"In a universe teaming with inhabitied planets and bizarre aliens, corrupt governments operate in the pay of star-spanning criminal syndicates and the Justice Federation of United Galaxies places a price on the heads of hardened criminals. The highest bounty of all rests with the infamous space pirate Cobra, an unstoppable rogue whose left arm conceals a devastating pschyo-gun. Presumed dead for two years, Cobra comes out of retirement after an encounter with the beautiful bounty-hunter Jane Flower - a descision which leads him into direct conflict with the sinister Galactic guild, a vast criminal organisation led by Lord Necron; the personification of death itself. Together with his female android companion Andromeda, Cobra sets out with Jane to rescue the bounty-hunter's two lost sisters, and save the wandering planet Miras. But Necron is never far behind, and deception and betrayal wait around every corner. From prison planet to ice-world and beyond, Cobra must draw on every ounce of his strength, skill and irrepressible resolve to battle his way through Necron's robot army to reach the fabled Miras. Will love triumph over death, or will Necron stand triumphant over a murdered galaxy?"
"Space Adventure Cobra is a fast moving, stylish and furiously inventive film from the director of Golgo 13 and penned by classic Manga Writer Buichi Terasawa. The Soundtrack to the film is written and performed by Yello."
Director: Osamu Dezaki Screenplay: Buichi Terasawa/Haruya Yamazaki Copyright: Buichi Terasawa/Tokyo Movie Shinsha Language Format: English Language Running time: 95 mins Certificate: PG Catalogue no: MANV 1084 Label: Manga Video Price: £13.99 Release Date: 3rd July 1995
A galaxy-spanning James Bond-ish space adventure, in which space pirate Cobra, already hunted by the Justice Federation and with a large price on his head, falls foul of the Galactic Guild, a vast criminal organization headed up by the deathly cyborg Lord Necron. He comes out of hiding after an encounter with beautiful bounty-hunter Jane Flower and agrees to help rescue her sisters.
This movie has an expensive look to it, with lush and sometimes daringly artistic designs, notably the design of 'Lord Necron', exotic locations, exciting set-pieces, gorgeous under-clad girls, dramatic battles, and a moody rock-music soundtrack by European group Yello. The music, which is one of the strong points of this video, apparently was recorded for Manga Video and replaces the original Japanese soundtrack.
So what more could a young man want from a SF movie? One's main quibble is that the stocky yellow-haired Cobra is hardly the most charismatic of heroes, and as he seems indestructible, it's hard to care a whole lot about what happens to him or the pneumatic fantasy bimboes he is trying to save. Only the downbeat ending might catch you unawares. [Geoff Cowie]