with, this is a great option.

I've been waiting 15 years for Space Adventure Cobra and countless emails to Urban Vision pleading with them to release this on DVD. For whatever reasons, they didn't and their license expired. Perhaps the rights got tied up and they were unable to do so. The original VHS release in the US was around 1996 and goes for silly money and I was never going to pay second hand sellers hundreds of dollars even though this valuable movie warrants it.Fans will be glad to know that Space Adventure Cobra includes the fan favorite Streamline Dub in Stereo, as well as the choice between a Japanese 5.1 or 2.0, depending on your audio equipment and preferences.The video quality is literally stunning and probably the best anime remastering I've ever seen on DVD. Apparently Discotek got Blu-ray masters from the Japanese domestic release and used these rather than doing a port of the Japanese DVD release. Also the video is progressive scan like all Discotek releases and is in Anamorphic Widescreen.Considering this came out in 1982, it transcends most contemporary anime in detail and color, literally jumping off the screen. This motion picture can be considered a standalone entry since it's nothing like the TV series. The Cobra motion picture is a serious, space opera sci fi, there's almost no comedy in this at all. Instead there are genuine moments of sadness and emotion as you become attached to characters with a less than happy fate. The whole movie is wrapped up in mystery and you'll be completely mystified and engaged all throughout this 99 minute story Considering the VHS sellers are still trying to make a bundle of this property, I think the DVD is a steal. Get this before it goes out of print. This is a must see for newcomers and experienced fans. Every person deserves to see this movie at least once in their life.Grade - A+

This I tell you, is something for kids in the beginning of their teens, of how the future is about. Yes, it's SciFi, but it's oh sooo cool. atleast when you're a kid..I still remembered when I was a little dorky little kid, I adore this movies.. Hey, at the age of 10yrs of age, DO NOT FEEL ASHAME!!!! It's friggen natural! I know I didn't feel any realness at that age, and I was set aside, a little under developed when compared to other kidz, when it came to anim cartoons. DO NOT CARE ABOUT WHAT ANY DUDE SAYS! You need this if you're anything like me, a fututristic designer, a dreamer, someone who has a feeling for design in a futuristic maner.. This thing is for your own development! Believe me... I'm one of you guys...

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.